Aggro - CoraLee June Page 0,54
surfboards inside rocked back and forth. He set it down and walked over to our display of surfboards and started running his fingers over a red one.
“What are you doing here, Lex? Do you even surf?” I asked, eyeing his pale skin that looked like it had never seen the sun.
“I’m thinking about getting into it,” he said offhandedly. “Say, Violet used to work here, didn’t she?”
“Yes,” I answered, suddenly very aware of the lie I had told Lex about not being close to Violet.
“Interesting.” Lex continued to wander around the store, picking up a random souvenir and studying it. I watched him, feeling slightly sick, wondering if he was going to ask me anything else about Violet. I wanted him to just leave, but I also wanted to know why he was here in the first place. Then something dawned on me.
“How do you know my dad?” I blurted out while Lex was turning over a ceramic dolphin in his hand, the same one Dad had just reshelved.
“We’re fellow business owners. Guess you could say we run in the same circles. I’m always looking for investment opportunities. It’s good to keep your options open,” he said as he set the dolphin down and smiled. “Hey, you didn’t happen to talk to the police about me, did you?” he asked before stalking over to me. My muscles jumped under my skin, and I struggled to keep still as he crept closer.
“N-No. I didn’t.”
“Really? Because I had a nice chat with Detective Rodriguez. He wanted to know how I knew Violet.”
I averted my eyes, but Lex gripped my chin, jerking my attention to his. “I don’t know anything about that.”
“Like you don’t know Violet? Let’s not lie to one another, Breeze.” Lex squeezed me tighter. “Don’t you worry. I told Detective Rodriguez the truth. I told him how Violet was my brother’s girlfriend. She was like family. I was real worked up about her death. Promised to help find her killer no matter what. It was a moving performance. But you know all about moving performances, don’t you?”
I tried to shake my head, but his grip was too strong. “I-I don’t know what you mean.” Lex tilted his head to the side before letting me go. The moment I was free, I rubbed my jaw and took a step back, nearly tripping over the wax display. “Be careful, Breeze. The last person that stuck their nose in my business wound up dead. Have a lovely day, I’ll see you later.”
I watched him leave the shop and let out the breath I had been holding. Lex was fucking dangerous. I spent the rest of my shift constantly looking over my shoulder and wondering how my dad knew Lex. Had Violet brought Lex to the surf shop? Kai had no interest in hanging out with her while she worked, and she knew my schedule. She knew when I would be here and when I wouldn’t be.
As soon as I closed down the shop for the night, I raced out the door. I had to talk to Kai.
Kai was working tonight. I waited outside the restaurant until his shift was over, feeling anxious and overwhelmed. When he stepped outside, with his white shirt covered in stains and sweat dripping down his face, I breathed a sigh of relief that felt foreign to me. I wasn’t sure when Kai became someone I could trust, but after my little chat with Lex, I welcomed the sense of security that washed over me.
“Breeze? You okay?” he asked while walking my way. I was leaning against my father’s Jeep with my arms crossed over my chest. I peered up at him through my thick lashes and let out a long sigh before responding, letting the tension in my body uncoil at his presence.
“Your brother stopped by the shop today,” I admitted.
Kai tensed. “Did he say anything to you?”
I looked around the parking lot and nearby bars. Tourists and locals were enjoying their Friday night, walking around and giggling loudly. “Can we go somewhere private to talk about it?” I asked.
Kai nodded and grabbed my hand. “Have you eaten?”
I thought about it. “Not since breakfast,” I replied with a shrug.
“I’ll be right back.” Kai jogged back toward the restaurant and, ten minutes later, appeared carrying a grocery sack with to go boxes. “Come on. I’ll drive. How long have you been waiting out here, anyway?” I smiled at his thoughtfulness.
“Couple hours. I just didn’t want to go home. Didn’t