Chapter 33

It’s too late to hide.

Alix and Zee are standing just a few feet away, their surfboards towering over me as they stare down in disbelief.

“I thought you were visiting your aunt in New York for the summer,” Alix says, his voice barbed. “What’s going on?”

“Ash? You know them?” Kitty asks, dropping her nail polish in the sand as I scramble to my feet.

Zee tries to say something, but Alix cuts her off.

“No, let Ash speak for herself,” he says.

“It’s complicated,” I say. “I can explain.”

“Damn right you’re going to explain,” Alix says.

Before I can speak, I feel a hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me back. Alastaire steps between Alix and I, his sun-dazed champagne stupor gone in a flash.

“And who exactly are you, hmmm?” He asks, his eyes hooked angrily on Alix. “What business do you have with my Cupcake?”

“What the…” Alix is shaking his head as he stares at Alastaire like he’s some kind of alien. “Cupcake?”