Not my story to tell, but it was intense, and Charli actually cried while listening to him.
“I don’t want to talk about it ever again,” he ended in a mumbled whisper.
We both nodded and swore we’d never tell a soul.
And we never have.
Rounding the next curve, we get to the top of the hill, and a smile stretches over my face at the stunning mountain view. Damn, it’s beautiful. I love the drive to Aspen. I’ve only done it a few times. One summer, we did a road trip from Denver to San Francisco. So much freaking driving, and Charli and I complained bitterly about it, but Dad was determined to show us some more of the country.
And he was right to do it.
The Rockies are amazing, and now that I’m an adult and can appreciate this kind of thing more, I really do.
We live in a beautiful country, and Colorado has got to be one of the best states in it.
“Nearly there,” Sawyer murmurs, squinting against the sunlight. Why the guy doesn’t wear shades is beyond me. He never does. Obviously likes to show off those chestnut-brown eyes of his.
I know. Chestnut?
But it’s what my mama always calls him.
The guy’s got a lot of names, and it took me a couple of years to figure out why my mama called him some kind of nut. At first, I thought it was because she thought he was nuts, but when I got to about ten, I finally asked, and she told me it was because of his beautiful chestnut-brown eyes.
I’m pretty sure Sawyer fell in love with my mom that day.
Charli calls him Mr. Dick, because his last name is Richards. She’s the only person on the planet who can get away with it.
I don’t know why he lets her do it.
Maybe he lost some kind of bet with her or something. Those two are always getting into something together. Their prank waris endless, their inside jokes and teasing like a dripping tap, but neither of them will let up. It’s like the only way they know how to communicate—by hassling the shit out of each other.
It used to drive me insane, but I’m resigned to it now, and it’d probably be weird if they weren’t trying to playfully torture each other whenever we’re together. I wonder what they have planned for this weekend. It’ll be something fun and crazy, no doubt. Although, I’m not really sure how much planning goes into these things. Whatever they get up to, it’s gonna make a mess, and it sure as shit won’t be me who cleans it up.
Checking out the rearview mirror again, I see Nix’s head tilt back with a laugh and can’t help studying the line of her throat. I can picture the tip of my tongue exploring the contours of that smooth white skin, and yeah… I think I’m gonna be way too busy to clean up anyone else’s messes this weekend. I might just be caught up in a mess of my own.
Dude, that’s exactly what it will be! A big fucking mess! Do not go there.
I ignore the warning, my lips pulling up at the corners.
Maybe I want a little mess this weekend.
A little hot, sticky mess with the sexy pixie girl in my back seat.
Damn if that idea doesn’t get my blood pumping.
It keeps me company the rest of the ride, images flashing in my brain and turning my core temperature to boiling in the best way possible.
When I catch Nix’s eye again in the rearview mirror and score myself an eyebrow raise, I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing too. There’s definitely a spark between us—maybe it’s time we turn it into a flame.
Will Charli be annoyed about that?
Nah, she’ll be cool.
It’s just a little weekend fun. Not like I’m wanting to date the girl or anything. We’ll get hot and heavy, get it out of our systems, and then things can go back to normal.
Easy.
I can’t help smiling as I turn down the MacAlisters’ driveway. It’s long and winding, building this sense of anticipation as you weave your way through the trees, then pop out into a lush open space with a freaking mansion of a lake house. It’s a three-story stone-and-wood structure that is jaw-dropping. I can’t see the river from my spot, but I can hear it, which obviously feeds into the lake that this property sits right next to. I’m guessing you can jump off a back deck and straight into the water. And who knows what’s in this place. It’s got to be at least six or seven bedrooms.
