I did not turn around.
My pulse did, which was irritating.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Right,” she said dryly. “And I’m not emotionally exhausted.”
I glared at the ocean.
The footsteps came closer. Heavy through the sand. Unhurried, but not casual. I knew they were Drew’s before he said a word because apparently my body had started recognizing him like weather too.
“Ladies,” he said behind us.
Stella turned first.
I stayed facing the water, because I was mad and also because I needed one more second before looking at him. Drew after a fight was dangerous. Drew after a win was worse. Drewafter nearly fighting Tristan Vale because of me while I wore his jersey?
That was not a man I should look at without supervision.
Stella tipped her can toward him. “Try not to punch anyone in the next twenty minutes, Travers. It was embarrassing.”
Drew was quiet for half a second.
Then, “Noted.”
“It wasn’t even elegant violence.”
“Didn’t realize we were scoring style points.”
“We always are.” Stella stepped back, eyes flicking once between us. “I’m going to rescue Tristan from whatever tragic internal monologue he’s currently drowning in.”
“Good luck,” Drew said.
“I don’t need luck.” Stella glanced at me, and the corner of her mouth lifted. “I need stronger alcohol.”
Against my will, a laugh slipped out.
She looked pleased with herself, which made me like her less again.
Good. Balance restored.
Then she walked away, cutting across the sand toward the bonfire with the kind of composure that made people move without realizing they had moved. Drew and I watched her go for three steps.
Then silence landed.
Heavy.
Ocean in front of us. Fire behind us. The whole beach pretending not to watch.
Drew moved to stand beside me. Close enough that his shoulder almost brushed mine. Close enough that I could smell peppermint on his breath under the beer and bonfire smoke.
Of course he tasted like peppermint after trying to commit felony assault.
Ridiculous man.
“You okay?” he asked.
I laughed once, sharp and humorless. “That’s what you’re opening with?”
