Page 14 of Unraveled

I sneered. I really didn’t give a shit if it pissed Ryder off. He’d made his fucking bed. “You want to come in? See the house?” I jerked my head towards the beach house, hoping it wasn’t something I’d regret. It was at the edge of my better judgment, but when Izzy had brought up Micah earlier today, urging me to give him a second chance nowthat he was going to be her family, too, I’d grudgingly agreed. Depending on this conversation.

He’d passed.

Barely.

We walked side-by-side as we headed in, silence tense between us, and I sent him a warning look when we reached the top of the stairs. One wrong comment or move and he was gone. I opened the door to the game room, forcing some of the tension back from my expression, and stepped aside for Micah to come in.

Nic glanced over first from his place at the wet bar, and the others looked up right after, their game of pool coming to an immediate halt as they stared. Annie’s expression was hard, filled with warning, and Jet’s hand splayed across her back to tone her down as he stood between the twins. The protector when I wasn’t near. Izzy stood still, her pool cue held in front of her as Micah walked up to the other side of the table.

“Thanks for talking to him.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I hear that congratulations are in order?” He glanced at her ring finger where it gripped the pool stick, and Izzy nodded, a small smile touching her features as she held out her hand. Eyeing it, Micah reached over to clap me on the back. “You did good, Cuz.”

I just watched Izzy, her eyes coming to mine, letting me know she was okay. I stepped up to the table between her and my cousin. “So, whose stripes? Looks like they’re getting their ass kicked.”

Chapter 6

ISABEL

The rest of our time at the beach house had been amazing, the rain completely clearing up and leading into a beautiful Monday for us to enjoy, perfect for senior ditch day. The parents had even called in to work to spend more time with us, and we’d barbecued and played games with our families. Annie and the guys had gone surfing while Harper and I sunbathed and gossiped, and Chuck had gone out and rented a boat for us after lunch, the next few hours of our day spent blissfully on the water.

I’d been smart, packing on the sunscreen and staying in the shade when I could. My Baste Academy audition was coming up quickly, and I couldn’t afford to be red and raw or peeling. I was in my last days of perfecting every move, spending nearly every free minute in the studio with Leo or in my garage.

Time was flying by, and rain had been pouring down every day this week since, like the sun had only come out for that last day at the beach house before hitting the coast in a torrential fury. A week ago, I might havethought it was an omen, doubts weaving in my head before my audition.

But I was better now.

Determined.

Ready. With Tucker by my side.

Jenna had tried bringing up wedding talk a few times, the sweet woman actually growing excited as she got used to the idea of the two of us getting married. But once our time at the beach house was done, I insisted we hold off all wedding talk until after graduation and my audition. There just wasn’t room in my head for anything else.

I did wish the excitement would carry over more to Mom, though. Yes, she’d given us her blessing, but I could see her frustration every time our engagement or the wedding was mentioned. That or I’d catch her frowning at the diamond on my hand.

But she wasn’t the only one acting weird about it now. Ever since Nic had stormed out during our announcement, things had been off. His whole demeanor was off.

Jet and I had been discussing it in the hall between class this morning, and he seemed just as confused. We’dthought Nic was beginning to adjust. He’d even decided tomovehere, for Christ’s sake, but Jet said when he’d catch him off guard, it was obvious Nic was brooding about something. I justwishedI knew about what.

We both did.

“He’s just different around me now,” I worried aloud when I ran into Jet again after the bell for lunch. “I just don’t get it. I mean, obviously something is going on, but he’s outright pushing me away. Do you think he’s mad that I’m getting married? Or that he disapproves?”

It was driving me crazy. Nic barely even talked to me anymore. Not that he was an ass about it or anything, but that casual, easy friendship we’d built wasn’t quite the same. It was like he’d put up a wall between us.

And that’s just what I need. Another wall… I just got rid of the last one.

Jet exhaled through his nose, his mouth pressing together in a firm line as he considered. “I’m really not sure. Hestartedacting off when he got that phone call, and that wasbeforeyou told him you and Tucker are engaged.”

“But the way he left the table…” I still remembered the stone of his expression, the anger resting under the surface.

Jet popped a shoulder, shifting to block a group of guys that were about to bump into me. “Iguessit’s possible. Or part of it. Or maybe he’s dwelling on the fact that he’s the only person left that’s in a serious depression.”

“Heisdepressed,” I agreed, hungrily taking in his explanation.

“Yep. And angry.”

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