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A half-drunk beer bottle balances on the dirt by Harry’s elbow, but his uncle and I have matching mugs of peppermint tea. Guess I learned that lesson for both of us.
It’s quiet out tonight, the only sounds the crackle of the fire and the distant trickle of running water at the creek. And even though the day was blazing hot, the breeze tonight is cold enough to send me burrowing into the folds of my borrowed blanket.
“I give up.” Harry tosses his phone onto the grass with a tragic sigh, then scrambles upright and swipes his bottle. Amber liquid swirls as he tips it back, and I watch Harry’s throat move as he swallows.
I dated this guy for years—in theory if nothing else. Was I ever even attracted to him?
A single glance at Everett’s strong thighs in their worn jeans gives me my answer: no. Only one man in my whole life has given me the full-body shivers.
But when I look back to Harry, his eyes have narrowed. He watches me closely, tipping back his beer bottle again, lips sealed against the glass.
I lick my lips, suddenly nervous. “So have you picked your courses for next semester?”
The log creaks as Everett shifts.
“Yeah.” Harry wipes his mouth. “A biology class for my science credit, and Spanish literature again. Some more advanced business stuff.” Without warning, my best friend twists around, staring directly at his uncle.
I can’t breathe.
Neither of us move, and it’s like we’re caught red handed, even though we’re sitting apart and barely saying a word. The fire pops. A burned log sags deeper into the pile.
Then Harry turns back to me, grinning, and it’s like nothing ever happened. I’ve got freaking whiplash.
“My Spanish professor is super hot,” he tells me, and Everett frowns at the back of his head, annoyed on my behalf, but I don’t mind. I’m so relieved.
“Tweedy vibes?”
“To the max.”
After that, we’re back to normal. Chatting and sipping our drinks, and when Harry finally pushes to his feet and brushes dried grass off his jeans, neither of us moves to join him.
“Gonna turn in.” Harry ruffles my hair as he walks past, stepping over the log with an exaggerated stride. “Sleep tight.”
“Goodnight,” I call, and then it’s just me and Everett again, sitting in silence in the fire’s golden glow.
I tip my head back and gaze up at the stars.
