Swing and a Mishap (Summersweet Island 2)

I just raced right inside the back door that was propped open when I got here a few minutes ago, and didn’t even think to go back out and look at it once I saw the damage inside. Clearly, my mom hadn’t noticed either, a shocked look on her face when she comes back around the corner.

“I didn’t even notice the deadbolt was gone, since we never lock it. I just noticed the handle wasn’t locked when I got here. There’s a damn hole in our door!” my mom complains.

“Shepherd made me lock the deadbolt,” I tell her with a shrug.

“Already called Billy down at the station. He’ll be stopping by in a little bit to get your statement, and Margot is picking up a new deadbolt from the hardware store on her way here,” Ed says, dragging the full garbage bag over to the side and then grabbing a clean one from the box on the counter. “Like you said, probably just a drunk tourist that got bored.”

“Orrr…” my mom trails off, looking at me pointedly.

“I already told you Shepherd and I didn’t do this. I am not lying,” I whisper, leaning closer to her so Ed doesn’t hear.

“Did you say you and Shepherd did this?” Ed asks, pausing as he shakes out the new garbage bag. “Huh. He really doesn’t look like the wild lover type. It’s always the quiet ones.”

“Oh my God,” I mutter. “For the last time, we didn’t do this. From this point forward, no one is allowed to talk about my love life, got it?”

I look away from both of them when my cheeks heat with mortification that Ed was even anywhere near here last night while Shepherd and I were…

Nope, don’t think about that right now or you’ll start moaning in front of them.

At least we were behind the wall that separates the front of the shop from the back and no one could see us from outside, thank God. It was definitely hot, and I would like to repeat it ASAP, but not with spectators. And now I need a moment to pinch myself, because I have a love life.

I have a love life!

“I wasn’t talking about you and Shepherd. I was talking about Kevin,” my mom tells me, making me laugh.

“Kevin? Why would Kevin trash the Dip and Twist? And he’s not even on the island yet.”

“Because he’s a special kind of asshole?” Ed pipes up, and my mom nods.

“You know that man always sneaks onto Summersweet a good few hours before we catch wind of it,” she reminds me.

He does do this. A real father would come right to his son as soon as he steps off the ferry, especially since it’s been six months since the last time Kevin even spoke to Owen. But that’s never been the case. Kevin only thinks of Kevin, and as soon as he’s gotten off the ferry the handful of times he’s come to this island, he’d much rather walk around trying to flaunt his wealth and social status, putting down the island and trying to make everyone feel small before he eventually comes to find his son.

“Well, it’s been at least eight hours at this point,” I say, bending down to grab a pile of pink plastic spoons and walking them over to the garbage bag Ed holds open for me. “Kevin would have definitely pissed someone off in eight hours, and we’d have heard about it. He’s an asshole, but he’s not a criminal. He would never stoop so low or get his hands dirty for something like this.”

I snort at just the idea of it and then groan when I bend over to pick up a plastic tray, realizing it’s stuck to the floor, my hands coming away covered in chocolate.

So much for them only dumping dry goods.

A white-hot ball of rage rushes through me when I remember meeting Kevin over on the mainland for lunch when Owen was four, and all Kevin did was complain about how messy Owen was and “I know it’s tough for your small brain to understand this, but my shirt costs more than you make in a month, and you can’t really afford to replace it if it gets ruined.”

My phone dings with an incoming text, and I quickly wipe my hands off on a towel before pulling my phone out of my back pocket. My mood instantly goes from pissed the hell off to calm and deliriously happy.

Shepherd “Hottest Man I’ve Ever Kissed” Oliver: Where are you? Is everything okay? I’m down by the ferry dock and just got to your booth to help set up. It’s been too long since I kissed you. Hurry up.

“Go, we’ve got this,” my mom reassures me as she reads the text over my shoulder, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “The Summersweet Festival waits for no one, and our booth is always the most popular. Go to your man and get to work.”