Page 7 of Love Me Reckless

“And step on it,” Sawyer says, giving me a wink. “We’re aiding and abetting.”

A young woman in the middle row seat glances back, a curious grin on her face. “What are you running from?”

“My future,” I say with a sigh.

By the time we get to the vacation rental, an expansive two-story home facing the lake with an adjacent pickleball court and hot tub, the scent of pizza and the zippy banter filling the vehicle have made it easy to downplay what I just did and how I’m going to explain it later.

We all pile out of the SUV in a cloud of sound and the scent of tomato and basil and oven-warm dough, the evening air brisk off of the lake. When I slip on my jean jacket, my phone is lighting up my pocket. I have a pretty good idea who’s trying to reach me, and I’m not ready for that. I follow the party inside.

While everyone pounces on the food, guilt starts to nag at me, so I slide out my phone and text my brother Grayson.

I’m okay

Good. Where are you?

With some of Zach’s friends

You ditch Mr. Zero?

I cover my laugh. My brother likes to poke fun. There was a time when Grayson resisted Birch and his Net Zero proposal for Finn River Ranch, but we all have come to terms with it.

I think it’s happening again

Shit. Call me for a ride later

I give him a thumbs up and pocket my phone, ignoring the notifications from Birchand my dad.

“You okay?” Sawyer asks, fixing me with a serious glance. “I can take you home whenever you want.”

“You promised me pizza and debauchery, and I’m not leaving until I get them.”

Sawyer’s lips twitch with the hint of a smile. “Right this way.”

Chapter Three

KIRILEE

Who isthis girl making demands? What’s even weirder is Sawyer’s reaction. From his playful smile, I get the sense helikedit.

“Save some for the rest of us!” one of the burly brothers calls out as I pick up a paper plate and attempt to elbow my way into the fray.

“I’m eating for two so back off!” a young woman named Darcy says, sending me a bright smile from across the counter, her baby belly so cute beneath her stretchy dress.

Sawyer slides in next to me and snatches the last slice of meat lover’s. “You need me to create a distraction, just say the word.”

I laugh and add a piece of pepperoni with olives and green peppers to my plate, then reach under someone’s tattooed forearm for a slice of vegetarian. To get within striking distance of the breadsticks I have to dash to the other side of the counter, but I score two of themandone of the dipping containers.

Plates loaded, guests take seats outside on the deck and at the giant living room table. I settle near the end, next to Sawyer. Sarah and Cooper join us. Brian and Darcy follow, sitting close together. The mood is as boisterous as the party, and nobody is drinking. It’s like these Alaska friends of Zach’s are high on life, or maybe it’s thechemistry buzzing between the couples. I’m practically getting a contact high.

“You from here, Kirilee?” Cooper asks before jamming half a slice into his mouth.

“Originally my family is from New York.”

“State or city?” Brian asks, cracking open a can of soda.

This is a hard question to ask without revealing too much. “Both. We moved here when I was six.” Technically we never lived in New York City. We have a home in the Hamptons and Dad has his own apartment in Manhattan. My grandma still lives in Brooklyn, but in the summer spends most of her time at her beach cottage in Montauk.

Sawyer gives me a sideways look as he lines up his first bite. “You like it here?”

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