“Well, we don’t have much in the way of bikinis, but we have some athletic tankinis, if you’re into that kind of thing.” I bring her around to another rack.

She looks a few over and picks one that’s as many shades of pink and black as her hair and holds it to herself.

“We have dressing rooms. Want one?”

She nods shyly. I remove the keys from my elbow and unlock a room for her before returning to the counter and checking my phone.

I have five unanswered texts from Duke, the last claiming he was on his way to confirm that I was making good choices and to drive me home from work. Before I can even tap out a response, he’s at the front window, staring in. I walk to the door and open it.

“She in there?” he asks, still looking.

“No. Thank God. You are the literal worst at recon. Your hair could be seen by a 747 overhead.”

He ruffles his freshly showered hair and grins apologetically. “Sorry. I overreacted when you didn’t respond.”

“I told you I didn’t need a sitter.”

“You turned her away?” he asks, impressed until reason dawns. “Or she didn’t ask?”

For some reason, this annoys me more. “Of course she asked. She wanted to go to Harlow Lake.”

“Really.”

“Yes, really. And I turned her down. I told her I wasn’t doing that anymore.”

“More like he pretended to have other plans with me. Hi, I’m Meg,” Meg says, holding her hand out to Duke. To me, she raises the suit. “I’ll take it.”

“And I’m Duke. Nice to meet you, Meg.” He looks at me questioningly.

“I met Meg at the point earlier, and she came in as Emily was putting on the pressure.”

“So, you didn’t turn her down.”

“Not exactly.”

“And you dragged a girl you barely know into this mess?”

“And!” Meg adds, her eyes sparkling. “He was so grumpy when I first met him! I thought I was in another dimension for a minute when he begged me to pretend to be his date.”

Duke laughs. “I believe it.”

“It was a deal!” I say. “You owed me one!”

“For what?” Duke asks.

“For giving up his spot at the point.”

“For giving up his spot in a public space,” Duke repeats dryly.

“Exactly,” I say, taking the bathing suit to ring it up. Duke follows us back to the register. “And I offered free ice cream.”

“From the coupon?” he confirms. “That doesn’t count. You didn’t pay for that. You have to take her out properly or it’s a lie.”

“Oh, well—” Meg starts, no doubt seeing the glare I’m leveling at my friend.

“I just got out of one date. I wasn’t trying to get another.”

“Clearly,” Duke mutters, and Meg snickers into her shoulder.