Jackson pulls out his phone and presses a few buttons. Moments later, dance music blares from the speakers overhead. The atmosphere of a nightclub without all the triggers that usually make it impossible for me to enjoy. The air is cool against my skin, there’s nobody to trample me if I fall while dancing,and the lights are a soft muted blue with absolutely no flashing. Jackson thought of everything, just for me.
“Where’s Andy?” I ask when I notice her absence.
“With Mom,” Beau says carefully, eyes downcast.
“Bad day?” Eli asks, radiating sympathy.
“Bad few weeks.” Beau shrugs, then aims a soft look at Trevor. “She’ll get there with time. It’s almost been a year.”
“First year is the hardest,” Colby points out.
Eli leans into Colby, earning a heartsick grin from my cousin. “Everything with time.”
“The busiest season at the farm is winding down soon,” Colby says, mostly to Beau. “Looking good?”
Beau shrugs as he grabs a vanilla cupcake. He carefully unwraps it, plates it, then cuts it in half with a fork. He proceeds to put the other half on a plate for Trevor. No asking, nothing, just plated him a damn cupcake. Trevor elbows Beau in the arm, but gratefully takes the cupcake.
“Farm is on autopilot these days,” Beau says around a mouthful of cupcake.
Colby scoffs. “Beau. Stop downplaying everything you do.”
Beau grins at Colby. “Never.”
“How’s school, kiddo?” Jackson questions Eli.
Eli cutely wrinkles his nose. “I’m so ready to be done.”
“Professor Eli,” Trevor teases before sweetly booping Eli’s nose.
Eli slaps Trevor’s hand away. “Fuck off.”
Jackson laughs at his friends, but doesn’t join in. I lift my head to look at him, feeling a smile tug at my lips. Jackson turns his head slightly to stare down at me, his thumb rubbing at the skin just under the neck of my sweater. My cheeks warm under his stare. I tear my gaze away to look anywhere but at him. When my gaze meets Trevor’s, his gaze is knowing and soft.
“Well, I guess we could dance,” Trevor says with a small shrug. He turns towards Beau to whisper something in his boyfriend’s ear. Whatever he said has Beau gripping Trevor’s hip tightly, mumbling something I can’t make out.
With a slightly evil laugh, Trevor pulls away from Beau’s possessive grip. Trevor grabs Eli’s hand and tugs him towards me, both of them radiating some low-level maniacal energy that has me a little concerned for myself.
“Dance with us,” Trevor orders, eyes glowing with mischief.
“Maybe I want to watch you guys dance.”
Eli tips up on his toes. “You definitely want to dance with us.”
“Alright, Harp?” Colby asks as he takes a slow sip of soda.
I actively try not to cringe at the nickname. I hate it, always have. But I can’t be a giant, huge, colossal dick by telling my familyhey, stop calling me a musical instrument, I fucking hate it. Instead I suck it up and pretend it’s fine. When I glance over at Jackson, he’s staring at me, a little furrow between his brows. He’s always trying to figure me out.
“I’m always fine,” I say loudly, as much to convince myself as to convince them.
Beau snorts. “Go dance, then.”
“This feels like a serious role switch,” I mumble under my breath as Eli tugs me out onto the dance floor.
“Follow our lead,” Trevor whispers to me.
Alright. Trevor manhandles me until my back is flush against his strong chest. Oh. And then Eli presses against my front, sandwiching me between their warm bodies. I’m distantly aware of Honey at my feet, probably wondering what the hell is going on. Trevor sways to the beat, his hands hard on my hips. One hand slowly trails up my stomach, forcing a shocked gasp from my lips. Fuck. His warm palm tenderly cups my chin, carefully tipping my head back to rest against his shoulder.
“Jackson is one of my best friends,” Trevor murmurs in my ear, warm breath ghosting over my already flushed cheek. “And when I tell you I’ve never seen him want someone as much as he wants you… if you let him have you, he’ll never let go. It’s up to you, Harper.”
