Page 37 of Stealing Summer

"Oh, it's a good thing, trust me." Caroline added, playfully.

Hoping not to be seen, I held my breath and slowly tried to slip past them and make my way to the side of the cabin. If I could just make it to the back door, I’d avoid detection, and be in the clear.

“Almost there...” I whispered under my breath. One step, two steps?—

Crack! The sound of the branch under my foot was sharp, a break that echoed through the night. Four sets of eyes glanced in my direction in unison, locking onto me like I was under a spotlight.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Parker quipped, his grin visible even in the dim light. Caroline adjusted her posture a bit and remained comfortable on his lap, but her curious gaze remained.

“Chandler!” Boston called out warmly. “Come join us.”

Caroline’s expression instantly morphed into a scowl. I saw her grip tighten on Boston ever so slightly, and I couldn’t help but be a little annoyed at her possessiveness.

“Hi, guys,” I said hesitantly, clearly unsure of my welcome. “Sorry, to interrupt—I’m exhausted. Gonna head to bed,” stifling a yawn for effect.

“Come on, sis,” Parker chimed in, his warm, brotherly love evident in his voice. “Grab a drink and come relax.”

“Next time!” I inched toward the door, trying to slip past them with a small smile.

Boston’s face fell briefly but quickly recovered, giving a nod. “Alright, get some rest. We’ll catch up tomorrow.”

I silently twisted the door handle, easing it open just enough to slip through. I took a deep breath before getting myself ready for bed.

The next morning, I rubbed my eyes and stretched, yawning, as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. With a deep breath, I pushed myself up and headed toward the bathroom to take a shower.

I didn’t expect to bump into Boston in the hallway so early. He stood there, with a white towel barely covering his waist. His damp, wavy hair hung loosely around his face, and I could smell his body wash—a mix of soap and cedar.

“Uh, sorry,” I stammered, realizing that my eyes had lingered on his abs a little too long. “I was just on my way to shower.”

“No worries,” he smiled, moving to try to slip past me.

Things hadn’t been the same between us since I asked him about the bracelet, and I was sort of avoiding him.

“Hey Chandler,” he called out. I hesitated, then turned back toward him, curious.

“Have you heard about the Bayside Ball coming up in a few weeks?”

“Uh, yeah,” I replied, tucking a strand of damp hair behind my ear. “Reese asked me to go with him.”

“Reese?” He asked quietly.

I watched him closely, trying to decipher his thoughts.

“I mean… I think you could find a way better date than him, but that’s great—if that’s what you want, Chandler,” he whispered. “I’m still deciding if I’m going to go.”

My gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, my eyes softened with empathy. We stood there in the hallway, caught in a fragile moment. We both didn’t know how to handle whatever was going on between us.

“You should go,” I finally said, breaking the silence. “You should be there for the awards.”

He nodded and looked at me, his face flickering with some unreadable emotion. I hesitated for a moment before turning, taking small steps toward the bathroom. As I reached the door, I paused, glancing back at him. “You know,” I said softly, “I’m sure Caroline is hoping you’ll ask her. You should take her.”

“Caroline?” he echoed. “She is nice and all, but...” he trailed off, forcing a smile. “She’s not exactly who I pictured going with, but I’ll think about it.”

My expression shifted, the corners of my lips curving into a gentle smile that would show more than I could ever say out loud. But instead, here we were, tiptoeing around each other in the hallway, struggling to find our footing.

“Okay,” I murmured, nodding my head slowly. “I think she’d really appreciate it, Boston. You’re a great guy—anyone would be lucky to go with you.”

My words were meant to comfort him, but I’m unsure if they had the desired effect.

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