I don’t know why I tell him that. It feels like the first time I’ve admitted it.

“You should.” His voice is gentle, and there’s something intimate about it. Like he wants me to stay with him.

“I’ll think about it.”

He’s watching me, but I keep my eyes on the water.

“Want to go for a swim?” he asks, and I’m about to answer, but then his hand is brushing against my arm, propped in the sand. It nearly chokes me with the way he feels so brazen to touch me.

“I’m good here,” I answer. “You can, though.” I squint at him with a smile, and everything feels suddenly so awkward.

“Me too,” he echoes as he leans back in the sand the same way I am, elbows dug into the beach towel. It makes me feel suddenly exposed, and I sit up to counteract it.

I pull my knees up to my body and loop my arms around my legs. He turns on his side and faces me. His fingers brush my arm again, then my stomach flips as they slide down the length of my calf. Who the fuck does this guy think he is?

I glance behind me, secretly praying that Logan would be nearby, but I practically go pale when I notice that the nearby families have all left. Other than two or three quiet couples scattered far from us, we are alone. My nerves are on fire and every alarm in my head is telling me to get out of this situation.

“Are you looking for your boyfriend?” he says, and I freeze.

“I don’t—” I stammer, but he cuts me off.

“Word travels fast around here, Sierra. I know about you and Logan Woods.”

Hearing his full name on Hale’s lips makes it hard to breathe. How did I not even know his last name yet? The way he said it has my skin crawling. However he knows Logan, it’s not a good relationship, and I can’t bear to hear anymore.

“I was just about to leave.” I grab my water bottle, readying myself to stand, but he grabs my hand and not in a warm, friendly way.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’d stay away from him. Logan’s about to go down, and if you get too close, he’ll take you down with him.”

“Let go of me,” I snap at him, quickly jerking my hand away.

He laughs. “You tell that boyfriend of yours that if he doesn’t get me my money, he’s going to have much bigger problems on his hands than some dealing charges. You want to send him that message for me…”

He eyes me suspiciously, and it makes my stomach turn.

“Or should we send him another message?” He winks, and I grit my teeth at him.

“Logan had nothing to do with Tyler’s death. You can try to intimidate him, but you don’t scare me.” Then, I move to stand, grabbing my towel and bag from the sand.