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We didn’t talk much last night. Certainly not about how we’d act around each other today—like it never happened.
Flashes of last night are suddenly all I can think about, trailing my gaze along her tan legs and watching her hair brush her shoulder as she leans forward. My heart stalls and lurches when she looks up at me and Parker. I can see my own reflection in her mirrored sunglasses and am glad my ball cap shades my eyes.
“Hey, Liam. Parker.” Audrey speaks first, giving me a wide smile I return.
It’s a study in contrasts, watching her and Natalie side by side. Honestly, Audrey is everything I thought I would find attractive in a girl. Her smile is genuine and inviting, her posture relaxed and easy-going as she raises a hand to shade her eyes from the sun. I don’t need to spend any more than the limited time I’ve been around her to tell that Audrey is a nice person. She’d help a stranger in need. Show up when a friend needed her. What you see is what you get.
Natalie isn’t smiling. Isn’t paying any attention to me. Her shoulders are tense as she focuses on rubbing the golden fur. The dog rolls over onto its belly, and that’s the first flash of emotion I catch on her face. And it’s so obvious, looking at her, that what you see is so much less than who she really is. And now that I’ve seen it, I can’tunseeit. Can’t look at her and just see a girl from Alleghany.
Parker and Audrey are talking. It’s not until Audrey asks me when I’m leaving that I realize I’ve been staring at Natalie for way too long.
“After breakfast,” I answer. “It’s my best friend’s birthday, so we’re throwing him a surprise thing tonight. I want to make sure I’m back in plenty of time.”
“Oh shit, good reminder,” Parker says. “Totally forgot it’s Matt’s birthday today.” He pulls out his phone and types something.
“That sounds fun,” Audrey comments.
“Yeah, it’ll be a good time.” Especially since Maeve is still in Florida, so there will be no chance of a Weston Cole appearance. I’ve never felt less like dealing with the Alleghany rivalry than I do right now.
“Tucker loves you,” Audrey says to Natalie.
“He’s a sweet dog,” she replies, standing and flashing a quick smile. I can’t tell where she’s looking behind the sunglasses.
“Do you have any pets?” Audrey asks.
Natalie shakes her head. “My mom is allergic.”
I wonder if that’s true. I don’t think it is. If I had to guess, I’d say her mom can’t be trusted to take care of an animal.
Natalie bends down again, picking up a plastic cup I didn’t notice before.
“You went into town?” I ask. I’m staring at my own reflection again.
“Yeah.”
“It’s a long walk.” At least a mile, probably two.
“I woke up early. Felt like walking.”
I try to dig up any meaning in those seven words and come up empty-handed. I figured she woke up early, left my room, and went back to bed.
Is it a bad sign she couldn’t sleep? Why does it matter to me?
“We should keep moving,” Parker says. “Liam is kicking my ass. If we don’t keep running, I’m likely to pass out in this spot.”
I roll my eyes.
“See you back at the house, Natalie. Audrey, I’ll see you later, ’kay?”
“Yep. Eleven by the second stand. I’ll be there,” Audrey responds. “Nice to meet you, Liam. Drive safe.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you too. Thanks,” I reply, giving her another quick smile before starting to jog again.
“She has a thing for you.”
My stomach flips, but my voice stays indifferent. “We already talked about this last night, Parker. Natalie and I—”
“I was talking about Audrey, Liam.”
