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“Well, well. If it isn’t Burdett royalty.” Randall Hedley shot at us with a finger gun.
“Just like the Jacobs to come to a party with no beer,” Bryce Green said as he passed one to Stone.
“They’re good at mooching off other people,” Randall said.
“What is your deal?” Stone asked.
“Nothin’.” He pulled a tin of chewing tobacco out of his pocket and shoved some into his mouth.
“We may not have beer…but the moon is shining bright tonight.” Mulaney pointed toward the truck, and the tension dissipated.
“Miss Ruby’s?” Bryce asked eagerly.
A disgusted look crossed her face. “Who else’s?”
Our grandmama had a knack for making moonshine. Said it kept us strong and healthy. Even the sheriff agreed.
Bryce stood. “I’ll go get it.” Thank god Randall went with him.
It was too early in the night to be breaking out that shit, but I was ready. I needed something to soothe this ache. Football had helped. In a few days, I could get back to that. We were headed to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
Next semester, with nothing to distract me…I couldn’t even think about that.
Mulaney bumped my shoulder and offered me the Mason jar. “Don’t look now.”
I twisted my head automatically and then wished I’d listened to my sister for once. The glow of the fire lit Juliana’s features as she walked into the circle. She had on the same jeans and boots she’d always worn. The flannel was new, but still her style. Yet somehow she was more sophisticated.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, not even as she hugged our old friends and laughed at something Emily said, the sound a reminder of everything I’d missed.
“You’re gonna burn a hole in her,” Mulaney said. I couldn’t make myself look away, even though the sight of her was heaven and hell all at the same time. “Who’s that guy with them?”
That snapped me out of my trance. Glued to my girl’s side was some good-looking bastard. I balled my fist, feeling an instinct to punch him in the face.
And then I deflated and hung my head. She wasn’t my girl. Wasn’t even my friend. How could she have moved on so fast? I couldn’t think of anybody but her, let alone actually date someone.
“That Ain’t My Truck” by Rhett Akins started up from somebody’s speakers. I downed too much moonshine, welcoming the burn.
“I got a feeling I’m going to have to call Ruby to come get us,” Mulaney muttered.
“You good?” Stone asked as he grabbed the jar from my hand and took a long swallow.
“Do I have a choice?”
Glutton for punishment, I glanced back over my shoulder. Juliana froze. Our eyes locked, and for one tense moment, everything else disappeared. And then he spoke into her ear, making just a hint of a smile appear on her face.
I tore my eyes away from her as pain sliced through my chest. It used to be me that made her smile. Used to be me whispering in her ear.
I snatched the jar from Stone and took another swig.
“I’m going to find out just what the hell she’s up to.” Mulaney’s jaw clenched.
I caught her by the arm as she marched past. “Leave it. She made her choice.”
Sympathetic eyes surveyed me. “I don’t like that you have to live with it.”
“Just part of life, right?”
She rested her rear on the tailgate next to me. “Shouldn’t be.”
