“Look, I found them.” A feminine tone comes from in front of us.
I lift my gaze and catch a couple approaching us. The woman tugs her guy along, dodging groups of people standing in their path. Her bright pink hair stands out in the masses. She’s sporting a huge grin aimed at Sutton. I take a wild guess and assume this is Harlyn.
My girl blinks at this newcomer, her jaw going slack. “Oh my gosh. You finally went through with it.”
“Whatcha think? Too crazy?” Harlyn tosses some neon curls this way and that.
Sutton stands and wraps her friend in a hug. “You’re stunning, as always. The color suits you. Now that vibrant personality of yours can really shine.”
She winks. “I figured why the heck not, right? If I ever wanted to go pink, it needed to happen before school starts. Come September, I have to be professional.”
“I’m sure the kids would think you’re cool.”
“Maybe, but I need tenure before taking big risks.” Harlyn laughs at her own words.
Sutton crosses her arms. “Oh, whatever. The principal is already halfway in love with you.”
“Hopefully not too much,” the man beside Harlyn grumbles.
She cups his jaw. “She’s a her, cowboy. And super married. Nothing to worry about.”
“I’m happy to see the bubbling bliss hasn’t worn off,” Sutton coos at them.
“Not in the slightest,” Harlyn agrees. Her gaze slides to me. “Speaking of, who do we have here?”
Sutton baulks and turns to me. “Whoops, sorry. It feels like you should already know each other. Gray, this is Foster.”
He pops out from behind Harlyn, offering me a wave. “Howdy.”
I nod at him. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
“And this is my college roomie, Harlyn.” Sutton hitches a thumb at her.
Harlyn remains quiet, giving me a long once-over. I cock a brow and wait for her appraisal. She taps her chin, squinting closer. This ought to be good. “So, you’re the illusive Bowen.”
“Grady,” I correct.
“Right.” She elongates that single word until her breath runs dry. I brace for more sass, but she surprises me with a wide smile. “I’m happy to finally put a face to the name.”
“Likewise,” I respond.
Harlyn’s eyes sparkle. “Sutton talks about me?”
The girl in question gives her a shove. “Don’t be a dork. Of course he’s heard about you.”
“And all the trouble we caused?” Harlyn adds.
Everything inside of me stretches taut, until I’m liable to snap. “Is that so?”
“You’re so bad, Har. Knock it off,” Sutton scolds her. Her baby blues lift to me. “We were harmless. She’s joking. Mostly.”
I trace a line down her jaw. “Not sure I believe you, Sutt. I’m sure the guys were always chasing your ass. Hell, they still do.”
“Oh, they definitely were,” Harlyn chimes in. “She had to beat them off with a stick on the daily.”
Sutton huffs. “Talk about an exaggeration. That’s not true at all.”
“That sounds like my worst nightmare.” I curse a stream of expletives into my fist.
