Page 7 of One Reckless Moment

She looped an arm around my shoulders and guided me into the house.

“How’s life in the big city?” I asked, sinking onto a barstool at the kitchen island.

My stomach rumbled as I took in the array of food on the counter. Taylor basically ordered us everything on Val’s diner menu. We had burgers, fries, fried pickles, wings, and fried mozzarella sticks. She fished some seltzers out of the fridge and handed one to me.

“It’s fine.” She shrugged. “Hoping that Johnny gets to work fully remote soon so we can move back here. I miss the mountain air.”

Taylor had been saying the same thing for four years but it never seemed to happen. Every time she was home, she raved about how much she wanted to buy land and have a big family—she grew up with a single father and had always wanted a sibling. It wouldn’t shock me if she ended up with five kids just to fill the silence.

But Johnny’s job kept them situated in Seattle. She wasn’t willing to say goodbye to a relationship of nine years, so she sacrificed what she wanted in the name of love.

“Fingers crossed,” I said with a sympathetic smile.

“So, I figured we could eat and have some drinks…and then head out to the bonfire tonight.”

My face fell flat. “You want to go to the bonfire?”

She popped a fried pickle into her mouth and shrugged.

“I know it isn’t usually my scene, but I want the full Ashton Creek experience while I’m here.”

I groaned as I reached for a fry. “I’ll go because I love you, but just so you know, I won’t be happy about it.”

“Please, like you’ve ever regretted going to a bonfire.” Taylor rolled her eyes and tossed fry in my face.

I gasped. “I would never miss a normal one. This one just happens to be in honor of the man I despise.”

“Mm-hmm,” she mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing. Suck it up, we’re getting drunk.”

“Cheers to that!” I raised my seltzer in salute before taking a long sip.

Three hours later, the sun had set and we were pulling up to the clearing that hosted many famous Ashton Creek parties over the years.

Growing up, there were house parties, but most of the time we ended up here. There were no parents around and the cops only really showed up if a fight broke out. It was where I had my first drink, my first kiss, my first everything.

I stepped out of Taylor’s dad’s truck and breathed in the smoky air as the fire raged in the middle of the clearing. There were people filling the entire space, laughing and drinking, as music blasted in the background. Cash was standing in the middle of the crowd, looking like a king. He had a bright smile as women draped themselves on him.

I weaved through the crowd until I reached the coolers set up in the bed of Walker’s truck.

Reid noticed me first and started waving like a mad man.

“You came!” He scooped me into a hug, my feet dangling as I giggled.

“I was forced,” I muttered in as serious of a tone as I could muster as he placed me down.

“Good job, Tay.” He offered his fist, which she bumped with a smile.

“All in a day’s work.” She flipped her chestnut brown hair over her shoulder.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t little pipsqueak herself,” Cash slurred as he approached us. His eyes were glassy as they trailed the length of my body.

“I’d never miss a chance to celebrate you leaving town.” I fluttered my lashes.

Cash’s face fell for only a second before it morphed into his famous charming smile.