Page 11 of One Last Summer

“Do you mind if I talk to Jude for a second?”

“Not at all. I was just going to check out the food table. I’m getting hungry.”

I give her a thankful smile before she turns and disappears into the crowd.

“What’s this about?” Jude tilts his beer to his lips.

“Just wanted to touch base with you before tomorrow. Say thanks for helping Dad with the ranch and picking up my slack.” I’ve never been as involved in ranch life as my two brothers but I do have some jobs that one or both of them have to take over now that I’m leaving.

“What else would I do?” He scowls.

Sometimes I think that maybe Jude resents that I’m so good at football. He played in high school but never looked into going anywhere after. Said he wasn’t into it anymore. He was a solid player, but he wouldn’t be going to college on any scholarships.

But Jude is just generally a grumpy guy, so it’s hard to determine whether his attitude is directed at me specifically or life in general.

I push my hands into my pockets and shrug. “I don’t know. I’m just saying.”

“Listen, you go do your thing and do it well. Make something of yourself. Get drafted, have a long career in the pros and if you’re lucky, you won’t ever have to come back here.”

I frown. “It’s not like I’ll never be back.”

He steps up and clamps me on the shoulder, his matching brown eyes landing on mine. “If you’re smart you won’t be.” He walks past me and leaves me standing on the outside of the crowd. For the first time, staring at what I’m leaving behind, I get a sense that I don’t fit in this town anymore.

It’s like one brother is afraid I’m going to forget all about this place and the other is afraid I won’t.

Chapter Six

Gillian

I sip my beer and laugh at something Brooks says.

All of us teenagers are hiding behind the barn drinking the beer we managed to steal out of the coolers.

Well, all of us except for Ben. He took off like half an hour ago and hasn’t returned. I keep glancing around hoping to spot him. The only reason I haven’t gone in search of him is because I don’t want to look like a psycho stalker, but our remaining hours together are whittling down.

I take another sip of my beer in an attempt to ease my frustrations. I’ve always been a lightweight, so I already feel the couple of beers I’ve consumed going to my head.

A hand on my waist draws my attention and I look to my side.

My body relaxes, my shoulders settling somewhere that isn’t up by my ears.

He leans down and whispers, running his thumb along the inside of my wrist at the same time. “Mind if I steal you away?”

I turn and smile. “Not even a little.”

He entwines our hands and sweeps me away from everyone. No one really seems to notice. They’ve all been drinking and are too involved in their own conversations.

“Where are we going?” I ask once we’re far enough away from everyone.

“You’ll see.”

He leads me over to the drive shed they have and points to the UTV. “Hop in.”

“What are you up to?” I give him a suspicious look.

“I told you, you’ll see.” He places a quick kiss on my lips. “Now get in.”

I do as he says and within a minute he’s inside and belted in. He takes off away from the party. We drive for five minutes and the sounds of the party drift farther and farther away until we can’t hear the music or loud conversations anymore.

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