“And if we both keep it?” I ask, watching the lingeringsadness drain from her eyes, then they fill with determination instead.
“Hmm.” She flops back in her seat, thinking. “I don’t know.”
“We don’t have to decide right now. There are still a few weeks for us to pick something.”
“Deal.”
“Shake on it?” I offer my hand, and she takes it without hesitation.
Her grip isn’t soft and delicate, but a strong clasp of a woman who knows what she wants and fights to get it. It’s been such a long time since I’ve touched her, and as I rub my thumb over the back of her hand, I realize I’ve missed it. I miss our friendship and being comfortable in each other’s presence. I miss her sense of humor and laugh. I miss the fire and determination that her ex-boyfriend extinguished.
She squirms slightly before pulling her hand back to her lap. My hand hovers there midair, empty and cold, before I place it back on the steering wheel with the most absolute shocking clarity I’ve had all week.
I miss Reese.
Chapter Four
REESE
Awkward silence fills the truck as we pull back onto the road. I tuck my hands under my arms, uncomfortable with the lingering sensation from Tristen’s touch. Even thinking of the way his thumb grazed over my skin has me shivering all over again.
Maybe I should make a new rule to go with our truce? No touching... likeever.
I peek out of the corner of my eye to gauge his reaction. Did he feel something too? But he appears unshaken, concentrating on the twisting road.
Well then . . . it’s just me it seems.
Placing my elbow on the windowsill, I rest my chin in my palm and distract myself with the passing scenery. Branches of golden leaves pop like jewels against the army of thick pines, painting the horizon in an autumn swirl as Tristen’s truck chugs up the mountain pass. The foliage counts down the days until the landscape will be nothing but snow-covered pines and overcast gray skies. Winter always comes when we least expect it, sometimes as early as the beginning of October.Hopefully, Maya and Des’s sunset wedding won’t change to a winter wonderland theme instead.
The trill of his phone echoes in the ashtray, causing both of us to flinch with the sudden noise. A name scrolls on the screen, Daniella Mortan, one of the other Cliffhangers bartenders. He sighs before tapping the screen to accept the call on speakerphone.
“Hey, Dede,” he says more like a question.
“Where are you?”
My eyes widen at her sharp tone. I know of her as much as anyone does in a small town—by what I’ve heard whispered through the rumor mill. A college dropout, she fell into mischief with the wrong crowd. Then her fancy-pants father cut her off and is now forcing her to earn a spot back into his good graces... or maybe to gain access to his platinum card again.
Having been a troublemaker myself at her age, I’m grateful that my granny taught me better than to be so disrespectful.
“Didn’t you get my message?”
“No. I’m working,” she says, drawing the last word out sarcastically.
His thumbs drum on the wheel. “Well, I mentioned I had an emergency and had to pick up a friend.”
Guilt washes over me at the realization that it’s my fault Tristen is late for his shift. I chew on my bottom lip knowing I’ll need to apologize again.
“You’ve told me not to be messing on my phone when I’m on the clock.”
He grinds his teeth as he veers us around the mountain bend. “I meant for personal reasons, Dede. This is work related.”
“How much longer until you get here? I’m on thirty minutes of overtime,” she whines through the speaker.
“I’m about five minutes from our exit. And don’t worry, you’ll be compensated for your time.”
She huffs. “Just hurry. I’m supposed to be meeting my boyfriend for our date, and I’m already late.”
“I’m going as fast as the speed limit allows. In the meantime, can you slice all the citrus?—”
