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She replies immediately, which I’m grateful for.Like crap but the world stopped spinning.
I smile despite myself.Drink more water.
I already drank a ton she tells me.After a minute,I’ll drink more.
“So, Maeve Stevens, huh?”
I look up from my phone to see Natalie leaning against the kitchen island across from me.
“What do you mean?” I ask carefully.
She rolls her eyes. “It’s all over school, Wes. The girl you have feelings for? It’s Maeve Stevens, right? God, I should have put it together when she showed up at Josh’s after the Glenmont game. You’re not one to back down from a challenge, I’ll give you that. Liam Stevens’ sister? I mean, I get why you would go there, but her? I thought Maeve Stevens was a loyal goody two-shoes.”
“You don’t know anything about her, Natalie.”
Natalie appraises me. “Maybe not. But she’ll always be a girl from Glenmont. You’re a decent guy, Weston. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it was anything more than a fling.” She pushes away from the counter, and the smile she gives me isn’t a mocking one. It’s a resigned one. She strolls away.
My phone vibrates in my hand. I look down to see Maeve’s sent me a photo. It’s of her, with two full water glasses on the table next to her. Her hair is damp, and she’s wearing a sweatshirt.
My sweatshirt.
And I’m more confused than ever.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
MAEVE
Thanksgiving is a mostly silent affair in my house.
My father’s focused on the rescheduled game against Alleghany tomorrow night. Liam hasn’t talked to me since Wes picked me up from Chase’s party a couple of nights ago. I’m too caught up in my own thoughts to contribute much. And my mother either has worries of her own, or picks up on the antisocial atmosphere at the table and remains mostly silent as well.
It starts raining just after we finish our meal. Despite the cold, wet weather, my father and Liam head out into the backyard to go over plays for what must be the millionth time. My mother busies herself in the kitchen storing all the leftovers, and I snag the sedan keys and head outside.
I drive around town for about fifteen minutes before finally admitting my destination to myself.
His car is already there when I arrive. Somehow, I knew it would be. I pass the cabin and follow the now familiar path to the same fallen tree where I first encountered Weston Cole.
If only my freshman year self had known what she was in for as a result of trying to hide out at that party. The scary part? I don’t think I would go back and change it. Any of it.
The log comes into view, and I trace the lines and curves of the familiar figure sitting in the darkness. The rain patters against the few stubborn leaves still clinging to the branches overhead. The wind soughs, swirling the air and whipping my hair.
I know he must have heard my approach, but Wes doesn’t say anything as I take a seat on the damp bark next to him. He does glance over at my choice of outerwear but doesn’t comment on it. Or worse, ask for it back. It’s stupid, but I want him to see I’m not ashamed to wear his sweatshirt. That it’s not tainted from that night at Alleghany’s field.
“Thank you for coming on Tuesday night. And I’m sorry for how I acted. To be honest, I don’t remember parts of it, but Brooke assured me I said some stuff I definitely wouldn’t have sober.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Maeve. Or apologize.”
“Still, thank you. I needed you. And you came.”
“I’m sorry about kissing Natalie. No matter what I thought you’d done, you were right. It was a shitty thing to do.”
“It’s okay,” I reply. It still smarts, but I don’t know what else to say. What his apology means.
I’m worried he did more than just kiss her later that night, but I don’t know how to ask him.
Don’t know if I want to know the answer.
He looks over at me. “No, it’s not okay, Maeve. I should have believed you about Crawford. Idobelieve you. I just—this wasn’t supposed to mean this much, you know? You were right. I got scared.Youscare me.”
