Free The Trouble With Flirting by Claire LaZebnik Page B

back.”
    “ I’m up for a walk,” Alex says, looking at Isabella, who hesitates and says, “But poor Franny’s stuck here.”
    “I’m fine,” I say.
    “I’ll hang out here with her,” Harry says.
    “So will we,” says James. He’s been carefully arranging a very thick and plush beach blanket on the sand for the last few minutes, and now he settles down on it, pulling a few wrinkles smooth as he makes himself comfortable. He’s wearing baggy swim shorts and an unbuttoned oxford shirt, which reveals a thatch of sandy-colored chest hair and a couple of rolls of waist fat. “Man, that sun’s hot today.”
    “Yes, the sun has a way of being like that,” Marie says.
    Alex and Isabella tell us they’ll be back soon and wander off down the beach.
    I watch them go. He’s inclining his head toward her, listening intently to whatever it is she’s saying. The roar of the ocean makes their conversation instantly private.
    “It’s hot,” James says after a moment.
    “So you’ve already pointed out,” Marie replies. She’s still standing, her hands on her hips. She kicks a tiny bit of sand at Harry’s legs. He doesn’t seem to notice. She does it again, only with more sand, and he lifts his head and says, “Don’t,” and then goes back to sunbathing and ignoring her. She fidgets a bit, adjusting the waist of the leafy-green sarong she’s wearing around her tiny waist, then looks up and says, “You should drink something, James. You’re sweating like a pig.”
    “That’s because it’s hot.”
    “Yeah . . . You know what? I just remembered that we passed a coffee shop about two blocks back. I think you should go get us all some nice cold drinks.”
    “But we just got settled here.”
    “I’m dying of thirst.”
    He rises reluctantly to his feet. “I wish you’d told me that before.”
    “I know, I’m sorry.” She strokes his arm with sudden affection. “You’re so sweet. Get me an iced tea, okay? With lots of ice? And two Splendas? You guys want anything?” This last question is to me and Harry. He orders an iced coffee. I pass.
    “I don’t suppose you want to come with me?” James says to Marie.
    “I have to keep Franny company.” She slides down onto her knees next to me. “Since she’s stuck here and everyone else wants to take a walk. It would be mean for us all to just leave her.”
    “Okay, then, I’m off. I have my phone if you think of anything else you want.”
    “Thanks!” Marie says, all smiles and waves. “You’re totally my hero! Come back quickly!”
    He struggles through the sand toward the parking lot, stopping a couple of times to take off one of his Sperry boat shoes and shake the sand out of it.
    “Got rid of him ,” Harry says lightly.
    Marie shrugs with a little smile.
    A few seconds later she shifts around on the blanket and says, “This is boring. Let’s go explore a little, Harry.” She rises to her feet.
    “But I’m comfy.”
    “Don’t be so lazy.” She reaches down for his hand, and he shrugs and lets her haul him to his feet. Like it’s more work to resist, which maybe it is. Harry definitely takes the easiest path.
    Although he did carry me across the hot sand. Got to give him credit for that.
    “We’ll be right back,” Marie says to me.
    “No worries,” I say. I honestly don’t care.
    They head along the beach. As they disappear around the curve, I see Marie’s hand start trailing up Harry’s ridiculouslymuscled arm.
    I’m alone. I get a book out of my beach bag and try to focus on reading it. Try not to think about Alex and Isabella and how they’ve completely vanished. And what they’re talking about. Or whether they’re even talking at all.
    A shadow falls over me: Julia is back.
    “Where did everybody go? Where’s Harry?”
    “He and Marie went to explore.”
    “Are you kidding me? He just said he didn’t want to go for a walk!”
    “They’ll be back any second.”
    She drops down heavily next to me. “She has a