He winces and glances off to the side, into the dark parking lot that’s generally littered with beer cans from tailgaters who broke the rules and came out here to pre-game. He waggles his head side to side, seeming unsure.
“I don’t know. I got a lot going on.” His gaze snaps back to me, and there’s a flash of something behind his eyes. More jealousy, perhaps.
“Yeah. Okay. Raincheck, then,” I say, holding out my fist.
He drops his gaze to my hand and bites the inside of his cheek as he nods, huffing out a short breathy laugh.
“Sure. Raincheck.” He drops his fist on mine, and his eyes never quite make it back to my face as he utters, “Congratulations, though. For real. I mean it.”
He heads out to the parking lot, toward the black SUV he bragged about buying for himself when we first got here.
I think about shouting after him, assuring him his time is coming soon, but something about his posture urges me to let him go. He’s got some shit he’s working through I think, and doesn’t need my chaos busting through it.
Lindsey and Renleigh are waiting at my truck when I get to it, and I open the passenger side for them to slide into the front seat. I love that Renleigh sits in the middle, close to me, but I don’t like how still and quiet she is. I appreciate Roddy and the team wanting to celebrate me, but right now, all I want to do is drop Lindsey off at home and take Renleigh somewhere far away, where we can be alone and I can get her to believe me that she and I are more than a fling. That my opportunity doesn’t have to mean the end for us. I know that’s where her head is. I canfeelit.
It’s clear I’m not going to get the opportunity to talk it out with Renleigh anytime soon. The moment we pull into the lot at Earl’s, the three of us are swept into the roaring bar crowd for a toast. The band playing on the corner stage fills the space witha freight train of sound, chugging out classic Johnny Cash songs with a healthy dose of rock behind them. It’s a great vibe, and normally, I’d be all over this kind of music. But right now, I wish they would go on break.
“To Hunter!” Adler says, holding up his mug as he shoves one in my hand. I shake it off, but he keeps forcing it at me. I take a small sip with him to keep him happy before discarding my pint on the nearby table.
“Aww, don’t be a pussy, Hunt. I know you can drink! I saw you the night we all got here. You were keeping up with me.”
Adler slings an arm around me and shares stories about our first night in town, when it was just me, him, and Brooks at the local inn before we got our rentals squared away. We partied hard, sure, but it’s not the kind of thing I do every day, and I know Brooks doesn’t. Adler, however? Adler might have a problem.
“Maybe I should just . . .” Renleigh says as she hugs my free arm and nods toward the exit.
My brow furrows and I shift away from Adler, hunching to bring my eyeline to hers.
“We won’t stay long. I promise. Please stay,” I say, lifting her chin with the tip of my finger. My eyes drop to her mouth and her lips twitch into a timid smile.
“Yeah, okay. For a little bit. But then . . .”
I kiss her softly and cup her face.
“Then we go home, and we talk. All night if we have to.”
She nods, and I can still sense the reservations wreaking havoc in her mind, but she’s still open to listening.
My parents finally make it to Earl’s in time for the team’s second toast, and I’m careful to keep myself far away from Adler so I can be ready to take Renleigh and her sister home the second a good opportunity arises. My parents, however, are more than happy to toast their son. They’re staying at the inndown the street, so no driving necessary for them. And if anyone in this room deserves to drink up Roddy’s kind gesture, it’s them. My mom, especially.
“Hey, one round. What do you say?” Jayden hands me a pool cue, then nods toward the back of the bar, where the billiards and darts are. Adler is holding a stick alongside a few of the other guys, along with a crisp hundred bucks. I don’t need his money, but I want it. Mostly because I’d like to knock him down a peg. He can be . . .a lot.
“Sure. But just one,” I say, taking the stick from Jayden and turning to encourage Renleigh to join me.
“We can go after this. Yeah?” I offer.
She nods and glances behind her, searching for her sister.
“I’ll be right there. Lindsey got a call and stepped outside.”
I follow her gaze and spot Lindsey holding one hand over her ear and pressing the phone to the other as she pushes through the exit.
I nod.
“Okay. But you’re my good luck charm, so don’t take long,” I tease.
She gives me a lopsided smirk.
“I don’t want to be your lucky pair of socks,” she replies, I think referencing my superstitious habits—aka Sloane.
