Isla and I come from two different worlds, and maybe when we’re all alone—or in the cab of my truck with the rain pouring down—the rest of the world can melt away. But in the light of day … it’ll never work.
And I fucking know that, yet I still want her for myself.
“Fuck you,” I growl and walk out the door.
As much as I hate that she’s right … she is. And the quicker I accept it, the faster Isla can get on with her life and forget about the few times we spent together.
When I walk out to my truck, I glance down to see a text from her. It’s just a stupid meme, but I decide right then, I’m not going to answer it.
What would be the fucking point? Besides, in a few hours, she’ll be sitting across from Cash, probably looking at him the same way she looked at me in my truck.
Only there’s one difference … Cash would deserve that look from her. I don’t deserve anything from her at all.
TWENTY
ISLA
Under the table,I check my phone again, trying not to get caught for breaking theno phones at the tablerule. It’s been hours since I heard from Hendrix. Before that, he was texting me steadily.
Until we had sex in his truck, he didn’t even have my number. And since he dropped me off that night and I put it in his phone, we’ve talked practically nonstop. Until now …
I keep telling myself that maybe he’s busy, but seeing as one of his teammates has been sitting across from me all night, I know he’s not busy with hockey, and I know he doesn’t have classes this late in the day either.
This morning, I emailed my friend the information about Hendrix’s sister, Lilly.
On the drive home from the orchard, he told me everything he could about her, and I saved it into my phone to pass along. I just hope that I can find him some answers because even though it seems like he may be avoiding me right now, I’m sure I’m just being sensitive, and I want to help him if I can.
I sit at the dinner table with my parents and Saint; Cash; Cane; their little sister, Aviana; their mother, Freya; and their stepdad, Tripp. Two or three times a year, we all get together for dinner to catch up. My dad and Tripp became friends years ago when they were playing for rival New England NHL teams, and they’ve remained friends today.
The only annoying part of these dinners is that our parents not-so-subtly try to hook us up. Well, my dad tries to push me toward Cash because he’s the epitome of a golden child. But Tripp and Freya push his older brother, Cane, on me because he’s a bit of a wild card, and I’m pretty sure they think I can save him.
That’s the thing about everyone at this table; they all think I’m an angel. And I guess, to some extent, I’ve always tried to be one because my mom went through enough, raising me alone for the first few years of my life, and my dad … well, I’ve just always considered myself so lucky that he came into our lives that I never want to do anything that would make him want to leave. But sometimes, being good … is exhausting.
“So, are y’all ready for that auction thing of O’Brien’s?” Tripp asks, seemingly amused. “I’m so glad that shit wasn’t a thing when I was in college.”
“Hell no, I’m not ready,” Cash grumbles. “A bunch of people bidding on winning a date with college kids is creepy.”
“Agreed.” Cane nods. “Although it would be kinda cool to get picked by a cougar.”
“Ew,” Aviana says, cringing. “We all know who you’re hoping to get, Cane.”
That earns her a glare from him and a confused look from everyone else. Freya is just about to question what she meant when Cash interrupts her.
“Hey, guys.” He looks at me and Cane. “Care to get your asses kicked in air hockey?”
“Yeah, right. Last time, Isla beat your ass!” Aviana says, looking at me as she stands up from her chair.
“Aviana, language,” Freya grumbles.
“Sorry, Mom,” she singsongs, glancing my way. “Come on, Isla. Go show the boys how it’s done.”
Aviana is sixteen now, and I literally can’t believe how grown up and gorgeous she is since the last time I saw her, which had to have been just seven or eight months ago. I’m not the only one who’s noticed either because Saint keeps looking her way too.
Aviana has had a crush on Saint for years, but he always saw her as the annoying little girl who was two years younger than him. Now, it seems as though the tables have turned.
As we all get up, grabbing our dirty plates to take to the kitchen, Freya laughs.
“Oh my, you mean the adults get to sit here and actually hear each other while we talk?”
