Big spotlights on the stage kicked on, and the strum of a guitar rippled out into the crowd from the speakers.
High-pitched screams and low whoops and hollers rose as the country performer ran on stage.
He urged the crowd on, pulling more cheers from them as he yelled, “Y’all ready for some real country music tonight?”
Hayden wrapped his arms around me, holding my back against his chest as we swayed with the music—a slow song between all the upbeat ones the band had been playing.
I didn’t think we’d stopped dancing since the concert started. Keenan was teaching us all kinds of swing dancing moves. Sheens of sweat glistened on the boys’ foreheads, and I was grateful for the slower pace, even if it was only temporary.
Keenan had his arm around Ivy, and he flashed a wide smile and a thumbs-up at us. I rolled my eyes but didn’t see what Hayden’s reaction was. If he had much of a reaction, he didn’t show it, keeping his arms around my waist.
“Are you having fun?” he whispered in my ear.
I nodded against his chest, his warmth seeping through to my own body. “Do you think Keenan and that girl are going to start dating?”
Hayden shrugged one shoulder. “Dunno. He seems toreally like her, though. They met at a rodeo in the spring and have been talking since, I guess.”
“That’s good…” I hesitated for a moment. The question I wanted to ask lingered on my tongue, creating a sort of scratchy feeling. Finally, I spit it out. “Do you think you’ll meet a girl at a rodeo? Or in college?”
He tensed behind me then shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”
Relief washed over me, then guilt. What if I was holding him back?
“Do you?” he asked, repeating my question.
I shook my head. There was only one person who I could see myself ending up with, even if I knew I could never truly have him.
Through the remainder of the concert, my mind was stuck on Hayden. Imagining a future together.
The band finished their encore, and we said our goodbyes to Keenan, Ivy, Alyssa, and Dean.
Hayden drove us back to my car at the hotel, his hand tapping the steering wheel to Josh Turner the entire time.
When we parked, I turned toward him. “This was fun.” My voice came out a bit unsteady, my heart racing in my chest. “I’m glad we went.”
“I am too,” he agreed.
I offered him a tight-lipped smile, neither of us saying anything as we sat in the dark parking lot of the hotel next to my car.
Hayden cleared his throat, his tongue darting out. “Hey, Skip?”
“Yeah?” My eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to his lips, full and soft. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth.
His hand reached out, grazing my cheek. I leaned my head into his hand, craving the contact. His palm slid tothe back of my neck, and he leaned closer, his breath tickling my skin.
Hot breath tickled my skin, and the smell of cheap cigarettes burned my nose.
I pulled back, eyes widening in fear.
“W-what’s wrong?” Hayden retreated, his hand falling to his side like I’d burned him.
I turned away, too embarrassed to look him in the face. “We can’t.Ican’t.”
“Sierra.” My name fell off his lips in a soft plea.
“I’m sorry. I-I should go.” I retreated from the pickup as fast as I could. “Um…thanks again for driving me, Hayes. I’ll see you later.”
“Sierra, wait,” he started to say, but I’d already closed the door and opened my own, slipping into the driver’s seat and turning the key in the ignition.
