Page 46 of Talk About… Rivalry

“Again, why do you care?” I asked.

Telling me because of his best friend made no sense. He just moved back to town. Who the hell would he even be friends with at this point?

“Who hurt you?” he asked, trying to be playful but something in his eyes told me it wasn’t a joke.

“No one has time for that,” I said, tearing my eyes away from him and forcing my feet to move so I didn’t have to stay in this awful conversation any longer.

I didn’t care how adorable my former rival had grown up to be, he was still the one who made my life miserable when I was in middle school. During some of the darkest parts of my life, he was right there making it worse. That wasn’t something you forgot easily.

I heard a deep chuckle behind me but he didn’t follow me right away.

Taylor was over by the kitchens when I walked in, his smile lighting up when he spotted me. He gave me a quick wave andI tried to return it, but I knew it was more of a grimace than anything.

He frowned but I kept walking through the dining room and out the patio door to my usual table.

I shivered as the wind coming off the lake hit me. Even the lake didn’t capture me for long today and I sighed, turning away to take my seat.

The days were getting colder and I’d either have to move inside or stop coming until spring.

That thought didn’t improve my mood in the slightest.

As I sat, I watched the autumn trees sway in the wind. A few stray leaves danced across the surface of the lake, adding color to the endless blue.

“I was wondering if you were going to come today,” Taylor teased as he walked up, breaking me from my trance.

“Honestly, I was thinking the same thing,” I admitted, giving him another strained smile. His own dropped as he looked at me.

“Hey, are you okay?” The gentleness in his voice nearly broke me.

“Not really,” I admitted as I let out a shaky breath. “But I’m sure I’ll be fine. I always am.” The bitterness in my voice startled me but he didn’t call me on it.

When I didn’t say anything else he just stood there for a minute, studying me. I wasn’t sure what to say to move along the conversation, other than to give him my order.

“Can I just get a burger and fries?”

“Of course,” he said, not bothering to write it down before he turned and walked away.

Movement to my side had me turning to see Leo taking a seat directly next to mine. He leaned back in his chair, his jacket tossed half-assed over the next as he smirked at me.

I studied him for a moment, my face a mask of no emotion. He really had grown up even more gorgeous. His hair was darker than I remember, though the top held some of the lighter highlights left over from the summer sun. It was cropped short and longer on top in that artfully messy way guys did. His defined jaw was covered in a dark stubble that made him look more rugged. Those striking green eyes of his were more emerald than mossy like mine and focused right on me.

“It’s a lovely spot you’ve got, back here.”

I didn’t bother to hide my groan as I purposely turned away from him.

“It was peaceful until you showed up. Why are you so intent on mocking me today?”

I wasn’t looking at him anymore to see his reaction and I wasn’t about to turn around again. He didn’t give an explanation and I hoped he’d just let it fucking drop.

Taylor was back in a few short minutes with my drink. I raised my eyebrows when he set down an order of mozzarella sticks.

“They’re on the house,” he promised. “I just thought you could use a little pick me up today.”

“Thanks,” I said, blinking away a fresh wave of tears.

When he stared at me expectantly I forced myself to pick one up, nibbling on the end to be polite. The truth was that I wasn’t hungry at all.

As soon as Taylor walked inside, Leo was interrupting me again, likely to call me out for dropping my food back on the plate.

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