But then another firework booms overhead, breaking the spell. Ben jerks back like he’s been burned, his walls slamming back into place so quickly it’s like the moment never happened.
“We should head back soon,” he says, his voice carefully neutral. “I really do need to review my notes.”
The magic of the evening deflates like a popped balloon. “Right. Of course.”
I sit up and begin folding the blanket with sharp, efficient movements, trying to hide my disappointment. What did I expect? This is Ben—the same Ben who probably has his entire life planned out in color-coded spreadsheets. There’s no room for spontaneous moments or feelings that can’t be quantified.
As we pack up and walk back through the neighborhood, I can’t shake the feeling that something important has slipped throughmy fingers. But Ben is already back in his head, probably calculating how many hours of study time he lost tonight and whether this small rebellion will somehow derail his entire future.
“The fireworks were beautiful,” I say, trying to recapture some of the earlier magic.
“Yeah, they were.”
But he’s not really listening. I can practically see his mental to-do list reforming, all his responsibilities settling back onto his shoulders like a familiar but heavy coat.
At his driveway, he turns to me with a grateful smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Thanks for tonight. I needed it.”
“Anytime,” I say, forcing brightness into my voice. “That’s what friends are for, right?”
“Right. Friends.”
The word hangs between us like a barrier neither of us seems brave enough to cross. He heads around the side of the yard, probably to sneak back up the trellis to his room, and I walk home alone under the stars.
There’s the sound of the TV in the basement, where my parents and sister are watching a movie, but I tiptoe inside so they don’t notice me. I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone. Upstairs in my room, I collapse onto my bed and stare at the ceiling.
For a moment tonight, I thought maybe Ben and I could be something more than best friends… but it doesn’t matter what I thought. Ben has dreams bigger than our small suburb, biggerthan whatever this feeling is between us. And I’ve learned that when Ben sets his mind on something, nothing, not even the possibility of love, will stand in his way.
Still, I can’t stop thinking about the way he looked at me in the colored lights, or the question he almost asked. What if things were different? What if he wasn’t so afraid of letting someone in?
But those are dangerous thoughts for a girl who’s already halfway in love with her best friend. And Ben doesn’t do love; he does goals, achievements, and carefully calculated risks.
I’m definitely not one of those.
CHAPTER 1
BEN — FOURTEEN YEARS LATER
“Watch your step.”
Red Dawson’s warning comes too late. I’ve already stepped my leather loafer right into the thick mud, sinking my foot halfway down.
With great effort, I yank myself out of the muck, nearly losing my shoe in the process, and hurry after Red, who isn’t waiting up for me.
“This property’s been in the family for a hundred and fifty years.” He stops at the edge of the massive fields, hands on his hips, and surveys the long rows of wind turbines.
“Impressive.” I fight the urge to check my watch. My private jet won’t be leaving Texas without me, but I do have an evening appointment to get to in Chicago, so if we could speed this up a bit…
“It would be in good hands with SkyNova,” I say. “Our company values?—”
“Tell me, son.” Red pushes his cowboy hat back, revealing a wrinkled face crafted by wind, sun, and life lessons. “You have a lady? My wife read in a magazine that you’re one of the sexiest men alive or something.”
“Uh, well…” My personal life isn’t what I came all the way across the country to discuss. It’s my renewable energy enterprise that I’m here representing.
“It’s important. Family,” Red Dawson drawls.
I nod, only because that’s what he wants. Shamefully, there’s very little I wouldn’t do at this point to secure this contract. Expanding into Texas would boost the organization I founded ten years ago to new heights, establishing SkyNova as a national player rather than only a regional one. The agreements on Red’s ranch alone would be worth fifty million annually.
