He jogged off toward a group gathering further down the shore, and June let out a breath. She wasn’t sure why, but her brother could be unpredictable, and she never knew what would jump out of his mouth.
“He seems nice,” the Senator said.
“He has his moments.” June smiled. “He’s a good brother. Just a little… much, sometimes.”
“I understand. Siblings often are.”
They returned to the blanket, and the afternoon settled back into its easy rhythm. Lila built another rock structure. Senator Brandt sat in the shade of the umbrella, alternating between watching the water and checking her phone, though it washonestly less of the latter than June would’ve expected. June tried not to notice how relaxed she looked, how different from the woman who left notes on the refrigerator and disappeared into her office every night.
Later, while Lila was at the water’s edge collecting pebbles with her mother, Tyler wandered back over. He dropped onto the blanket beside June, keeping his voice low.
“So. She seems intense.”
“She’s a senator. I think intense is in the job description.” Not that she knew any other senators.
“Maybe.” He was quiet for a moment, watching the Senator walk beside her daughter. “She’s hot, though. In that I-could-destroy-you-with-a-single-glance kind of way.”
June felt heat creep up her neck. “Tyler.”
“What? I’m just making an observation.” He glanced at her sidelong. “Is she always this… closed off? Even at home?”
“Pretty much.”
“Huh.” Another pause. “And you’re living there. With her. All summer.”
“That’s the job, yes.”
Tyler nodded slowly, and June could see him putting pieces together in a way she didn’t like. “Just… be careful, okay? I know you. Last time, it was—”
“Tyler, stop. There’s nothing to be careful about.”
“If you say so.” He stood, brushing sand from his shorts. “I should get back. But call me if you need anything. Or if you just want to talk.”
“I’m fine, Tyler.”
“I know you are.” He squeezed her shoulder. “But the offer stands.”
He left, and June sat very still, watching the senator pick up a stone to show her daughter. The sunlight played across herface, and for just a moment, she turned her head to June before returning her attention to Lila.
There’s nothing to be careful about, June repeated to herself.
But her pulse was faster than it should have been, and she couldn’t quite look away, and somewhere deep in her chest she knew that Tyler—annoying, perceptive Tyler—had seen something she wasn’t ready to admit.
Chapter 7
Tea
Melissa
Wednesday, June 24th
Three days later, Melissa was still thinking about the lake.
She sat in her office at the capitol building in Salem, half-listening to David run through the agenda for tomorrow’s committee meeting, but her mind kept drifting back to Sunday. The sand beneath her bare feet, the cold shock of the water. Lila’s shriek of laughter when Melissa had splashed her. The way June’s sundress had felt against her skin—soft cotton, faintly scented with something sweetly floral.
She’d returned the dress, of course. Washed and folded, left on June’s bed while she was out with Lila. Professional. Appropriate. No reason to make it into anything more than it was.
But she could still feel the fabric against her shoulders. Could still see the way June had looked at her when she’d emerged from the restroom wearing it—surprised, maybe, or something else. Something Melissa didn’t want to examine too closely.
