“I’ll text you the details about this weekend. My dad let’s us take off early. We usually head out around noon. The drive there is a real bitch if we hit traffic,” I call out, walking backward.
“What makes you think I want to go anywhere with you?”
“Figured you’d want to be there to cheer on yournot-boyfriends.” I smirk as I pull open the driver’s-side door of my truck.
“I thought we agreed not to make that a thing!”
“See ya later, Princess!” I shout back before slipping into my seat and starting up the engine.
I can’t help but look back at her, still standing there with her brow furrowed and her hands resting on her hips as I pull away.
Dust kicks up behind me, clouding her reflection in my rearview, but not before I see her glance down at her phone and smile.
A real one.
My chest tightens, but I look away and shake my head, refusing to lose my mind over a fucking smile.
CHAPTER SIX
SADIE
Ilooklikeanidiot, grinning down at my phone like it’s the first time a boy has ever texted me.
If you’d told me a week ago I’d be here—standing outside abarn, wearing dirty hand-me-down cowboy boots, grinning at my phone like a fool—I would’ve assumed you were clinically insane, or that I’d officially lost my mind and was in psychosis. Because none of this feels real. And yet somehow, it’s the realest thing I have right now.
I’m trying not to get too comfortable. Not to let my guard down.
Especially not with him.
Wesley is the epitome of emotional whiplash—hot one second, ice-cold the next. Still, there’s something in the way he looks at me sometimes—like he’s trying not to. Like he doesn’twantto want to.
And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel it too.
A flutter low in my stomach ignites when he looks at me like that. Like heseesme.
He’s attractive.Obviously.I’m not blind. He has that dark and rough-around-the-edges thing going for him. Broad shoulders that stretch the fabric of his shirt, and a quiet confidence that forces people to pay attention.
But when he smiles—like,reallysmiles—it’s disarming. Like all the sharp edges smooth out for a second and you catch a glimpse of something rare.
I hate how much I notice.
I hate that part of me wants him to notice too.
I look up in time to see his truck disappear down the dirt road, dust filtering through the golden afternoon light.
A dull ache takes root in my chest, and I hate it. I shake my head, forcing myself to breathe it out.
This is ridiculous.
I’m here to work, keep my head down, and get through the summer. That’s it.
My phone vibrates in my hand. I glance down at the screen and roll my eyes at the contact name he gave himself.
Vapid Dick <3
It’s just a joke. Don’t overthink it. Let me know if you need anything.
My cheeks burn, despite everything in me telling me I’m reading into one little text far more than I should. I shove my phone into my back pocket before I do something stupid, like text him back.
