I roll my eyes. “Yes, it’s on my calendar. And you’ve reminded me every day this week.”
“You better not skip, either of you,” she insists. “It’s meant to be fun. A chance to breathe before Phase Two begins.”
Leif’s shoulders drop by centimeters, the tightness around his lips easing. Not the reaction I expect from a man who deflects every social invitation.
Unless it’s just me he’s avoiding? What the hell could I have done to offend him?
“At The Breakwater?” Leif asks casually. “They have an underground garage, right?”
Chloe tucks her clipboard under one arm. “They do, but it’s not too far from the Fairwind Hotel. It would be faster to walk, since the market is open until seven o’clock, and Harbor Street will be closed.”
Quinn bounces on her toes. “Uncle Blake said I can wear my fancy dress with the sparkles and stay up until ten o’clock.”
Leif’s posture continues to relax, and the contrast with his earlier tension when discussing the market raises flags I can’t ignore.
“Will you come, Mr. Grady?” Quinn asks, tugging at my sleeve.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I reply, watching Leif from the corner of my eye. “Especially if you’re wearing sparkles.”
Chloe taps her pen on her clipboard. “We want everyone present. It’s our way of saying thank you. Even Kyle’s closing the water taxi early to attend.”
“Sounds lovely,” Leif says, and his sincerity surprises me. “I haven’t had a good reason to wear my suit in ages. I hope it still fits.”
I groan. “All of my suits are in storage.”
Chloe bounces over and links her arm through mine. “Do I smell a shopping trip in our future?”
I whack my cane against her foot. “Don’t you have unpacking to focus on?”
Leif straightens. “Actually, I was going to offer to, on the island to help get you all settled before the weekend. If you think another pair of hands will help?”
“That would beamazing,” Chloe breathes, abandoning me to snuggle up to his side. “I knew there was a reason we kept you around. You can have the room Grady rejected.”
“Hey, I didn’t reject it,” I protest.
“Yes, you did.” She scrunches her nose at me. “I can read your mind, Grady Finch.”
“No, you can’t.” I check the time and turn toward the door. “Well, I’m off to have lunch.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be helping me!” Chloe yells with indignation. “Where are you going that’s more important than me?”
I smirk. “That’s a secret.”
Her rosebud lips part in a shockedO.“What have you been hiding?”
Before I make it through the door, Quinn rushes over to attach herself to my leg in a goodbye hug that almost knocks me off balance.
“Bring honey sticks next time,” she whispers, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Leif clears his throat. “Quinn.”
“Please,” she adds, unrepentant.
I ruffle her hair, steadying myself against the doorframe. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Happy, she skips back to her art supplies.
I tap my cane on the porch. “Talk to you later. Have fun with the barge.”