Blue eyes deep as the ocean peered into mine as Hayden’s fists grasped the sheets next to me, his body hovering over mine, warmth radiating off his skin.
A sigh fell from his lips just as…
My wrist slipped right as the pool stick made contact with the ball, and, instead of hitting the final solid ball, the cue ball bounced off the eight ball, gently knocking it into the pocket.
“Shit, sorry guys,” I muttered to my team as Colter, Reid, and Hayden celebrated.
Mikey chuckled, raising his beer bottle to me. “Join the club, Sierra.”
“How about those drinks, ladies and gents?” Jake threw his arms around Colter and Reid as they walked toward the bar. “Sierra’s paying!”
“I can pay if you want me to,” Hayden’s voice rumbled in my ear, slow and low.
I jumped as my eyes darted toward him. He was closeenough that I could feel the warmth from his body. “It’s fine, I’ve got it. Fair’s fair, right?”
“Hi, guys!” The bartender, a blonde girl with a round face and green eyes, smiled when we stepped up to the bar.
“How’s it going, Livvy?” Mikey leaned against the bar.
“Great! We’ve been busy. All of the themed nights that June, Nico, and I came up with have been a hit! I’m a little nervous about how busy it’ll get when classes start up again, though.” Her attention shifted to Hayden, then to me, then back to Hayden. “Hayden?” She drew out the word with a sly grin. “Who’s this?”
“I’m Sierra. Hayden’s an…old friend.” I mimicked the wording he used to introduce me, even though my teeth ground together as I said it.
“Aw, is she the one you were buying tampons for at the grocery store?”
Hayden’s face flushed bright red as he stammered an incoherent string of words, and the rest of the guys burst into laughter.
My brows shot up. “Wait, you did what?”
Hayden wrung his hands together. “I just thought you might need some things. It’s not a big deal. Come on, guys, just order your drinks.”
“Can you get us five shots of Pendleton, a tequila soda, and whatever Sierra wants, please, Liv?” Colter, still chuckling, was the one to give the order.
“I’ll just do a vodka soda,” I said, still thinking about Hayden buying me personal products at the grocery store. If it were anyone else, it would be weird, but Hayden had always tried to take care of me and make sure I was comfortable. It was nice to know that even five years later, he hadn’t changed.
After we’d gotten our drinks, the guys went back to thepool table, but Ellison and I found a high-top and some stools.
“So, you grew up in Goldfinch?” Ellison asked. “Hayden mentioned you two went to high school together.”
I hesitated for a moment. “No, I actually grew up in Ponderosa Valley but moved to Goldfinch right before starting high school.” Barely anyone knew why my family moved from Ponderosa Valley to Goldfinch. There wasn’t exactly a proper way to say the reason you moved was because your dad was arrested for assault and wanted to avoid contact with the cops who knew his face.
“Ah, okay. That’s when you met Hayden, then.” It was more of a statement than a question, but I nodded anyway.
“Yeah. We did high school rodeo together and everything. He and his family helped me a lot. They let me ride their horses for practice and competition until I was able to get my own.”
“I’m not surprised about that. He’s very kind.” She took a sip of her drink. “Has he always been such a man of few words? I’ve only ever known him to be quiet. He’s opened up the last couple years, but when I first met him, I think he said maybe five words to me.” A small laugh bubbled out of her.
To any normal person, it would have been funny, too, but something in my heart dropped. “No. He hasn’t always been that way.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
sierra
SEPTEMBER, FRESHMAN YEAR
Sierra! Get the fuck down here, or you’re going to miss the bus! I have better things to do than drive your sorry ass to school!” The masculine voice boomed through the house, rattling the picture frames hanging on my wall.
My eyes flew open, and I scrambled to reach for my phone, knocking it off the nightstand in the process. It fell face up, and the screen illuminated, displaying the time.
