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“Yeah, she’s all right.” There was humor in his voice, and I warmed at the thought that maybe Duke didn’t despise myentirefamily.
“Oh, one of the Kings you can stand?” I teased.
He let out a low grumble, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “Well, she’s in the top two at least.”
Did that mean—was I his number one?
It was a strange and wonderful thing to feel seen and important—especially by a man who you were expected to hate simply because your family told you to. There would always be old, bad blood between the Kings and Sullivans, and the mutual dislike ran deep.
“How was the rest of your day?”
I smiled, warmth spreading through my cheeks as I rolled to my back and sprawled across the comforter. “After my shift I went for a walk on the beach. Bootsy was selling shell bracelets, so I got one.”
“You know that’s just trash he finds and resells, right?”
I smiled. “Eh, that’s okay. It was pretty trash.”
He hummed but didn’t offer any judgment or criticism for helping out one of Outtatowner’s residents. Bootsy was always around. He was eccentric and needed some extra care, something that the people of Outtatowner were happy to provide. Sometimes I thought it was the one thing everyone in town could actually agree on. On occasion I even saw my father speaking with Bootsy and giving him money. It was one of the only things that made me think my father may still own a heart.
I stared at my ceiling, feeling like a teenager with her first crush. “After that I worked out, had dinner. I’m boring.”
“You aren’t boring. You’re... special, Sylvie.” He was quiet, and I was too stunned to speak. “Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.”
His words touched me deeply, and for a moment I forgot about the animosity between our families. With Duke, I felt seen and appreciated in a way I never had before. It was both exhilarating and terrifying to have someone like him in my life.
Even if he was a secret.
Over the past eight months, with each flirtatious remark exchanged, the tension between us grew, and it felt like we were dancing on the edge of something exotic and dangerous.
Unsure of what to say, I stumbled with a response.
Before I could find one, Duke cut in. “I’ve got to finish up a few things around here. Can I call you again sometime?”
I toyed with my lip and tried to keep my voice light despite the awareness that prickled along my skin whenever I thought about him. “I’d like that. Maybe text to be sure it’s a good time to talk, though...”
Duke was quiet on the other end, and a small sliver of panic poked beneath my ribs.
“Of course. Good night, Sylvie.”
“’Night, Duke.”
I stared at my phone after the call ended and focused on breathing. The giddy zip of excitement danced through my chest, and I held on to the feeling, ignoring the sadness that nestled next to it. Talking with him was a guilty pleasure. If anyone found out, I would have alotof angry people to answer to.
But there was no denying I had a big ol’ crush on Duke, and I definitely wasn’t supposed to.
NINE
SYLVIE
The morning sunglowed behind the treetops as I hefted a garbage bag and pushed through the metal back door of the Sugar Bowl. The air was cool, and a bright moon still hung in the inky sky, casting an eerie glow over the quiet streets. Clutching the heavy bag, I navigated my way toward the dumpster tucked behind the coffee shop, hidden in the predawn shadows. The scent of coffee already clung to my skin, a nagging reminder of the long day ahead of me.
Just as I reached the dumpster, a rustling sound nearby sent my heart racing. It could have been a raccoon, or maybe just a gust of wind, but my imagination got the best of me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I listened.
Please be a raccoon and not a serial killer. I do not have time for this today.
The soft rustling sounded again as a rat with its disgusting ropelike tail scurried across my shoe. I dropped the trash, and a scream tore from my throat, echoing into the alley.
My heart pounded like a drum, and my body shivered with a disgusted rattle as I shook my hands and stomped my feet. My mind screamedrun,but I was rooted in place.
