Page 29 of The Ex-cavenger Hunt

“Where are you, Lil?” I mutter under my breath, scanning the crowd with growing anticipation. My heart races as I search for her familiar face among the sea of people. There’s a certain art to finding someone in a crowd; it feels like a game we’ve played many times before.

The air is rich with the scent of street food and excitement, and I swear I can almost taste the cotton candy on my tongue from a vendor nearby. The rhythm of the music pulses against my ribs, urging me to move, to find her, to be part of this night together. I feel the energy of the crowd coursing through my veins, and I can’t help but tap my foot to the beat.

“Come on, Ethan,” I coach myself, feeling that familiar thrill that only comes with these spontaneous moments—the ones that seem small but stick to your soul. It’s the same feeling I get whenever I see her after time apart, the way my heartbeat picks up just a bit more. My palms begin to sweat, and I wipe them on my jeans, trying to calm my nerves.

And then I spot the sunflower print blouse—a touch of her creative spirit—in the distance. My heart does that funny little skip, and I can’t help the grin that takes over my face. I feel a warmth spread through my chest, and I know it’s not just from the summer heat.

“Found you,” I whisper, my steps quickening as I weave through the crowd, dodging a couple swaying to the music and a guy with a backpack shaped like a rocket. My eyes never leave her, afraid that if I blink, she’ll disappear.

She’s backstage in the corner speaking with someone. Colton Barnes. The frontman for The Lunar Tides. I can recognize him almost anywhere. An unknown feeling hits me. What could they be talking about? I take a deep breath, trying to push the feeling aside. I trust Lil, and I know there’s nothing to worry about. But still, I can’t help the way my heart clenches at the sight of them together.

Navigating through the dense crowd, my heart accelerates with each step closer to Lil and Colton. The music envelops me, its rhythm pulsating against my eardrums. I maneuver past a group of teens dancing against each other, narrowly avoiding a collision with someone carrying a tray laden with beverages.

As I approach, I can’t help but notice the way Colton leans in close to Lil, his hand brushing her arm as he speaks. My stomach twists, and I feel a flare of jealousy ignite in my gut. I clench my jaw, trying to push the feeling aside. She’s not mine. The other night was just a kiss that left me sleepless and full with need.

A need for her body, her mouth . . . but nothing else.

I don’t own her, even when my body has a different perspective after what happened between us.

“Hey, stranger!” I call out, but my voice drowns in the sea of sound. I push forward, dodging a rogue beach ball and a guy juggling glow sticks, until I’m close enough to reach for her arm.

Lil turns, her eyes widening in surprise before a smile spreads across her face. “Oh hey, I was wondering where you were,” she says, her voice soft and warm. She glances at Colton, then back at me. “Hey, let me introduce you to Ethan Montgomery. He’s the one who made this happen.”

Colton arches an eyebrow, his gaze sliding from Lil to me. “This?” he asks, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Finding me or the whole searching for your old flames?”

“Probably both,” she admits, her cheeks flushing pink.

Colton gives her a casual smile, but I can see a flicker of sadness in his eyes. “You know it’s okay when things don’t work out the way you planned,” he says, his voice gentle. “Did I think we would last longer?” He nods, his shoulders sagging slightly. “My career was starting. College was demanding. You followed your path, and I did mine.”

Lil’s smile falters, and I can see the pain etched on her face. “It kind of broke my heart,” she confesses, her voice barely above a whisper.

Colton sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I broke mine, too,” he admits, a rueful smirk playing on his lips. He glances toward a group of guys, and I recognize the drummer, Carter Archer. “But then, I found my happy.”

Lily frowns, her brows knitting together in confusion. “You and Cart?” she asks, her voice laced with disbelief.

Colton nods, a happy grin spreading across his lips. “I trust you’ll keep it on the down-low,” he says, his voice dropping to a furtive whisper. “It’s something we don’t like to share with many, but we’ve been together for a couple of years.”

Lily’s face softens, and a genuine smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “I can see the two of you together. I’m glad you found your happy,” she says, her voice warm and sincere.

Colton reaches out and touches her arm, his fingers lingering for a moment. “You’ll find it too, Lil,” he assures, his eyes searching hers. “It’s out there. Not sure if this memory lane trip is helping, but I hope it does in some way.”

Lily’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she blinks them back, nodding. “Thank you,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. She glances at the stage, where the rest of the band is setting up. “Break a leg.”

As she walks away, I try to follow her, my heart pounding in my chest. The crowd seems to close in around me, and I lose sight of her for a moment. Panic rises in my throat, and I push through the throng of people, desperate to catch up to her.

I round a corner, away from the main stage, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of her. My palms are sweaty, and I wipe them on my jeans, trying to calm my racing heart. Where could she have gone? I wonder, my mind spinning with possibilities.

Suddenly, I see her, and relief floods through me. My heart skips a beat as I quicken my pace, dodging a group of giggling girls and a guy with a mohawk. “Lil!” I call out, my voice hoarse with emotion.

She turns, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. “Hey, Ethan,” she breathes, her voice barely audible over the din of the crowd. Her lower lip trembles slightly, and I feel a tug at my heart.

I close the distance between us, my arms aching to hold her. “Hey,” I say softly, reaching out to brush a stray tear from her cheek. Her skin is soft and warm beneath my fingertips. “Are you okay?”

She shrugs, her shoulders slumping. “I mean, yeah, but if you recall, this is the third person who found happiness right after we broke up,” she reminds me, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Hence why we’re not visiting Leo—the hot doctor, or Noah, the architect.”

I frown, my brows knitting together in confusion. “Help me out here,” I say, my voice gentle. “What is the problem?”

She averts her gaze, her eyes fixed on the ground. “They were ready for forever, and I wasn’t enough,” she whispers, her voice cracking.

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