Page 24 of Rumor Has It

“That’s girl code for ask me, you moron.” Riley’s mouth twitches.

I stop cold. “Are you going to help me, or crack jokes all night?”

They side-eye each other. “Both!” They high five as they say it in unison.

“Hatch, have you told each other how you feel?” Walker asks, struggling to stop laughing. “I mean, we all know, and it’s made you the target of high school drama club. You had to know people, meaning Thorton, would come after you.”

“No.” I run my hand through my hair. “She’s not like other girls. She’s guarded and for good reason. So, I don’t push her.”

“But you did.” Riley points at me. “Instead of shouldering the blame, you put it back on her and played into the hands of your enemies.”

“Why am I to blame?” My brows knit as I think about what he said. “What enemies besides Reed? Wait, you heard us?”

“Everyone did.” He winces. “It was a natural disaster and what a few certain people wanted to happen.”

I back into my seat, trying hard to hold onto my sanity. “I love her, and the funny part about that is I’ve never told her.”

“But, in that moment, you could have and everything would be different now.” Walker glances at Riley. “Something you both can fix.”

Riley shakes his head. “Nope, not happening over here.”

“Whatever, but you need to stop your bitching and moaning about her.” Walker snickers when Riley flips him off.

“You don’t understand. She runs away anytime I get remotely close to her.” I rub the back of my neck.

Walker cocks his brow. “Run faster.”

“Says the man who doesn’t want a serious relationship.” Riley throws a pillow at him.

“Why would I? Y’all make them so complicated; that’s not for me.” Walker laughs.

“I feel that”—I pound my heart—“deep.”

I hang out for a while, waiting to pull myself together. Mackenzie leveled me, and I’m not sure I can come back from it. On my way home, I swing by her house. I’m not sure why, punishment maybe?

Yeah, I’m a glutton for it. I turn the corner to find Reed standing on her steps with her. She’s two above him and not looking at all comfortable. I hit the brakes a little too hard as I turn down the street before hers.

She looks up, our eyes lock, but before I can stop and tell her how I feel, Reed steps up and wraps her in his arms. For the second time today, my heart stops beating, and I’m in a tailspin.

*scene break*

June…

“Boone!” Marla waves at me from the dance floor, where she’s been since getting here. “Come dance with me.”

I shake my head. I may be here, but it’s only so I can see Mackenzie. We haven’t spoken for two weeks, and it’s the longest we’ve ever not been in touch since we were kids. I’m also not counting how many times I’ve drove past her house.

“Please!” Marla walks over, tugging at my arm. “Let’s go, baby.”

“No, go dance with Michelle and the others.” I refuse to look at her, keeping my focus on the door.

“Fine!” She turns. “She still doesn’t want you.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, not to keep from answering her, but to stop her words from hurting as bad as they do. I turn my attention back to the entrance when two assholes come into view.

“Hatch!” Riley smacks me on the back. “How in the hell are you?”

“Riley, have you ever considered that one day, someone’s gonna knock you the hell out?” I quirk my brow.