Page 32 of We're At It Again

Her eyes dimmed at the mention of them, but I would not let it affect her day. I grabbed her arm and dragged her to the first hole. She bit her lip, intimidated by the twists and obstacles. I took the lead, guiding the ball through the course with a flick.

“I forgot how much of a show-off you could be.”

She lined up her shot and hit it far away from the hole. I placed my fist in front of my mouth to hide my smile. She’s too cute.

“And I forgot how bad you were.” I said, biting my lip as she pouted.

The game progressed, and it seemed as if she’d loosened up a bit. She lined up another shot until she glanced to her left. I picked up on her tensed shoulders and followed her eyes. There was her ex, with his new flavor of the week. However, his focus wasn’t on his girlfriend, but on us. With a cocky grin, I draped my arm around Luna’s shoulders, pulling her close.

“Play along,” I whispered, my lips against her ear. “Let’s show him how it’s done.”

I noted her blushing at our proximity as goosebumps littered her arms. Despite my playful flirtation, my mind fluttered as her lavender-scented body lotion invaded my nostrils. I drew my arms around her and placed it on top of hers, holding the club.

“It looks like I’m better at something than you.” I whispered into her ear.

She scoffed.

“It’s just mini golf. It’s not like it’s going to get you anywhere.”

“It got me in this position.”

I guided her arms, positioning her for a shot.

“Is Austin still looking?”

I looked over my shoulder to find his back turned to us, talking to Cynthia. It seemed to be a heated debate as arms were flailing.

“Yes, he’s still looking.” I said, turning around and tightening my grip on her.

I may have lied, but I just wanted to hold her in my arms for a moment longer. To revel in her natural and radiant warmth. With my guidance, her ball landed in the hole with a satisfying slot. We broke apart and high-fived in celebration.

Until her beautiful smile fell. Her eyes lingered on them at the next hole. The sadness in her eyes flickered anger and jealousy inside of me. Why does she still have feelings for a jerk like him? My grip on the putter tightened, and my knuckles felt like they would crack. As the jerk leaned in to kiss Cynthia, I noticed tears pricking at the corner of Luna’s eyes. My jaw clenched as a surge of anger washed over me.

In a swift, decisive motion, I lined up my shot and swung the putter with all the strength I could muster. The ball soared through the air; a perfect arc aimed straight at Jockstrap’s head. There was a satisfying thud as the ball made contact. Jockstrap stumbled backward, arms flailing, before landing with a splash in the miniature lake.

There was silence until realization dawned on us, and then we laughed. The tension melted away, replaced by a sense of exhilaration.

“Did you see the look on his face?” I asked, nudging Luna.

She doubled over with laughter, clutching her stomach.

“That was awesome!” As we caught our breath, I flashed her a grin, a sense of camaraderie. “Thank you, Hudson, I needed to see that.”

I grinned, delighted by her breathtaking smile. My smile widened as I glanced at Cynthia, attempting to help him out of the water before a splash followed her screech. It ignited another round of laughter as we watched her flail like a fish on land.

20

LUNA

THE SOFT GLOW OF MY VANITY MIRROR cast a warm light over me as I stood before it. My reflection stared back at me with a mix of apprehension and melancholy. The delicate fabric of my dress flowed over my figure like a river of silk, yet my smile didn’t quite reach my eyes.

I waited for this night for years, envisioning laughter and dancing, yet it felt burdened by absence. My first dance without Austin. As I adjusted my hair, my mother’s voice drifted up the stairs, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Luna, Hudson is here!” She called out, a note of excitement in her tone.

With a resigned sigh, I tore my gaze from the mirror and walked downstairs. The soft sound of my heels echoed on the wooden steps. As I descended, I caught sight of Hudson waiting at the foot of the staircase, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

He stood tall and confident, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he took me in. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness as I realized he was only putting on an act, playing the part of the perfect boyfriend. Another reason the night was doomed.

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