“Lucky me!” I uncharacteristically feign over-the-top excitement, teasing her.
“You’re lucky to have an amazing sister like me.” She jabs her finger into my chest.
“That I am.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and kiss the top of her head. “It’s good to see you like this, Booky.” I call her by the nickname I used when I was little.
“I moved here to embrace a new life, right?”
“Exactly. It’s about time you actually embrace it.”
“What’re we gonna eat?” Walker walks into the kitchen.
“I think we should go to Jim’s,” I say.
“Yeah!” Walker nods like a bobble head.
“Sounds good to me.”
“Great, I’ll drive.”
Once Walker has his shoes on and Brooke has her purse, I grab my car keys and head out to the driveway. My family may be small, but they mean the world to me.
I head out to the part of town that is near the beach. The scent of the salty ocean hits my senses, reminding me that I now live in an area where most people vacation. It’s different than the stagnant smell from a landlocked city, and it makes me feel like I’m on a permanent holiday.
People in Florida have a right to say they live in paradise because while Emerald Bay is a small town with nosy bodies, it’s beautiful with the white sandy beach.
I park the car, and we head into the packed restaurant. I spot a table and rush to claim it before someone else does. Brooke and Walker follow me, and my sister high-fives me.
“Good job, bro.”
The burgers here are amazing, so I don’t have to think much about what I’m going to eat. While Brooke argues with Walker that it’s too late for him to have a milkshake with dinner, I look around the restaurant.
I’ve become familiar with a lot of people in town already. It’s part of the job being a deputy sheriff and dealing directly with citizens. One thing I’ve learned is that people in small towns will call 911 over a neighbor stealing their flowers, or hooking up their hose to the other person’s water supply.
Or accidentally call emergency and then accuse me of being a stripper.
Some call it small-town charm. I’m still warming up to the idea. Culture shock is real in your own country.
I continue my scan, and when my eyes lock with a pair of wide blue ones, my heart lurches.
Ms. Andrews.
The woman with a messy room who’s been on my mind. She looked professional at work yesterday, but I much prefer seeing her in her pajamas. Not that I’d act on anything. The last thing I need is to complicate my life, and she’s a major complication.
I may not know everyone in town yet, but I am smart enough to understand that people will gossip. Besides, dating Walker’s teacher is a recipe for disaster.
And if I’ve learned anything from my family, it’s that the men in it tend to leave. I refuse to carry on that torch down the family line.
She’s sitting with an older couple I assume are her parents. The woman leans forward, but her eyes remain on mine.
I nod once and look away, blowing out a breath and focusing back on the conversation between Brooke and Walker. He’s spewing off all the reasons he could have a milkshake, negotiating like a professional.
The kid could sell a lifetime supply of candy to a dentist.
His biggest rival is my sister, who doesn’t buy just anything off anyone.
I chuckle at his excuse that tomorrow’s Sunday and he can stay up a bit later today. I don’t want to deal with him when he’s on a sugar rush, so I hope like crazy that Brooke doesn’t give in.
“Hey, that’s Ms. Andrews.” Walker points in her direction, distracted from the milkshake.