LAURIE

“What time should I come over?” I wedged my cell phone between my chin and neck as I reached over the trolley to grab a bag of chips. 

“Whenever you want. Rebecca and Gentry are leaving at five, but they don’t mind if you come over and hang out.”

“And who will be there?”

“Maverick’s invited some of the guys: Luke, Trey, probably the rest of the team. And Kyle said he’d asked Matty and Trent. I don’t know if Macey will stick around. She’s being extra-bitchy lately.” 

“You can hardly blame her though,” I said as I moved down the aisle, mentally picturing the inside of the refrigerator at home. I was out of milk, juice, dip, all the important things.

“Where are you?”

“Huh? At the store, why?”

“You just reeled off a shopping list,” Lo chuckled.

“I did? Weird.” I hadn’t realized I’d said it out loud. “I’ll probably take this home, get changed and head straight over, okay?”

“Okay, bye. Wait... Kyle wants to speak to you.”

“Hey, where are you?” He sounded out of breath.

“At the store, why?”

“Can you pick up some guacamole? The one with the jalapenos.”

“Seriously, Kyle?”

“And some popcorn, yeah, get popcorn. Okay, love you, bye.”

Letting out an exasperated breath, I shoved my cell in my purse and went in search of guacamole, but I misjudged the corner and sent a whole display of Reese’s Pieces careening across the floor.

“Shit,” I muttered, and an amused voice said, “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

“Only when she’s in town.” I hadn’t realized how loud I'd said it until my eyes landed on Jared Teller’s face and he arched his brow in question. I waved him off. “Forget it.”

“Rough day?”

“You could say that,” I said eyeing the Reese’s massacre.

“Come on, I’ll help you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” It was weird. Besides, I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea. Not after he’d made it more than obvious he liked me... and I’d been the fool to think guys and girls could just be friends.

They couldn’t, not really.

There was always an ulterior motive: one wanted the other; one wanted the inside scoop of the other’s best friend/brother/sister/teammate. I should have just walked away to avoid the whole I-thought-we-could-be-friends-but-I-screwed-it-up awkwardness that was currently crackling around us. But Jared was already picking up the spilled candy, stacking them in neat little rows on their rightful shelf. 

“So, how’s your summer so far?” he asked, and I grumbled something about it being fine.

“I heard Prince is throwing a party tonight?”

“Is he? I mean, I knew he’d invited some people. I didn’t realize it was a thing.”

Heavy silence filled the space between us. Jared handed me the last of the Reese’s and ours fingers grazed. He sucked in a sharp breath, and I snatched my hand away, tucking it behind me. 

“Thanks again for your help.” I forced a smile trying not to meet his eyes. “You really didn’t have to.”

“It’s only spilled candy, Laurie. I think we’re safe.” he said cryptically. “I guess I’ll see you around.” His eyes searched mine a couple of seconds longer and then he gave me a stiff nod and disappeared down the aisle. And I doubled around and went the other way, hoping to avoid another moment at the checkout.

~

“I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY going to be a few people?” I shouted over the music to Lo. 

“It was supposed to be.” She glanced around the Stone-Prince’s yard and rubbed her temples. “Rebecca and my uncle are going to flip if they find out.”

“Too late. I saw Jared today at the store and he knew about the party which probably means every kid in town does. There’s no way your aunt and uncle aren’t going to find out.”

“Ugh.”

A couple of half-naked girls ran past us and leaped into the pool, earning them a round of cheers and Lo groaned. “We could always just go to yours? They won’t even miss—”

“Cous, really? You want to bail already?”

“It’s out of control, Kyle, and you know it.” Lo levelled him with a look. “I mean, who are all these people?”

“You didn’t invite them? Huh!” he said around a strained smile.

“Kyle,” I hissed. “You’re not helping.”

“Helping what? It’s a party. Everyone knows where they are, and not to get too—” A loud crash followed by the sound of glass smashing came from inside. “Shit, hold that thought.” Kyle’s eyes went wide as someone yelled. “I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared and me and Lo moved further into the canopied area. Most of the kids were around the pool, soaking up the last couple of hours of sunlight. “That didn’t sound good,” I said.

“Let them deal with it. When the shit hits the fan tomorrow, I’ll deny all knowledge.”

“Who the fuck are all these people?” Maverick dropped down into one of the chairs and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I invited some of the guys from the team. That was it.”

“Well, someone spread the news because this is... party central,” I mused.

“I should just shut it down. I don’t want these fuckers wrecking the yard or trying to break into the pool house or some crazy shit.”

Lo crawled over her chair and into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You really didn’t invite them?”

“Is that a joke? I hate people. Most people.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I wanted a chill night with you and the guys. Not this. I bet it was Trey, that fucker can’t keep his mouth shut.”

“Okay.” Kyle reappeared looking pleased with himself. “Disaster averted. Momma P never liked that ugly-ass vase in the kitchen anyway, right?”

“You mean the vase her mom left her when she died?”

The look on Kyle’s face was priceless. His mouth hung open as me and Lo tried to stifle our laughter.

“You’re kidding me, right? I mean, it’s butt-ugly.”

“You tell that to my mom.” Maverick was so deadpan, I almost choked on the laughter building in my throat.

“Seriously? Ah, shit. Should I try to glue it back together or something?”

“You might want to get on that.”

Kyle’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Wait a minute...” We all exploded with laughter and Kyle flipped Maverick off. “You almost gave me a heart attack.” He flopped down beside me, slipping his arm around my shoulder.

“It was kind of funny,” I said peeking up at him.

“It’s a good thing I love you.”

“Love you too, bro,” Maverick drawled and Lo and I exchanged a look.

“Okay, enough with the bromance, what are we going to do about that?”

