Page 65 of Sunset Catchers

“So…”, I say as I take in Sloane. “You’re the little sister because of whom Levi can understand vampire references and know what a girl dinner is.”

“In the flesh.” Sloane curtsies, her fingers pinching together to hold an imaginary skirt.

Levi seems worried suddenly by our instant affinity.

“You should totally spend the day with us,” Sloane offers. “We have a whole itinerary planned.”

“Oh. I don’t want to intrude on your day.” I tuck my hair behind my ears, my eyes darting quickly between Sloane and Levi.

“Please, you’ll be saving me from spending the whole day with my annoying older brother. We’ve been coming to this festival for years. We need some new blood.” My gaze lands on Levi. I try to read him to get a feel of what I should be saying here. I kind of really want to say yes, but not if Levi is not okay with it. We’re staring and frowning, trying to decode what the other is thinking.

“You should come with us,” he says first.

“Okay, sure.”

I’m trying to play it cool, but I’m very excited to have friends to hang out with today. Doing a whole festival on your own doesn’t sound as fun.

Sloane immediately goes to me, takes the books from my hands, turns around and drops them on the ones piled up in Levi’s arms, then adds three of her own. She grins.

“You’re paying for everyone’s books.” Then she links our elbows together and starts pulling me away. We instantly fall into easy conversation, giggling like a couple of teenagers.

When I look over my shoulder, Levi is clearly debating if he should bolt or not.

But then, his eyes dip down to my lips; I’m smiling big.

He picks up the pace.

“So, Winnie, what’s your life story?”

Levi shoots Sloane a warning glare from across the table where we are seated on the outdoor front terrace of their favorite pizza joint. Sloane pointedly ignores the warning. She keeps her attention on me.

I shift in my chair.

“There’s not much to say, really.”

I swear I hear Levi snort, but when I narrow my focus on him, his lips are sealed. Sloane nods slowly, her gaze flicking from Levi to me, then back again.

“Not a fan of talking about your story, I take it?”

“My story sucks, so, not really,” I confirm with a self-deprecating snort. Levi frowns at the sound.

Sloane trudges on. “No deep diving happening around here, then.”

“No. I’d rather just sit in my boat.”

“What about swimming around the boat?”

“Maybe, in shallow waters, that’s fine-ish. But I just don’t enjoy getting off the boat.”

“Not a fan of getting wet?”

Levi chokes on his sip of beer. Sloane and I briefly stare him down.

“Not really, no,” I say, looking back at Sloane.

“Okay, so casual and actual it is, then.” Sloane hesitates only for a second before saying, “Do you have someone to row with sometimes?” There’s some concern there.

“Yeah.” I nod fondly. “My best friend Junie. She’s the best rower. Gold medal. First place on the pedestal and all.”