Free The Trouble With Flirting by Claire LaZebnik

see it,” Isabella says. “Not until my nanny got out a magnifying glass. But it hurt so much I thought I would pass out. Hold on, Franny—don’t poke at it like that. You don’t want it to break off under the skin.”
    “Let me see it,” Alex says. “Maybe I can pull it out cleanly.”
    “If I can just find a place to sit down, I can do it.” I look for a nearby bench or rock.
    Alex ignores me. “Julia, support her. Isabella, grab her leg and help me get it a little higher.” Before I know it, my foot is being hauled way up high. I’m still protesting that I can takecare of this myself, but no one’s listening to me.
    “Anyone have a pair of tweezers?” Vanessa asks, moving in to get a closer look.
    “Why would anyone bring a pair of tweezers to the beach?” Julia says.
    “You never know.”
    “My mom keeps a first-aid kit in her car,” Lawrence says, peering over Vanessa’s shoulder.
    “That would be useful information if your mother’s car were here ,” says Julia.
    “You guys are blocking my light. Move back, will you?” Alex is cradling my shin firmly in the palm of his left hand, angling it around to try to get the best view of my foot. His hand is warm.
    I’d be lying if I said I’ve never imagined feeling Alex’s hand on my leg.
    Sadly, that daydream didn’t include a throng of people staring at us.
    “Hold it steady,” Alex says to Isabella, like my leg has nothing to do with me, everything to do with her.
    “Yes, doctor,” she says, and they share a quick smile.
    He lightly touches his index finger to the skin near where the glass entered my foot, and I yelp again.
    “Sorry,” Alex says. “Okay. One quick pull. You ready, Franny?” He bends over my foot, but then—
    “What’s going on?” A new voice. We all look up.
    It’s Marie. She’s got a big beach bag on one arm and herpudgy boyfriend, James, on the other.
    “Franny stepped on a piece of glass,” Alex explains.
    James makes a little clucking noise of sympathy.
    Julia says, “What are you guys doing here?”
    “I decided a day at the beach sounded like fun, so James drove us here to meet up with you guys.” Marie turns to Harry. “I don’t see you helping out with this operation.”
    “I’m providing moral support,” he says airily. “It’s a very challenging job.”
    “You trying to be moral? I’m sure it is,” she counters archly.
    “Will you please just take it out?” Julia snaps at Alex. “Or am I supposed to stand here all day holding her up?”
    “Okay. For real this time.” He bends over me, and I feel his fingers on my foot and there’s a stinging moment of pain, and then . . . less pain. “Got it!” he says, and holds up a small sliver of green glass for everyone to see.
    He and Isabella release my leg, and I balance carefully on my toe. “And to think I’ve always loved sea glass,” I say. “I even have a collection. But it turned against me.”
    Alex says, “You guys go find a spot on the beach and put your towels down. Harry and I can carry Franny.”
    Lawrence and Vanessa head down toward the beach.
    “You don’t need to carry me!” I say. God, it keeps getting more and more embarrassing. “Seriously, I can just hop. It’s a tiny little wound. I’m fine.”
    They ignore me.
    “How should we do this?” Harry asks Alex. “Shoulders and knees? Crossed arms under her?”
    “Do you need another set of hands?” asks James.
    Alex shakes his head. “For tiny little Franny? Nah.”
    “I could probably just pick her up by myself,” Harry says.
    “Oh, listen to the big strong man,” Julia says. “We’re all really impressed over here.”
    “Fine. I’ll show you.” Before I can even say anything, he’s pushing her and Isabella out of the way and scooping me up in his arms. His biceps bulge. I know because I’m looking right at them. I wonder if he works out a lot.
    What am I saying? This is Harry—of course he works out a lot.
    “Put me down!” I say. “I can