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I tapped the steering wheel in frustration. “Yeah, me too.”
The truth is, Bridge and I could have left Hunt Ranch if we’d wanted to, but she liked being there, and then there was the whole Jonah thing. Plus, the Hunts, well, all the Hunts except for Cricket, thought we didn’t have money, and even then, Cricket didn’t know exactly how much we really did have. I could have left almost immediately after my dad found out we were there, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave a life where I could see Cricket every day. Even if it did mean it was torture.
The campsite was at Hungry Horse Reservoir and was teeming with people; some had already pitched their tents and had fires going. I pulled in next to a few trucks and we unloaded the bed, deciding to set up our tents nearest to the water. When we were done, we gazed out into the reservoir.
“Jonah!” someone yelled from behind us making us twist around.
“Hi, Finley,” he said, cheerfully.
Finley was a pretty girl, tall, around five foot eight. She had a sort of bronze complexion, even her hair was a rusty color. She gave Jonah a side hug.
“Fin, this is Spencer. Spencer, Finley.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, offering my hand.
“A pleasure,” she said, with a sweet smile, taking my hand.
That’s when I noticed someone was playing some old school Our Lady Peace. I loved Our Lady Peace. My gaze traveled around the campsite to find the source. Cricket was rocking out to “Automatic Flowers,” one foot perched on the bench of a picnic table and she was nerdily playing air guitar while singing at the top of her lungs. Four other girls about her age were singing along with her. Oh my God, why do you have to be so freaking amazing?
She was wearing worn cutoffs mid-thigh and shin-length combats with the tops unlaced and a baggy t-shirt. Her hair was bone straight and the edges looked razor fringed. She was so unbelievably sexy and obviously not trying at all.
“...around here?” I heard to my left.
My head whipped Finley’s direction. “I’m sorry?”
“I was asking why I hadn’t seen you around here before.”
“Oh,” I said, trying not to focus on Cricket. “I’ve been busy on the Hunt Ranch.”
“Are you one of their hands?” she asked.
“You could say that,” I said, feeling sort of proud to wear the badge.
“Cool.”
“Um, are you from this area?”
“Yup, born and raised,” she answered.
“Finley and I were classmates,” Jonah added. “She was in Cricket and Ethan’s class.”
The mention of their names together made me want to jump in the reservoir and sink to the bottom. “Nifty.”
Finley laughed. “Yeah, nifty.”
I eyed her sarcastically.
“Ethan and I got along great,” she said, “but Cricket hated my guts.”
“Not this again,” Jonah laughed, sitting down on a nearby rock.
“What?” I asked.
“Finley had, uh, well…”
“I had a crush on Ethan in high school,” she admitted.
“Oh,” I caught on.
