Free Jeremy (Broken Angel #4) by L. G. Castillo Page B

seemed to be the leader of the group of dancers. In the middle of the song, they called out to some tourists, gesturing them to join them in the dance.
    “Hey, Jeremy,” Sammy said, taking a step back to join him.
    “What’s up, buddy?”
    “We’re giving Candy Hu the stink eye. Right, Leilani?”
    “Sammy!” Leilani whirled at the sound of her name. Her eyes widened when she spotted Jeremy. He grinned.
    “I’ve heard of the evil eye, but stink eye is a new one for me.”
    “We’re not giving her the stink—”
    “But you said—”
    “You misheard me, Sammy. I said Candy likes to drink virgin Mai Tais.” She smiled widely, speaking in a sugary-sweet voice through gritted teeth. It was pretty impressive . . . and a bit scary.
    “We were just watching Candy give hula lessons to the tourists,” she added.
    Leilani was a bad liar. She was jealous of this girl, Candy. It was written all over her face. The question was why.
    “Are you thinking about getting lessons?” he asked.
    “Leilani already knows how to hula. Auntie Anela taught her,” Sammy said.
    “Really?” He looked back at Candy moving her slender arms gracefully. “You can do that?”
    “And what makes you think I can’t?” she snapped.
    “Whoa.” He took a step back, placing up his hands in defense. Leilani’s brown eyes were boring a hole through him. He was obviously touching a sore spot with her. “I didn’t mean anything by that.”
    Sammy tugged on his t-shirt, curling his finger for him to bend down. When he squatted, Sammy whispered in his ear, “The change. Remember?”
    “Yeah, right.” He chuckled.
    “What are you two whispering about?” Leilani asked.
    “Nothing.” Jeremy winked as he stood back up.
    “Oh, God,” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “Let’s go and get you some ice cream, squirt, before you share my life story with everyone in the market.”
    “Come on, Jeremy,” Sammy called back to him as he took Leilani’s hand. “You can have some—what? He’s my friend.”
    Jeremy looked at Leilani, who was shaking her head frantically to Sammy.
    “That’s okay, Sammy. Maybe another time.” It was probably time for him to leave anyway. For some strange reason, a lump decided to form in his throat.
    Leilani tilted her head, and her long lashes blinked as she gazed at him curiously. He squirmed under her scrutiny.
    How did she do that? He’d never been uncomfortable around any woman except for Naomi, and he had a history with her. Leilani was just a child, yet she seemed to be able to read him. He didn’t like it. Not at all.
    “You’re welcome to join us if you’d like,” she finally said.
    “Yeah, Jeremy. Hot fudge sundae on me.” Sammy beamed.
    Before he could turn them down and take himself and his crocodile boots out of there, he suddenly found himself sitting at a small table next to a plumeria tree with a loaded banana split in front of him.
    A breeze blew through the trees, sending a few of the flowers fluttering onto the table. He inhaled, loving the smell of the ocean air mixed with the flowers’ jasmine and coconut scent. As they ate, Sammy chirped on about school. Keeping her eye on Candy, Leilani silently swirled a spoon around the Styrofoam bowl, turning her ice cream into a chocolate blob.
    “Ooh, there’s my friend, Kevin.” Sammy waved at a boy sitting with his parents several tables away. “Can I go talk to him? Can I, Leilani?”
    “I thought you were talking to Jeremy.”
    Sammy’s eyes darted back and forth between Jeremy and Kevin. Jeremy laughed. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. I’m cool if your sister’s cool with it.”
    “Please, Leilani. I never see Kevin.”
    “You saw him at school yesterday.”
    “Yesterday was a long time ago. Please.” Sammy stuck out his bottom lip and widened his baby blues. Jeremy shoved a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth, trying not to laugh. The kid was a natural. The boy was going to have to fight off the ladies when he grew