She’s right. That’s exactly what Scottie is—a walking ray of sunshine. I think about how I spent the whole day with her in a house so dull and lacking any sort of shine, yet she somehow made a place that should have been condemned a long time ago, feel alive. I don’t even think Scottie realizes she does it.
“She’s…easy to work with,” I say casually.
Dallas laughs. “That’s the most suspicious compliment you’ve ever given.”
Lily smirks, raising an eyebrow. “And from what I hear, you two were bickering like an old married couple before lunch.”
I groan, running a hand over my face. Of course the whole town already knows. If one person saw and told Nan, everyone knows.
“It’s not like that.”
“Right,” Lily draws out. “I’m all ears for you to elaborate on that. Do you know her or something?”
My eyes snap to Dallas on their own accord. He stares at me for a beat before his eyes widen, as if he immediately knows what I’m thinking. I’ve never talked to Griffin, Lily, or Poppy about my one-night stand in San Francisco. But, poor Dallas, he had to hear about it the whole ride back to Bluestone Lakes.
Sixteen fucking hours of me bitching.
Mostly about my regrets for not leaving my phone number, and how I fucked up so bad. At one point, I even asked him to turn around. I needed to find her again, but it was too late. We were too far from the city at that point and Dallas needed to get back.
“No,” Dallas breathes out in shock.
I nod my head once.
Dallas runs his fingers through his hair, taking it all in. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious.”
“Fuck.”
I see Griffin and Lily looking between the two of us, and Poppy has a hand over her mouth, chuckling—no doubt she knows, and Dallas has filled her in on the details after that long drive.
“Anyone want to fill the rest of the class in?” Lily says.
I pause, staring at her, trying to figure out how much I want to tell them.
“Well…” I sigh, deciding fuck it, they’re going to find out anyway. “I had a one-night stand back in San Francisco.”
“Not unusual for you,” Lily says. “You do that—” She stops herself, eyes wide as realization now hits her. “No.”
I nod again.
“This is torture, guys,” Poppy says, sitting up taller on her barstool. “Let me give you all a quick rundown so we’re all on the same page. Tucker had a one-night stand, and her name was Scottie. He didn’t know much about her. Just her name and that she was there for something work related. They hit it off instantly—no, theyignited. Sparks, fire, static in the air. The whole damn cliché, and then some.”
I look to Dallas. “Is that how you described it to her?”
He shakes his head, laughing. “No, but I think that’s pretty spot on based on your rant the entire drive back to town.”
They all think this is funny. The small-town contractor falling into the orbit of a now TV star with bright clothes and big dreams, but it’s not.
It’s something else.
Something that makes me feel awake again.
And I don’t know if I’m ready for that.
“And now Scottie is the star of the season? And you’re the lead contractor?” Poppy asks.
“And her fake boyfriend,” I say quickly and calmly, as if it means nothing.