The four of us watched as Trey and another guy hoisted girls onto their shoulders in the pool, the girls shrieking with delight.

“Ahh, let them have their fun,” Maverick said, surprising us. “We can tidy up the place tomorrow before Mom and Gentry get back.”

“Who are you right now, and what have you done with Maverick Prince?” Lo grabbed his jaw and brought their faces together.

“He’s still here, he’s just in a surprisingly good mood.” They started making out, and I ducked into Kyle’s shoulder feeling my cheeks flush. If Kyle noticed my sudden change in mood, he didn’t let on as he stroked my shoulder.

“Hey, where’s Macey?”

“Beats me,” Maverick managed to tear himself away from Lo’s mouth to answer. “She’s been acting weird since graduation.”

“You know, I’m pretty sure there’s a guy.” Kyle said and Lo widened her eyes.

“Kyle!”

“What? I am. She’s been acting as shady as fuck and when I called her out on it, she didn’t deny it.”

“If it's true, then good luck to him is all I can say.” Lo shrugged. “He’ll need thick skin and a dead heart.”

“London,” Maverick warned, and I smiled to myself. He hadn’t called her that in a while, at least, not publicly. But she’d told me once how much it pissed her off.

“What? It’s true and you know it. She’s cold, Maverick. Even after everything, she still won’t let me in.”

“Give her time.”

Lo huffed and climbed off her boyfriend. “This girl needs a drink. Laurie?”

“Sounds good.” I slipped out of Kyle’s hold and stood up. “We might as well as enjoy the party, since, you know, you two are going to stand guard all night.”

“Babe,” Kyle said the same time as Maverick said, “London.”

“Have fun, guys.” She waved her fingers and then motioned for me to follow. Kyle’s gaze narrowed, but I shot him a little smirk and went after my best friend.

~

“ISAWJAREDATTHESTOREANDHEWASTOTALLYWEIRD,” I burst out as we hid out in the pool house. We’d left the guys and gone in search of drinks, but some guy tried to feel up Lo and then a couple of girls had recognized us as Stone-Prince ‘property’. It was enough for us to grab whatever alcohol we could find and slip into the pool house. Lo had a key and no one else had managed to find a way in yet. So, while the party raged on outside, we’d drunk our way through questionable smelling beer, and half a bottle of gin and juice.

“You saw him?” She shuffled up the couch. “What’d he say?”

“Something about spilled candy and being safe.” I jabbed my bottle forward, and some beer sloshed over the rim.

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“Good question. He helped me pick up a display of Reese’s Pieces.”

“And why were you picking up a display of candy? She hiccupped.

“Long story. But the point is... wait, what is the point? Oh yes, right, Jared Teller is ruining things.”

“He’s ruining things? Because he helped you pick up some Reese’s?”

“Yes. Trying to be all kind and helpful and getting in my head.”

“He’s in your head?”

“What?” My eyes snapped to hers and she hiccupped again.

“You said Jared was in your head.”

“I did?”

Lo nodded slowly. “So, he’s not in your head?”

“Yes. No. Maybe. Oh, I don’t know. It isn’t even about Jared, it’s about what Jared represents.”

“You’re going to have to go slower. I can barely feel my face right now.” She laughed but it got caught in a hiccup and next thing I knew, Lo was choking and spluttering, and gasping something about water.

I practically crawled to the sink, leaning against the counter to stay upright. “Coming, water is coming.” How I ever got the glass back to her in one piece was beyond my alcohol-induced fogged brain, but she grabbed it from me, draining the whole thing.

“Better.” Lo dragged the back of her hand across her mouth. “Thanks. So, you were saying... Jared is in your head?”

What was it about a potential emergency that had you sober in three-seconds flat?

“Ignore me,” I said darting my gaze around her face. “It was the alcohol talking.”

“Laurie, don’t do that. Don’t shut me out.”

Dropping into the chair opposite her, I let out a heavy sigh. “It’s not Jared, it’s not. It’s just...” I didn’t even know anymore.

“You’re scared.”

This time I did meet Lo’s eyes and understanding glittered back at me. “Yeah, I am. I’m so scared.”

“You know, when I first arrived in Wicked Bay, I was so lost. I hated my new family, hated my dad for making me move over here. And some days, I still hate him. God, I was so angry at him when I found out about Stella.” She wasn’t hiccupping anymore. She was completely calm. Her words were so full of truth, and pain, and loss, that they sucked the wind from my lungs. “I lost everything, Laurie. Everything. One night, I was out with Mum and my brother, enjoying life, and then the next... they were gone. And I had to learn how to live with that, to accept that I got to live when they didn’t. I don’t think there has been a single day since I woke up in hospital when I haven’t felt scared. Scared that I’ll never get to hug my mum again or goof around with my brother. Scared that Stella and Bethany will somehow replace me and become my dad’s new family. Scared that if anything ever happens between me and Maverick, I’ll be lost and alone again. I’m scared all the time.

“Laurie, I know your parents don’t make things easy. I know you’re scared about what will happen if you follow Kyle to USC, and I know you’re scared that he’ll find out about Jared. But do you know what else I know? I know you love my jerk-off cousin. I know you want to believe in him and your future together. And I know you did nothing wrong with Jared. It was a few text messages, that’s it. You did the right thing, you set him straight. So as your best friend—and maybe who knows one day we’ll be family—I’m asking you to stop worrying about what-ifs and maybes, and just follow your heart. Because so far, mine hasn’t led me wrong.”

Lo rubbed her hands together and gave me a pointed look. “We good?”

“Yeah.” I swiped a tear from my eye and swallowed the rest down. “We’re good. And thank you, Lo, for everything. You’re my best friend.”

She picked up another bottle and tilted it toward me. “Now let’s see how long it takes our men to find us.”