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I don’t get to find out because she locks eyes on something behind me and doesn’t look my way as she coughs out, “I’ll be right back,” before taking off in the direction of the house, her little legs running so fast she looks like those tiny birds on the beach chasing after a spare breadcrumb.

And for once, I don’t follow her. I stay right by the fire, fists in my pockets, trying to breathe normally.

Trying not to feel that burning pull in my chest as she disappears inside the back door of Ledger’s home.

It feels…like something big is starting. Or maybe that something big is ending.

It feels like I’m on the edge of a cliff I didn’t know I’d climbed. And I don’t know whether to jump off or run.

Chapter Five Flick

The minute I’m inside Ledger’s house, I know I can’t do this. I watched his movements and followed him in here like some sort of pervert, and I don’t even like the guy.

Maybe it’s better if I find someone else or just drop the plan altogether and find an overpriced online dating class that will leave me somewhat prepared, if not scarred for life.

Heels digging into the tiled floor, I do a full 180 just as Ledger’s voice cuts its way over to me.

“Flick!” he calls out across the kitchen, kind, dark eyes widening. “I didn’t know you were here. Figured you would’ve come with Knox.”

“Right, yeah, we usually ride together.”

Which I am assuming is why Knox stared at me like I had a massive sign on my forehead that said “I DON’T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING.” I think that might be less obvious than me showing up dressed like this, actually.

Ledger raises a brow at me like I should continue the conversation, and I don’t. I sit here for a horribly long amount of time until Ledger starts rocking back and forth on the heels of his boots. It is a shame I don’t find him cuter, because he seems to be the perfect person for this, but I look at him and I just do not get that feeling, you know?

That warm, gooey feeling in the pit of your gut that says, Yes, this is it. Even if sometimes—often—that part of me is wrong, I still feel the inkling to follow it. But right now, I look at Ledger and his wild, floppy hair and the rips in his dark jeans and my gut turns her back on me like she wants to shun me. Or maybe put me in timeout.

“Are you all r—”

“I had a question.” I rush the sentence out like I’m throwing it up on the checkered kitchen floor.

“Okay?” He chuckles, and I’m so uncomfortable that there’s a red-hot sinking feeling in my chest.

Don’t do it.

A voice, maybe from that same pit of my gut, shouts over and over that this is not right. Something, if not someone, is wrong here. But if I got all dressed up and came here for no reason, doesn’t that make me stupid? At the very least a coward?

Oh my gosh, what was I thinking? Was I really about to ask Ledger—the man who has literally been with half the girls at our school—if he wants to be my dating coach? Why in the world did Lottie let me think this was in any way normal?

“Flick, you okay?” Ledger takes a step closer and I stumble two steps back. “You look a little sickly.”

Well, gee, that helps this a whole lot.

“You know what, I’m good. Never mind. Thanks anyway.”

I slip out the kitchen door with Ledger’s soft laughter following me. “You’re welcome, I guess?”

The bonfire is already roaring by the time I make it back outside, a crackling tower of orange that throws sparks into the navy-blue sky. There’s also at least double the amount of people now, not much of a surprise there. Ledger can’t have one person over without the entire town showing up. Cold pockets of late September night air slip under my sweater dress every time the breeze shifts, but the heat from the fire as I get closer kisses my cheeks to hide the blush I’m sporting.

When I get back to Knox, Walker, and Lottie, my shaking has slowed to just a small shudder here and there.

“How did it go?” Lottie asks way too loud, and all I can feel is the heat of Knox’s stare on me when I quietly ask if he can drive me home. As always, he doesn’t hesitate, shooting up from his chair with his truck keys in hand.

The walk to his truck is mostly silent beyond the distant laughter by the roaring fire and the sound of cicadas and fireflies around us. Lottie texts me asking if I’m okay, and I send back a simple, All good! Just tired, which I know isn’t enough to satisfy her curiosity but is about all I have in me right now.

I know I should say something to Knox, at least offer some explanation as to why I’m running off, but I feel like the dumbest of all dummies, and saying it out loud somehow seems like it will just make it worse.

Once I’m buckled in his passenger seat, Knox starts the truck, but he makes no move to reverse us out of here.