Page 173 of Always You

“Yeah, the call.” Hunter points to Jason, then the door, then throws me another grin that’s filled with the lies that are burning down their ankles.

“Sorry, girls, nice to see you! Talk soon!” Confused, I let them leave, watching them dart over the cobblestone until they are out of sight. Julie and I exchange a look, then I turn around to Jessa.

My frown is peering into her innocent baby browns, a little lamb unaware of anything that conjured my puzzled expression.

“What?”

“Jessa, did Hunter buy the bookshop?”

“Yes.”What the hell?

“Why?”

The teenager shrugs. “Mrs. Henley wanted to sell and retire in Florida. Apparently, Hunter made her promise a few years ago that she’d call him if she ever wanted to sell. So she did.”

Julie takes a step forward. “Wait, when did she sell it?”

“About six months ago?” Her expression lights up. “Hunter made me manager since I’m taking a leap year.”

First the bowling alley, and now the bookstore? That makes no sense, considering he only touches a book to buy me one...

With lashes high, I gently turn my head to Julie, whose confusion is replaced by a smug grin. “I guessfighter boyis planting his roots in your garden.”

68

“Are you sure she’s coming?”

I glance at my watch, then glance at Jason as we sit around the bonfire at the creek. The sun is setting, and I stare into the dancing flames while I listen to the crackling sound of the fire.

“Relax, man. Julie said she’ll make it happen. I’m sure they’ll be here any minute now.”

The last few days, I left her alone, hanging out with Jason for a bit. Which was almost impossible when she walked into the bookstore, looking all gorgeous and unbothered like she did in high school. She looked a little less tired than the days before and her gorgeous green eyes sparkled with enough mischief to light me up from the inside out. It was fucking hard to not text her or drive to her house later that night, but the last thing I want is to spook her again. The fact that she’s letting me get as close as I did is motivation enough to not rush my desire to claim her. But the truth is there. I’m still under her skin, like a tattoo, unable to get rid of. Just like she’s on mine.

When I hear a car approaching, I snap my head up, noticing Julie’s red Jeep park next to my truck. I straighten my back, watching Charlotte give her best friend an accusing glare before her eyes roll back and a smile slips through as she exits the car.

“Looking for a loophole to get me out here, Hansen?”

“It was his idea, I swear.” I point at Jason, then lift my hands in a placating gesture. “But you don’t hear me complaining.”

I get up, smirking, as she walks toward me, and I wrap my arms around her, burying my nose in her hair. Breathing her in, my heart instantly calms down, because all is well in the world when she’s with me.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“I’ve missed you,” I confess, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

“I missed you too,” she whispers with her gaze low and a little flushed, looking up at me through her lashes. A fuzzy feeling forms inside of me as I throw my fist in the air in my mind, considering that a win.

Jason plucks another beer for me and him from the cooler he brought, then grabs two red cups to make rum and Cokes for the girls.

“God, I feel like we’re back in high school again,” Julie says, taking the cup from his hand. We all take a seat on the logs around the fire, drinks in hand. It’s eerie to think how much time has passed, how much has happened, yet when I look at Charlotte, I feel exactly the same.

She sits down next to me, while Julie takes the seat next to her, placing the girls in the middle, and Jason on the far end of the log. The sun is about to set, the crickets are starting up their evening concert, and I’m seriously wondering when was the last time I felt as content as I do now.

“Sometimes I wish we still were,” I mutter, taking a pull from my beer.

“What?” Jason yelps. “Are you crazy? You’d rather be broke and insecure again?”

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