Mason rolls his eyes. “Traffic.”
We spread the red checkered blanket and plop down. The air smells like grilled hot dogs and lake water, sunscreen and smoke. Mason drops beside me, his knee brushing mine.
“It’s good to see you again, Hunter,” Aliyah says, offering a dimpled grin. “This is my girlfriend, Cam.”
I give Cam a polite nod. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
Overhead, the sky deepens into a dusky violet. The crowd’s chatter swells as the first firework hisses into the air, exploding into a blossom of gold. The bursts reflect on the rippling lake, fragments of color shattering across the surface.
We drift into silence, the kind that feels heavy on my shoulders. I’ve never been good at socializing in groups like this, and it’s probably obvious. My fingers pick at the frayed threads of my shorts, tugging one loose.
“Wow, Hunter! I love your nails!” Aliyah exclaims suddenly, grabbing my hand.
Heat rushes into my face. I painted them with wobbly red and white stripes earlier—my attempt at being festive. Normally I stick to solid colors since my hands fidget too much for patterns, but I’d forced myself to try.
“Thanks,” I reply, embarrassed but flattered.
A firework booms overhead, louder this time, vibrating in my chest. I flinch before I can stop myself. Mason’s palm settles firmly on my thigh, fingers squeezing softly. I give him a shy smile, my heart tripping at how steady his touch feels.
To fill the quiet, I blurt, “So, uh—how long have you two been together?” My voice comes out higher thanintended.
Aliyah grins, throwing Cam a mischievous look. “A little over a month. We met at a gay bar.”
My eyebrows lift. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” Aliyah continues, clearly entertained by my reaction. “Funny thing is, we were actually there to find a guy for Mason. He needed to get laid.”
Mason groans beside me. “Aliyah…”
Cam laughs, nudging Aliyah’s shoulder. “And instead she found me.”
I freeze, tensing at the knowledge that Mason was at a gay bar trying to pick up guys not that long ago. Is hestillgetting laid elsewhere?
Aliyah winks. “Best detour of my life. Mason, though? He tried to hook up with one of Cam’s coworkers. He ended up being a total jerk. It didn’t go anywhere.”
“He supported Franklin Sawyer,” Mason explains.
Aliyah sighs, shaking her head. “It’s hard to find decent gay guys around here. The dating pool’s… shallow.”
I force out a laugh, but it comes out thin. My throat tightens as her words echo in my head.Hard to find decent guys.My gaze drops to the sand, my knees pulled close to my chest.
Did Mason really just… settle for me? Because he didn’t have any other options?
Mason squeezes my hand, breaking me out of my spiraling thoughts. “You okay?” he asks, dropping his voice to a low whisper.
I force out a tight smile. “I’m great.”
The fireworks boom above, painting the world in fleeting streaks of red and green, but all I can hear is the pounding of my pulse in my ears.
***
The fireworks finale fades into smoke and applause, the crowd already breaking apart into clusters of people shuffling back towardtheir cars. Mason and I trail behind Aliyah and Cam until they veer off in the opposite direction, waving goodbye.
The walk back to Mason’s truck feels longer than the trip in. The nighttime air has a chilly bite to it. My throat is dry, my chest tight. I kick at loose pebbles on the sidewalk, keeping my eyes on the ground.
“You’re quiet,” Mason notes beside me, his voice easy but edged with concern.
