“Are you dating him?”
“We’re hanging out this summer to pass the time.” I kept my voice even and light so he wouldn’t suspect a thing.
“That kiss last week looked like maybe you were something.”
I worked hard to keep the smile off my face. “That was all just a joke.”
“Even I know you used to have a creepy scrapbook with his face all over it. You’re not fooling me.”
My stomach dropped. “What? How did you know that?”
He started to laugh. “You left it out on your bed once, and I leafed through it.”
“Oh my gosh.” I upped my pace to leave him in the dust before he grabbed my arm, laughing, and pulled me back.
“It just confirmed what I already knew about you. You’re a freak.”
“Do not tell anybody about that.”
“I knew this kind of knowledge would come in handy one day.”
I glowered at him.
He chuckled. “I’m not worried at all about you. I want to make sureheknows who he’s hanging out with.”
“We’re just friends.”
“Mom and Dad tell me you’ve gone on a few dates.”
“It’s nothing.”
“He’s got quite the reputation.”
“Are you still mad about high school? You know he didn’t really steal your girlfriend. She came on to himafteryou broke up with her.”
He gave me the side-eye as we both picked up our pace with our childhood house in sight. “What? How did you know about that?”
“Just assume everybody knows everything in this town.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not still mad about anything.” He flashed me his ring. “Happily married. This is about you. If he’s changed and different from what I hear about him, great. If you really are just friends and passing time this summer, fine. But you liked him a lot at one point, and your bright-red face right now gives me that same impression. I’m telling you to use caution, that’s all.” He pointed toward our childhood home, now only a hundred yards away. “First one to the house wins.”
We took off sprinting, laughing, and holding each other’s arms back in our effort to win. When we finally collapsed onto the porch swing, I was gratified to see a few drops of sweat beading on his forehead.
“So far, this all seems like a pretty civil ultimatum. Aren’t you supposed to tell me to stop seeing him or else?”
“Nah, I don’t like you that much.” He nudged my arm as I leaned my head against the back of the swing, lungs burning and needing to stretch, but no longer wanting to move. “If he hurts you, then I’ll kill him, but until then, it’s your call.”
18
Logan
The smell of wood and smoke filled the air as I parked the four-wheeler next to a sea of trucks behind my parents’ house. It was July 3rd. As was tradition, many old friends had come home for Eugene’s Fourth of July celebration.
Jake had prepared a blast from the past with all of our friends. First up, dinner and a bonfire while we waited for the sun to go down. Afterward, he organized a game offugitive. A small crowd of people gathered around the bonfire. Jake had sent me to the house to grab a handful of camp chairs and the bag of hot dogs I’d been tasked to bring. I tried refusing to allow my eyes to search out for one face in particular, but they scanned the crowd anyway. Tessa wasn’t here yet.
Disappointment and relief washed over me, and I hated myself for both emotions.
“Hey, Marten.” My boss, Chase Riley, saw me approach the bonfire and made his way over to me. He had the build of a football player and the easy manner of somebody who liked people. He talked as friendly to a banker investing in a construction project as he did to the lowliest framer on his payroll. He was a great boss.
