“Mmm, not really.” I slip my hand from his, shifting uncomfortably on the log. My butt is going numb from sitting here, but I like Trevor’s company. “Willa and I didn’t get along as kids. I don’t know if it was the age difference or our personalities or what, but we weren’t close back then. We’re just now starting to understand each other.” Suddenly feeling like I’ve shared too much with the enchanting hazel eyes across from me, I drop my gaze and change the subject. “So, do you have siblings?”
“Yep. Three: Maya, Lainey, and Eli. They all love it back home in Heritage. I don’t get it, but they’re happy, so I’m happy.” Trevor stands from the log with a smile, dusting off the back of his jeans. “Welp, you ready to head back? I can’t feel my legs.”
“Yeah.” I laugh, moving back toward the trail. “I’m sure they’ll be sending out a search party soon.”
Trevor falls in step with me and bumps into my shoulder playfully. “Successful first date?” he asks.
“Mm-hmm, I’d say so. You’re full of surprises, Jack.”
“Jack?” He clutches his heart, and another giggle bursts out of me. “I made such a good impression, you forgot my name?”
“Jack-of-all-trades, since you do any- and everything.”
“Whatever you say, pretty lady.”
Heat creeps up my neck with his flirtatious nickname. This crush on Trevor didn’t take long at all. He’s silly, easy to talk to, and his straightforward flirting eliminates the guessing games I’m used to. I feel so giddy, and I admit, Kayla was right. It’s refreshing, being pursued for the right reasons. He’s crystal clear about his intentions, an element I think I’ve been missing up till now.
When we get back to the lodge, I’ve mostly forgotten about the awkwardness that awaits. One minute, Trevor and I are bumping into each other, laughing about his childhood obsession with chicken nuggets dipped in applesauce. And the next, we’re face-to-face with our friends around the kitchen island.
“Looks like you two had a good time.” Kayla’s eyebrows dance suggestively. Chase darts a glance at Hunter before looking back at me.
Trevor brushes his arm against mine with a sly smile before walking toward the fridge. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Which trail did you do?” Willa asks from across the counter.
“The Horizon Trail. It was beautiful up there,” I reply.
“It sure was…” Trevor says, shooting a wink my way.
I bite my cheek to temper the timid grin sliding across my face, but it’s no use. Mashing my lips together doesn’t help either—not with the way my belly is flopping around inside. But then my gaze drifts across the island, meeting Hunter’s. We stare for a couple seconds before he drops his eyes to his phone. His face is unreadable, but all those flutters are now dead weight in my gut.
I asked for this, told him to act like nothing happened. So why do I have this creeping doubt spreading through me? Why do I feel a pang of remorse? Last night was right up Hunter’s alley. He’s good at detached intimacy—heprefersit. Plus, he’s still talking to Ava. I’m the one who doesn’t do casual flings. But when I look at whatever mask he’s slipped on his face, it’s definitely not the unbothered one I’m used to seeing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
HUNTER
“Not a football person?”
I glance over my shoulder as Willa strides across the deck. Dejection slumps my shoulders, and I resume watching the autumn foliage lose hope.Not her. “Just needed some air.” I’ve been checking the score on my phone, but watching Ashlie and Trevor bond over football—and everything else—sounds worse than throwing myself into a woodchipper. Yesterday was brutal enough. I made up my mind about Ashlie on my run, and swiftly unmade it when I found out about her date with Trevor. Watching them leave for their date excitedly, and return standing much closer than they had been before, tore me apart inside. For the last twenty-four hours, I’ve taken silent shots to the chest each time she’s giggled at his jokes or made eyes at him. And the visceral reaction I fight every time he flirts with her—touches her.I’m fucking pathetic.
I finally went to bed early last night, only to hear them talking in the hot tub outside my window until one in the morning. When I rolled over to sleep, my damn pillow smelled like jasmine, memories, and misery. I hardly slept.
“I don’t think it will last.” Willa zips her purple jacket, then sits in the weathered Adirondack chair next to mine, looking out at the scenery.
“The game? It’s almost over …”
“Don’t play dumb. I’m talking about Ashlie and Trevor.” She shakes her head like I should already know.
“And what makes you say that?”
“Because he’s just like Bryan.” She shrugs, watching me.
“Care to expound on that?”
“Bryan was nice enough at first. He was the type of guy Ashlie thought she was supposed to be with, so she tried to make it fit when it clearly wasn’t what she wanted. She may not know it yet, but this Trevor thing is the same. He’s the friendly, All-American type who always does the right thing. Ashlie walks around like she gets paid to keep people from being disappointed. She thinks he’s the kind of guy she’s supposed to go for.”
“Why are you telling me this? She can date who she wants. It’s none of my business.”
