My ears perk up at the mention of my favorite dive. “Finn? Like from Finn’s bar.”
“That’s the one.”
Invisible strings start threading together in my mind.
“How do you two know each other?”
“He’s my brother.” Vanessa flashes me a giddy smile. “We don’t get to see each other as often as I’d like, living in Charlotte and all, but I’ve been thinking about moving closer.”
“You should,” I say, trying to tamp down the hope building in my chest that this rekindled friendship might last longer than the weekend. “Who wouldn’t want to live near a bar where you’re related to the proprietor?”
“Psh,” she scoffs. “Finn’ll probably charge us double after the damage Adrian did at the soft opening.”
“I can’t help that I’m genetically bred to metabolize alcohol like water,” Adrian adds, finishing his own drink. “Bring it up with my ancestors.”
I chuckle, reaching for a bag of chips, when I spot Hudson walking across the lawn. He’s dressed down in a pair of black drawstring shorts that hit above his knee and a pale green tee. I wait for him to greet his friends, say hello to the bride and groom, or kisshis girlfriend, but he saunters over to a chair directly across the lawn from me. His gaze is like fire, igniting a heat deep inside my belly as I gulp down half of my drink to try to numb the flames.
“That’s how you two know each other,” Vanessa pries, following my gaze. “From the bar?”
“Mmmhmm.” I nod, lips pursed, protecting myself from saying anything else that would elicit more unwanted questions. Sharing personal information about my life is hard enough, but revealing the truth about Hudson and me is akin to standing in front of the class naked.
“I have to admit it was pretty badass how he jumped in the river to save you earlier,” Vanessa says, scooting closer to me.
Except he’s the reason I fell in the first place, I think to myself.
“It was just a reflex,” I reason. “Part of those safety seminars companies like his are always boasting about.”
Adrian shakes his head. “As a former employee I can attest that while we learned how to save someone choking on a peanut, or to properly team-lift an object over seventy-five pounds, I never saw a training video about jumping into a raging river to save anyone from drowning.”
I wish I could explain that his actions were only in penance for the guilt of his indiscretions. But if I cheated on my partner, I would want to stay as far away from the person I cheated with as possible. And yet Hudson continually forces himself into my orbit. Everywhere I turn, he’s there. I can’t tell if it’s because he’s trying to keep an eye on me or if he’s truly a glutton for punishment. I consider the latter as Angie approaches.
“Anyone tried the beef jerky yet?” she asks, reaching for the bag of petrified meat, ripping open the bag, and taking a whiff. “I swear if I don’t get some protein soon I’m going to pass out.”
“Can’t be as bad as those hamburgers,” Adrian says as she pops a piece in her mouth and begins chewing.
“Where’d Jocelyn run off to?” Vanessa asks.
Angie motions across the lawn. “Throwing axes with Derrick.”
We all turn our heads, catching sight of a steel blade flying through the air.
“Who gave that man a weapon?” I ask, as the axe lodges itself in the dilapidated barn.
“He stole it from the woodpile,” Angie explains as she watches her girlfriend take her turn with the axe. “I’m pretty sure they’re doing structural damage to the barn, but none of the staff have tried to stop them.”
“I mean, would you?” Vanessa shrugs. “The staff are like lanky babies, and Derrick is like The Rock.”
We all watch as Derrick throws again, this time making the entire building shake.
“Want me to get you a refill?” Adrian offers, looking into my empty cup.
“I need to get up anyway,” I say, moving towards the Sloshie machine. I need all the liquid courage I can stomach if I’m going to break the news to Meredith that I won’t be able to shoot her wedding after all. Sure, it might lead to another bad review but maybe she’ll send me back home. At least I’ll be free of Hudson and the lingering feelings I still have for him.
Before I can refill my cup, Derrick falls to his knees beside me, opening his mouth beneath one of the nozzles and taking a giant gulp of vibrant red slush as if it’s a water fountain.
“These are so great, right?” he says, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, giving me a playful pat on the back and running back to his game. I stand there for a moment, dazed, as Meredith sneaks up behind me.
“Mira,” she squeals, draping her arms around me and giving me a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
