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“Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Plus, I owe you one, remember? And when the time comes that you want to collect, I’ll be at your service. As long as it’s not sexual. Micah is a bit possessive and stubborn and persistent. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon. He says it’s a family thing. Something about the Graham brothers not taking no for an answer.”
Tate throws his head back and laughs.
“Micah fucking Graham. From Oak Harbor. That’s your boyfriend?”
“Uh …”
“Tell him I said hello. And tell him that instead of you owing me a favor, his brother, Finn, does. It’ll be much more fun to collect from him.”
“You know Finn and Micah?”
“Yeah. Oak Harbor’s a small town, sweetie. Everyone knows everyone. Finn was a freshman when I was a senior, but we ran in the same circles. Well, until I jumped in with a different crowd. Got in a little bit of trouble. He still hang out with Max Palmer?”
What the hell is going on here? Have I entered some alternate universe where a complete stranger ends up knowing all my friends?
“Yeah. They live together.”
“Max’s dad is the one that set me on the straight and narrow. Great guy. I was sorry to hear he passed.”
What do I even say to that?
“Willow’s here if you want to give your condolences.”
The bartender sets down two shots of tequila and two waters. Tate slams the shots, back-to-back, before handing me my water.
His demeanor has changed.
“Tell Finn I’ll be in touch.”
Before I can respond, he walks away, the crowd around the bar swallowing him up. I stare after him for far longer than I should before returning to where my friends are still dancing their hearts out. Unaware of what transpired in the last fifteen minutes. Ignorant to the trauma I almost endured.
And it’s going to stay that way.
At least until our weekend is over.
Because before I tell any of them anything, I need to talk to Micah. I need to let him know I’m okay. And the only way to do that is for him to hear my voice. To see me in person.
“You good?” Piper asks, reaching for my water bottle and twisting off the cap.
“Yeah.”
“You have this weird look on your face.”
“I need to see Micah,” I confess. “It’s kind of important.”
Piper only nods, then whispers in Lo’s ear. She passes the message along to K and around the circle it goes. Ten minutes later we’re walking out of the club, arms linked, laughing. Heading straight for the hotel, we pack up our stuff and jump on the road as the clock strikes midnight.
The boys are in for a big surprise. It’ll take us about five hours to get to them. They went south of the city while we went north. With traffic this time of night, we would be able to make it to them in three and a half hours, but we have to stop and drop Kora off first. We tried to convince her to come along for the ride, but she wasn’t interested in sleeping in a tent, or the car.
Not that I blame her.
The sun is barely cresting the horizon as Lo turns off the highway toward the campgrounds. Ten minutes later, we’re parking behind Declan’s truck. Julian is already sitting by the fire, brewing coffee. He waves at us as we approach.
“Is that coffee?” Piper sings as she plops into the seat next to him.
“Sure is, pretty girl. Did you sleep at all last night?” he asks, reaching behind him for a second mug and handing it to her.
“Nope,” she states, popping the p for emphasis. “This girl had to see her man, so we hightailed it down here as quickly as possible.”
