Every weekend was the same: predictable and consistent. The same neon lights, same bad covers and line dancing—except now I’m sitting at the bar, forced to watch Lane spin Sadie around the dance floor.
How does she not see what an asshole he can be? I know I don’t exactly hold the moral high ground, but still.
Lydia got a round for everyone and he acted like he was above it. Couldn’t just say thanks and take the fucking shot. Instead, he had to lie and pull that “designated driver” bullshit when Emmett’s the one who literally drove us here.
Maybe Sadie does know. Maybe that’s why she stepped in—taking the shot, smiling through it, covering for her boyfriend’s shit behavior before anyone could notice.
Her boyfriend.
The words taste bitter.
I made that stupid fucking joke outside the lodge and she threw it right back in my face, eyes bright like she meant it. She’s not even trying to hide it anymore—sitting too close, fingers brushing his arm, laughing at whatever bullshit he whispers in her ear.
Lane should have more respect for my dad. For the rules. For the fact that she’s supposed to be off-limits. He’s not exempt from that. There are plenty of other girls who’d love nothing more than to have a temporary fling.
Sadie is not that girl.
He knows better, and every way he touches her feels like he’s flaunting it. The way he put his arm around her in the truck, pulling her away from me—it’s all so fucking juvenile.
Maybe it should make me feel good, that he sees me as a threat. But it doesn’t. None of this feels good.
I keep telling myself it’ll work itself out. I just have to bide my time. Eventually, he’ll show his true colors and she’ll see what I see.
Until then, I get a front-row seat to the slow-motion car wreck that is the girl I can’t seem to stop thinking about falling for someone else.
By the time Landon finally shows up—an hour and a half late—I’ve got just enough alcohol in my system to take the edge off,and hopefully keep me from doing something stupid. Or maybe to make everything worse. Only time will tell.
I’ve been trying not to look for her. Really trying. But my eyes have a mind of their own and they find her every time. Like if I stare long enough, she’ll turn, and everything between us will make sense again.
Her eyes light up when she looks at him, like he hung the moon and stars just for her.
I think that’s what hurts the most. I’ve been trying to do the right thing, but I only seem to be making things worse. I should’ve stopped fighting it. I should’ve given in and kissed her.
There were so many moments and I let them slip right through my fingers. She opened up to me—trusted me—and I told her not to get the wrong idea about what we were. The look on her face gutted me, but in the moment, I thought it was the right thing to say.
She’s only here for the summer.
Why start something that already has an expiration date?
A few more weeks and she’s gone. It would be stupid to think that something more could happen.
Still, I can’t deny the pleasure that blooms in my chest knowing Lane is just a summer hookup. Something temporary before she leaves and goes back to her real life.
She probably won’t ever think about this place again after she’s gone.
“Um, hello?” Landon snaps his fingers in front of my face.
I blink. “Sorry. Zoned out, I guess. Where were you?”
“Finished that framing we were working on. What’d I miss?” He flags down the bartender and orders two beers, sliding one in front of me.
“Not much,” I lie as my eyes scan the room again, finding their target almost instantly.
“Mhm,” he hums. “So, what’s got you in a sour mood tonight?”
“I’m peachy.”
“Oh yeah? That got anything to do with a certain blonde over there?” He tilts his head toward the dance floor.
