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"You!" She jabs at me with an index finger, but comes no closer. "You," she says again, like she still can't believe what she's seen.
I swallow hard and try to think of something to say. I make a move to step away from Adam, but his hand around my waist tightens.
"Boone," he says, in a commanding voice.
She glances his way. "I'll get to you in a minute," she spits out then turns back to me.
"I trusted you," she says, now her voice has gotten low and I can hear the pain she's fighting against revealing. "The only person in the whole world who knew me away from the ranch, away from my family. You didn't even know we were rich. You thought I was some poor farm girl and you still were my friend. My best friend." She takes in a shuddering breath and I can see tears shining in her eyes.
I'd rather she punched me than be disappointed in me. To know I'd made her so sad broke my heart and made me wish I could crawl away like the snake I was.
Adam loosens his grip on me and steps toward her. "Boone," he says, his voice is lower and my heart pangs at the emotion in it. His love for her is so obvious.
"Can't you just let me have one friend for myself?" Boone gestures behind her at all the guests. "Aren't there enough other women out there for you to hook up with?"
"It's not like that," he says and reaches back for me with his hand. I stare at his palm for a moment debating what I should do. When I take too long to respond, Adam turns from Boone to look at me. "Kitten?"
My gaze jumps between him, Boone's sad face, and his palm.
Meanwhile the fireworks continue to boom and light the sky. At least it provides a distraction so no one else has to witness this scene.
Take his hand, show Boone and everyone else what he means to you.
Run!
The voices in my head are at war and before I decide what to do, Deacon and Caleb join us. How the fuck did everyone figure out where we were?
"Hey," Deacon says, "Why aren't you guys watching the fireworks?"
Caleb pauses to take in the scene between Adam, Boone and me and blows out his breath in a whoosh. "Oh shit," he says.
"What're you talking about?" Deacon asks him.
"The family rule," Caleb says, gesturing between me and Adam. "You broke the family rule."
"Damn right they did," Boone says. "I caught them at it." She nods toward me. "He had her up against a tree, sucking her face like it was an oxygen mask."
"Okay, so they kissed," Deacon replies. "It's a party, things happen."
"Stop it, all of you." Adam takes hold of my hand and pulls me to his side. "It's not just a kiss at a party."
Adam's siblings kind of do a double take and a grin spreads over Deacon's face. "Well, good for you, brother," he says. "I like Kit."
"No!" Boone shouts. "You promised," she points at Adam, then Deacon and Caleb, "you all promised there'd be no getting involved with each other's friends."
"She's right," Caleb says. "That's what sent Boone so far away to college and she almost never came home. If it hadn't been for Adam dating Christy and the way that all turned out, Boone would have gone to school close by. Been with her family when she needed us. And we needed her."
Caleb takes a step in Boone's direction. It's like they're choosing sides. My head pounds.
"No," I say. "I won't be the one who tears your family apart."
Adam looks at me. "You’re the one who makes our family complete. Makes me complete."
"How long's this been going on?" Deacon wants to know. He crosses his arms over his chest and tilts his head to the side, contemplating.
As if he was conjured out of thin air, Justin the social media guy, comes rushing up.
Why isn't anyone watching the goddamn fireworks?
