AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The way he says ‘area’ makes it sound like a curse word. I suck in a breath, and give him a cheerful smile.
“Of course. If you want, we can walk a few blocks down and then circle back around.”
Cole puffs out his cheeks and holds up a hand. “You’re the expert. Lead the way.”
I tuck the ends of my scarf into my coat. “Right. Well…let’s start on the right side.”
Each click of my heels sounds like a muffled gunshot on the warped wood of the pier. I hurry toward the first building on the far-right side.
“Here you see the only boutique in South Shore. Along with Savage Pizza, and a hair salon.”
“Savage Pizza sounds familiar.” Cole shoves his hands in his pockets and scrunches his face up. “I never really spent a lot of time around here. My family is-.”
He searches for the right word. I flash him a cheeky smile.
“Rich?” I suggest.
“A rich person would never say they are rich,” he fires back. “I was going to say well-off and discriminating.”
“I always wondered where Lucy got the money for her rent. She and I lived in the same block of apartments my senior year of college.”
He ducks his head and nods.
“She’s low-key about coming from money. She doesn’t feel like her privilege defines her. My dad pounded that into all of our heads.”
I nod, thinking that jives with everything I know about Lucy. I point across the street as we walk.
“That’s Shoreline Cinema. It’s ancient, but it’s still in business. And next to that is the pet grooming place–.”
He stops, looks around, and seems confused.
“I thought you said there were restaurants, plural.”
Cole takes off at a jog, briskly moving off the wooden pier. and down the street. A car surprises him by turning into the main street and honks angrily when he just flashes them an odd look.
“Hey!” Running in these heels is killer on my feet, but I sprint over to Cole and haul him onto the sidewalk anyway. The car honks two short beeps and drives off.
I’m a little bit winded, and it takes me a second to realize that he and I are awfully close now.
Cole’s eyes dip down to my lips. He smooths his hands down the front of his dark overcoat and swipes his tongue across his lips.
Is he thinking about kissing me again?
Then he seems to remember himself and turns away with a scowl. “Let’s get this tour over with, Savannah.”
I smirk and fall into step beside him.
“What’s the matter, Cole? Got a hot date planned?”
He snorts. “No. Definitely not. I’m sexiled.”
I tilt my head. “Come again?”
“Sexiled. It means no sex, dating, or worrying about any member of the fairer sex for a period of time. I’ve sentenced myself to a year.”
His words take me by surprise. “Why on earth would you do that to yourself?”
“Because I don’t know what the hell happened to my marriage. But I know that I’m a good dad and a hard worker. So, I am giving myself permission to focus on only those two things right now.” Cole glances at me coolly.
