"What?"he asks."She is so nice to be around.Like she chills you out or something.Not like your sister, she definitely doesn't have me feeling calm..."
I am ready to lose my shit.But it doesn't stop there.Colby, God help me, chimes in from nowhere, sunglasses crooked, beer in hand.“Anyone can be a one-night stand.”
Anders punches him in the arm hard enough that Colby yelps and clutches the wrong bicep.“That’s why you'll die alone, Asshole.”
Jensen just looks at me.Not mad.Not smug.Patient, like he’s waiting for me to tell the truth out loud for once.
But I don't owe they assholes a fucking thing.I’m done.
I cut through them and head for the cluster of people who can hurt me without trying: Mom, Dad, Eli, Kenzie.Tessa’s there too, listening to Dad tell a story about a stubborn heifer like the punchline is a moral and not a laugh.She watches him with respect you can’t fake.It loosens something in my chest I didn’t know I sandbagged shut.
Mom catches my eye first.The smile she gives me is small, real.It makes me feel six and thirty and captain and son, all in one breath.
“We’re gonna head out,” she says, touching my arm.“Your father’s convinced the cows will develop abandonment issues if we don’t get back before dark.”
Dad grunts like she read his mind.He’s already half-turned, scanning the crowd for exits.
“I want to stay,” Kenzie says quickly, raising her hand like we’re in homeroom.“We told Adam we’d be on the patio for fireworks.”
“I did tell him,” Eli adds.“Town shuts down Main Street.You should see it.”
Tessa looks between them, settles on my dad.“John, if it's not an issue, you can take my truck,” she offers, then turns to Eli.“You, me, and Kenzie can pile into your dad’s, that way we will all fit.”
It’s efficient and kind, and it rearranges the whole evening without asking anyone to bend too far.She says it like she’s done this before, solve the problem, make space for the good part.
“You’re not staying?”I ask, aiming for casual, but miss the mark, and land on something that sounds like I care, which is annoying as hell.
“We promised Adam,” Kenzie says, like the answer is obvious.“It’s a whole thing.Music, vendors, the works.You should come.It is so much fun.”
Behind me, McKenna has the hearing of a raccoon and the subtlety to match.“Country street party?”he yells.“Yes, please.”A couple of the guys echo him.Someone whistles.A few of the girls groan about bugs and locals; two more say it sounds cute, like a Hallmark movie.
“Fine,” I say, because I can’t exactly say I was already halfway to asking if I was able to join.“I’ll clean up.Meet you there.”
“Save me a dance, Tess!”Anders calls over my shoulder because he wants to die young.
Eli doesn’t even look up as he answers, dry as a July field.“Have fun stealing her from Chase and Adam.”
Everything in me goes still.
Chase.Adam.
Like Dr.Chase Morgan and Adam Palmer?
“Who the fuck is she dating?”I ask before my brain can keep my mouth from making me look like a grade-A idiot.
Kenzie blinks at me, innocent for half a second before it detonates into laughter.Full fucking cackle, hand to her stomach, head thrown back.“Oh, that’s adorable,” she says, wiping her eyes.“Good luck with that.”
I open my mouth.Nothing helpful comes out.Dad hoists one cooler, Eli takes the other.Tessa is either ignoring my outburst or somehow managed not to hear.
She doesn’t look at me when she passes, following behind Dad.
“I know you have this place.”Mom says to me as she kisses my cheek.“But if you decide to come home.I washed the extra sheets.”
It feels like a boulder lodged in my throat.“Thanks,” I say, voice quiet.
They head for the trucks, Kenzie walking backward to beam at me.“Don’t be late,” she sings.
I watch them go, watch Tessa tuck herself into the rhythm of my family like she’s meant to be a part of them.
