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Clarify what, exactly? Hey, we never got the chance to make out in your bed, but I want to lay down the truth and say loud and clear that I want that and a million other things with you, but more than anything, I want us to not have to tiptoe around the topic of other guys and just be able to be us for once.

“I really—”

“Hey, Flick.” Lawson takes a seat across from us in the foldout chair with zero spatial awareness. “Cal is really cool. Did you know he was homeschooled and was taking college classes at, like, sixteen?”

“Oh boy,” I murmur to my drink before taking a long sip. It’s a shame we got caught chugging beer that one time, because I could really use something stronger than Dr Pepper for this.

“Yeah, he’s nice.” Felicity nods.

“Super cute too. You guys match very well.” Ada points between my best friend and the guy across the lawn tossing bean bags with Walker.

Ledger speaks up beside her. “A nice guy for sure.” He smiles into his fist, and I know they’re egging me on. It shouldn’t bother me. But still, there’s this nonstop groaning in my head.

“He is.” Felicity smiles, a blush taking over her cheeks. “He somehow found out I’m vegan and ordered a whole separate meal for me at the event so I wouldn’t be stuck with just chicken or steak. It was sweet.”

My palms sweat, and I lean back in the seat as they keep talking.

Eventually the man of the hour comes over and takes the seat closest to Felicity. “What are we talking about?”

“Nothing,” I answer and take another sip. Felicity furrows her brow at me, and I glance out at the street for any upcoming cars.

Cal settles into the group like…a cat sitting on the edge of a desk. Felicity and our ducks. Groundhogs and Oakridge. Point being, he fits in annoyingly well for someone that knew none of us until very recently.

And as much as I would like to say Cal is a bad guy or that he’s some know-it-all who knows everything about everything, he is neither of those things.

I’ve been able to avoid being in conversation with him until he lightly pushes my shoulder to catch my attention. “Flick and I were talking yesterday, and I have this friend that I think would be really fun for you to meet. I was thinking we could do a double date.”

I would rather have bamboo shards shoved under my fingernails than watch Felicity on a date firsthand, much less have some random girl there with me who, let’s be honest, I would ignore the whole time.

“Sure. I’m kind of busy, but maybe.”

“Knox is learning to take over Willow Creek Ranch,” Felicity explains, and Cal’s eyes raise up to mine, impressed. Gah, I hate how nice this guy is. Can’t he give me something reasonable to hate about him?

“That’s incredible, I’m sure you’re busy, then. I’m kind of learning to take Dad’s stuff over one day too. It’s overwhelming, to say the least.”

I hate how I could see myself being friends with him. I hate that he’s funny and cool and knows a ton about cars and that he can relate to the pure dilemma running through my brain on repeat daily.

And I really hate that we have the same taste in women.

The rest of the group goes back to laughing as three cars in a row come by honking.

While everyone drinks, Felicity tilts her head, studying me in that soft way that always makes my lungs feel too small. So before I can embarrass myself more, I stand up.

“Where are you going?” she asks.

“Home,” I say. “I’ve got…stuff to do. With Miller.”

“I can go with you.”

“Nah.” My head shakes, and I look over her shoulder where Cal is smiling with all of our friends. “You should stay. Have fun.”

But when I walk away, I feel her eyes on my back—warm, lingering—as Cal says something that makes her laugh.

And God, just the sound of it hurts.

Chapter Thirty Flick

I’ve never knocked on Knox and Lottie’s front door.