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Lucas isn’t much for dancing, but he’s giving it his best effort. He plants that goofy smile on his face, the one he always carries with him when I dare him to do something out of his comfort zone. If asked, he’d say he’d rather be doing anything other than this, but I know that’s not the case. Pushing him to do things he doesn’t think he’ll enjoy is part of our DNA.
I sense Trent approaching before I feel the pull on my hand. “Shall we?” he whispers, leading us to a spot just outside Jasmine’s spin zone. I fall into a simple two-step and gawk at Lucas dancing. It’s a view I rarely get to appreciate watching from this distance. Usually, we are dancing inches from one another, sharing foolish smirks and silly jokes.
“I can see why Lucas couldn’t wait to get back here.” Trent steps into my view, blocking Lucas.
“It’s home,” I respond kindly, remembering to keep my feet shuffling.
“It’s special.” His voice catches, capturing my complete attention. “You’re special. You know he loves you, right?”
I feel my eyes squint, not believing the words from Trent. “He’s my bestie. Of course he does,” I deflect.
A short head shake is Trent’s response. “That’s not how I meant it—you know that, right?” I can’t believe Trent has the courage to call me out. Maybe he’s not the quiet mouse I thought him to be. “He’s madly in love with you, Adrienne. You must know that?”
My eyes flicker in Lucas’ direction. Just in that moment, Jasmine steps close to him, her arms reaching up behind his neck, pulling him in tight.
“What I know is that my best friend has been home for all of two days and seems to be enjoying himself on a date.” There is no anger or hurt in my words. They never are when it comes to Lucas. He’s my heart, and I know he’ll find his way to me someday. Besides, I will not have this conversation with Trent.
“He thought you were going to ask him out.” Trent confirms what I felt in the tent last night. “Your request caught him off guard. That’s why he accepted.” My heart drops with his confirmation. If I had only been brave enough, this could be Lucas and me out on an official date tonight. This could have been the start of our forever.
“May I?” Trent asks as the song shifts to a slow tune by Miranda Lambert. I nod, and he slips his hands around my waist, his mouth near my ear. “Do you know Lucas mentions you every single day? No matter the subject, he has a memory or story involving you. You are all he ever thinks about—all he cares about.”
My chest thumps warning bells. I need to change the topic. I fall back on the well-rehearsed line that Lucas and I have perfected whenever our friends questioned our relationship. “We grew up next door to each other. We have a long history. It’s not that unusual.”
Trent nods, his eyes filled with doubt. “Trust me, what you two have is anything but normal.”
I should be happy his friend is here advocating for him, but I’m not. “Why are you doing this? Saying these things?” What little I know about Trent is that he’s a sensitive soul, and Lucas trusts him, but I need to understand his motivation.
He pulls back slightly, our gazes locked together, our feet barely moving. “Because Lucas is a good friend to me. He’s always been there for me. And I want to return the favor. I wanted you to know. I want him to be happy.”
My brow lifts as I process his words. I want to take each of his words at their face value, but Trent does not know how my relationship with Lucas works. “Thank you for looking out for him, but Lucas has never had an issue sharing his deepest thoughts with me. When he’s ready to have that conversation, he knows I’ll be here.”
Patience, I tell myself. That is my ace. I know what I want, and it will be mine someday.
We sway for a few beats, our bodies separating when the song shifts to Florida Georgia Line. I take the reprieve to check in on Lucas. Jasmine remains wrapped in his arms, their cheeks pressed to one another, a schoolgirl giggle escaping from her lips. She’s removed her glasses. She leans back and lets her seductive eyes do their job. She’s throwing everything she has at him. To the window, to the wall—she won’t stop until she has it all. The stupid lyric chimes in my head.
My feet root themselves to the concrete, and my arms shoot down to my sides, body rigid. “Aren’t you tired of waiting for him?” For a second, I suspect the words originate from deep in my head, but they didn’t. Trent’s lips are inches from my ear. He is standing behind me—he sees what I see.
Patience is my game. It has always rewarded me. For knowing what I want. For waiting for it to become available. I play the long game. And I realize that with Lucas, I’ve been playing the longest game of my life and have yet to claim my prize.
I don’t say a word. I spin on my heels, my water-filled gaze causing Trent’s eyes to soften. He has no clue what I’m about to do, and neither do I.
“Yes,” I respond more to myself than to him. “I’m about to do something foolish and rash.” I hear the quiver in my voice. Unsteady is not a region I often visit, and I’m oblivious as to what to do.
Trent reaches forward, his hands landing on the back of my elbows, forcing me to step close to him. “I got you, Adrienne.” I know Trent is not a palm reader, but I pray he can read my mind. When he nods and whispers, “Go for it,” I know he does.
I lift on my toes and press my lips to his. The kiss is stiff, my lips firm. I catch the flicker of his eyelashes, his gaze shooting behind me for a split second before he twists, repositioning us. He runs his tongue across the seam of my lip as if seeking permission. I’m confused by his actions for all of two seconds.
It takes two seconds for Trent’s spin to come to a halt. It takes two seconds for my eyes to capture the pure look of shock on Lucas’ face. It takes two seconds for my lips to part, for Trent’s kiss to intensify, for my eyes to close, and for the safety of the world I’ve always known to disappear.
Two seconds that change everything.
12
This has to be a mirage. I’ve been away from this desert heat too long and must be hallucinating. That can be the only answer as to why Adrienne is kissing Trent. And there is no doubt in my mind she is the one who is leading the kiss.
My feet move on autopilot toward the pair. Adrienne’s eyes are pressed together as if she is midflight on the way to heaven. A trip she should not be taking with anyone but me. I close to within a foot of them, Trent’s back is to me, and he has no clue what’s coming his way.
I feel a hard pull on my elbow and spin with fury toward the intruder—Jasmine. “Hey, leave the lovebirds alone.” Her lashes flutter drawing my attention to her swirling eyes which hint we should follow their lead. “Let’s give them some privacy.” She hooks her arm through mine, pulling me away. I resist the initial pull and glance over my shoulder.
