I Thought It Was You (Oceanic Dreams #4)
Page 12
Then I’d followed them around, up to the basketball courts. Thirty minutes ago, after their game had wrapped up, when I was hiding a few feet away, blocked by a potted fern, sunning myself on a nearby lounge chair, I’d overheard them planning to meet here. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business, it’s that what people say they’re going to do and what they actually do are rarely the same, so having them end up here in the Komos Lounge like they’d planned was a win.
From here, I could overhear their conversation perfectly. I discreetly hit the ‘record’ feature on my phone and took out my notebook and a pen. I made two columns. One that said Signs Point to Guilty and another that said Signs Point to Innocent. So far, I didn’t have an opinion either way, but it never hurt to be prepared. Then I pulled out my self-help books. The better to hide my notebook beneath, in case one of the guys happened to walk my way. I opened one of the books and pretended to read it while I kept eavesdropping.
“The thing about the Franklin Valley Pioneers,” Phil was saying, “is that they’ve got a heckuva lotta big kids who really know how to hit the ball…”
This again? I shook my head, standing up to sip my drink. I was reminding myself of a coyote I once saw trying to drink out of my parents’ birdbath. Things didn’t end well for that coyote. He spilled the whole birdbath on himself. Hopefully I’m a little more graceful than that.
This Phil guy has been talking about the little league team he coaches since we left Miami. I don’t know how his friends can take it.
“But—and get this craziness—” he continued, “Franklin Valley makes their kids raise money for their own uniforms! Can you believe that? What a bunch of cheap-asses. Their coach has got the kids out there selling candy bars just to put clothes on their backs. Now answer me this: How can you focus on winning regionals if you’re busy selling candy bars?”
Yet, still, they’re beating your team, I thought.
“Yet, still, they’re beating your team,” Eli said, laughing. I smiled. Somehow, his delivery was rather charming. Not condescending at all.
Phil’s going to tell him that it’s because they’ve got so many big kids on their team, I guessed.
“Yeah, but they’ve got a heckuva lotta big kids on their team,” Phil replied defensively.
If there’s another thing I’ve learned in this business, it’s that people might not often do what they say they’re going to do. Nevertheless, they’re still quite predictable.
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Acknowledgments
What a crazy adventure! Thank you to my fellow authors, Holly K, Laura, Tracy, Holly T, Delancey, Monique and Sophie for working alongside me on this project. An extra special thank-you to Laura and Sophie for being my first readers and giving me some great feedback.
Thank you also to Diane, who had some very fun insight about working on a cruise. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
And thanks to Natasha. I can’t wait for you to write another book so I can help you with yours!
Lastly a huge thank you to my readers, especially Vikkie and Brooke. Any author would be lucky to have you on their side.
Copyright © 2019 by Kirsty McManus
www.kirstymcmanus.com.au
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The attached novella is a word of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, or events is merely a coincidence.
Also By Kirsty Mcmanus
1997 (Book 2 in the 90s Flashback Series)
1996 (Book 1 in the 90s Flashback Series)
MultiDate
Lightweight
Perfume Therapy
Saved by the Celebutante
Zen Queen
The Oceanic Dreams Series
Book 1: I Saw Him Standing There by Holly Kerr
Book 2: Time of My Life by Laura Heffernan
Book 3: Circle in the Sand by Tracy Krimmer
Book 4: I Thought It Was You by Kirsty McManus
Book 5: I Will Follow Him by Holly Tierney-Bedord
Book 6: Take a Chance on Me by Delancey Stewart
Book 7: Shut Up and Dance with Me by Monique McDonell
Book 8: The Best of You by Sophie-Leigh Robbins
About the Author
Kirsty McManus was born in Sydney, Australia and moved to Queensland when she was 14. When she was 25, she lived in Japan for a year with her partner Kesh and worked as an English teacher. This was the inspiration behind her debut novel, Zen Queen. She also spent a year in Canada and then settled back down on the Sunshine Coast in 2008. She now writes almost full time, designs the occasional website and looks after her two little boys.