Page 37 of Crossed Lines

The three of them walk over to me, but my eyes stay focused—well, as focused as they can be with all the alcohol running through my system—on Willow. Her arm is linked with Macy as they giggle. She’s surrounded by people as they push through the crowd, but she’s the only one I see.

“Alright, let’s get outta here,” Sawyer tells me.

I stand from my seat and wobble a little bit. Willow reaches out to steady me. Macy releases Willow’s arm so Willow can walk next to me while Macy nudges herself up to Sawyer.

“You ok?” Willow asks, leaning in to me.

“’M fine.”

She raises her eyebrow in question. “You sure? Your jealousy is showing.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

“Yeah, but I think you kinda like it,” she says.

“Yeah, unfortunately, I do.”

She giggles and links her arm through mine. Years ago, it would’ve been nothing for her to do this and for us to walk arm in arm. Now it feels inappropriate. It feels like people are watching us even though I don’t think anyone actually is.

We follow Sawyer and Macy out of Roadside and to his truck. I’ll have Brooks bring me here in the morning to get my truck.

“Shotgun!” Macy calls, running up the passenger door.

I guess that leaves Willow and me in the back.

We keep our distance once we’re in the truck. I don’t want Sawyer to get suspicious of anything. But once we head off in the direction of the ranch, I notice Macy is talking his ear off. He’s not focused on anything but the road and trying to listen to her. So, in a move fueled by several beers and false confidence, I take Willow’s hand and interlace her fingers with mine. She doesn’t look at me, but I can see her smile. I squeeze her hand once, and she squeezes back.

It feels strange holding hands with someone in the backseat of my friend’s truck. It’s like I’m a teenager again and not a thirty-three-year-old man with a child, a house, and a career.

The ride to my house goes way too quickly for my liking because I know I’m the only one getting out at this stop.

“Do you need any help getting in and getting to bed?” Macy asks, looking over the seat with a knowing smirk.

As much as I want to say yes, knowing that Willow would volunteer, I shake my head instead. “No, I think I can manage.”

Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because I’m so drunk I’d probably end up embarrassing myself if I did try anything with her. I don’t trust myself alone with Willow right now.

Willow releases my hand when I open my door.

“I’ll see you and Jade at the festival tomorrow, right?” she asks.

“We’ll be there,” I tell her.

I thank Sawyer for the ride home before stumbling to my front door. He doesn’t leave until he sees me go inside. I barely make it to my couch before I crash on it and fall right to sleep.

CHAPTER 15

Willow

The Fourth of July Festival is a big deal for our little town of Blue Haven. Well, any holiday is really. We like to go all out. But the Fourth of July has always been fun because it’s more like one big summer celebration. There’s no way I’m leaving Main Street today without a little sunburn and eating at least five popsicles. It’s tradition.

Macy and I spend the morning nursing our hangovers. Sawyer whips up some bacon, eggs, and pancakes, and we all split an entire pot of coffee.

Eventually, we pull ourselves off the couch to start getting ready. I French braid my hair and then, of course, have to do Macy’s. I wear a red tank top and Macy wears a blue one, which easily matches our white shorts. She adds glitter spray to complete our looks.

The festival is already in full swing when we get there, the sun at full heat. Quintessential summer.

There are booths set up all around the town square with food, drinks, games, and vendors. I go straight to my favorite frozen lemonade stand.