Forbidden Boy

“I guess we never had the ‘how are you spending your summer vacation’ talk, did we?” Remi chuckled.

“During the school year, I intern for this architectural firm up in Seattle. They do a lot of really interesting stuff—eco-friendly, sustainable—and a lot of structurally i

Jules couldn’t help notice the way his button-down shirt drew attention to his strong chin and the way his eyes sparkled when he spoke. No, no, no, she reminded herself. You can’t like him. You just can’t.

Julia

Hailey Abbott

she was, but she was determined to affect a look of casual disinterest. So what if he was cute, smart, fu

And there was a good chance he would turn into a jerk himself. He probably wasn’t even that interested in eco-design anyway—maybe he had been wait-listed for some suit-required corporate internship and had gotten shuffled into this job.

“So when my folks told me they were moving down here, it seemed like a really good opportunity to check out the LA office,” Remi added. “It’s a newer office, a little bit smaller; so that’s how I got to project manage this summer. Basically, it’s a cool job and an independent study all rolled up into one, you know?” Julia

“So what are you doing here?” Remi asked. Julia

“Bill Cullen, the contractor, set me up with the job,” Julia

Forbidden Boy

self. Did I really just say that out loud?

Remi nodded appreciatively, oblivious to Julia

“Excuse me?” she managed to choke out, trying desperately to figure out how things could possibly get any weirder. She pushed up the sleeves of her T-shirt, like she was getting ready for a fight. The whole construction site, which had felt so magical and full of possibility just half an hour ago, seemed to be shrinking, closing in on her.

“I said that I want you to know that I can be totally professional,” Remi repeated sweetly. “And that I promise not to make this weird.”

Julia

“Julia

Hailey Abbott

at her across the desk.

Please let him disappear, please let him magically disappear, Julia

“I think you should leave,” she blurted out. “Or I should leave. Someone should leave.” Remi’s eyes widened in surprise. “Um, okay. I can go back outside, but it would help if you could tell me why I’m going?” He said it like Julia

“I believe in what everyone’s doing here, and I want to be a part of it,” she said shakily.

“Okay,” Remi said again slowly. “So far, it sounds like we’re both on the same page.”

“I don’t think we are,” Julia

“What?” Remi crinkled his brow, genuinely befud-dled. “What do my parents have to do with this job? You don’t even know my parents.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that you’re Remi Moore?” Julia

“Why didn’t I tell you my last name?” Remi tried to keep up with Julia

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Julia

“I didn’t realize I hadn’t told you my last name. I guess it never came up. I can try again. Hi, I’m Remi Moore. Nice to meet you.” Remi smiled at Julia

Julia

“Okay,” Remi said, trying again. “Remi is short for Remington, but no one other than my folks ever uses the full name. My full, full name is Remington Justin Moore. When I was in third grade the other kids teased me because they thought Remington sounded like the name of a British butler. My cousin Sophie also said that the Remington is a type of razor or something, but I’d never heard of it.” He continued to smile weakly in Julia

Her frustration boiling inside, Julia

“It’s destroying the beach!” Julia

“You know, the beach where I grew up? Where I live 77

Hailey Abbott

now? With my family? The beach where we hung out the other day?”

“Julia

“You just don’t understand,” Julia

“Do you even know what that house could do to my family?”

“No!” Remi exclaimed, his face knitted in frustration.

“That’s what I’m trying to say—I have no idea! And I have no idea what I have to do with any of it. Please, please explain it to me!”

Julia

“Hey, Jules.” He nodded his head in acknowledgment at Remi before continuing. “Just wanted to check in.

How’s it going? Need anything?”

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Forbidden Boy

Julia