AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Scanning the faces surrounding the fire, it’s obvious who my only option is. There’s no one else here who I’m comfortable sharing space with, even with the awkward tension humming in the air.
Ridiculously, I’m anxious about sleeping next to him. We haven’t been that close to each other in months.
Physically, at least. There will still be an emotional gap.
It’s obvious in the way our eyes won’t meet, how one of us glances away as soon as they do. We haven’t exchanged a single word since he gave me his second burger.
I’m almost as aware of how everyone else is tuned in to our distance, how McKenzie and Grace exchange looks after noticing Mark seated between the two of us.
I’m sure plenty of rumors about our relationship status are swirling amongst the popular crowd, but I still have no idea what—if anything—Holden has told his friends about us.
Another disadvantage on my side.
Equally maddening is the suspicion McKenzie confirmed earlier: it’s all because of Holden. No one cares about my relationship status, much less happiness.
“Brooks, you start,” Finn says.
“’Kay,” Brooks agrees. His eyes meet mine across the flames, and I quickly drop my gaze down at the pine needles littering the ground. “I was born on Halloween. I’m left-handed. I’ve only slept with one girl.”
There are a couple of giggles following that last one. Brooks looks over and winks toward the titters before focusing on Finn.
It’s where everyone else is looking too. Finn is on the other team, and he’s the only one who has known Brooks for longer than a day. It makes sense that he’ll be the one who guesses.
But Holden is the one who answers. “First one is a lie,” he says, then swigs from the can he’s holding.
Mark rolls his eyes. “We’re supposed to discuss it as a team before you answer.”
“Was I wrong?”
Tension hums through the still air as Holden and Brooks stare at each other.
“No,” Brooks answers. “That’s right.”
“One girl, man?” Finn laughs. “Come on…”
Guffaws and whispers swirl around in the night air.
Brooks shrugs, unbothered. “Wanted it to mean something.”
My gaze moves to the interior of my cup. Something he and I have in common that probably isn’t a popular viewpoint among people our age.
It’s definitely not something Holden and I have in common.
I’ve never asked for exact details—who, what, or where—about Holden’s experience before he and I got together, but we grew up in the same town. Attended the same schools. Had the same classmates.
So, I have a pretty good idea.
And I thought I’d accepted it. Thought I got past it a long time ago.
But right now it burns like a cut that scabbed over but never fully healed, reminding me the wound is there.
Maybe it’s the alcohol.
Maybe it’s that I’m feeling incredibly insecure right now and a reminder of our differences isn’t helping.
I wastherethe whole time. If he loves me the way he claims to, why did it take me grinding on him in a driveway to set off the chain of dominos that ended with us in a committed relationship?
And maybe it wouldn’t still bother me if I was fully confident in us.
