Page 85 of Rival Summer

The warmth from his hand radiated into my skin, making me acutely aware of how dangerous it was to be close to him in the narrow space. "It's not as fun when you have to go alone," I confessed, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

He dropped his hand, but his eyes remained locked on mine. I continued before he could speak. "I mean, I could still dance, and steal Willow from Parker, but…" my voice trailed off. I looked down again, unable to look him in the eyes any longer.

I couldn't tell Reese how I had hoped Boston would ask me—that this whole summer I wanted to go with him. But Boston was miles away, swept away in a world where I wasn't sure I belonged. So I swallowed the confession, letting it sit heavy on my tongue.

"Let me guess, because you want Riley to take you?"

I clutched the flashlight like a lifeline. "It doesn't matter," I said, blowing it off. "He's hundreds of miles away, doing bigger and better things."

The past few weeks our lives had synced, and I found myself on the edge of daring to believe in something more. But I was no longer sure if this summer meant anything at all to Boston.

"It does matter, Chandler." There was something about the way he said my name—not Hartford, but Chandler—that seemed to reach out and wrap around my ribs, squeezing until I could hardly breathe.

I leaned against the cold wall of the hallway. "Why?"

"Don't do that," he shot back.

"Do what?" I asked, trying to read his expression.

"Act like what you want doesn't matter." There was no mistaking the intensity in his green eyes, even in the darkness.

I shifted uncomfortably, my mind reeling. "What if I don't know what I want?" The question came out more vulnerable than I intended.

He narrowed his eyes at me, before turning away to scan the darkened corners around us. "You know what you want," he said, with a confidence that I envied. "And I think all you have to do is say the word, and he'd drop everything for you."

"It's not that easy, Reese," I shook my head. "I think I really upset him and messed things up, things are... they're complicated."

"Look at me," he commanded softly, and I raised my gaze. "Do you think I've ever let 'complicated' stop me from getting whatever I want? I like a little challenge. Makes things more interesting."

There was something in the way he said it—so assured, so effortlessly Reese—that was sort of comforting. I envied the way he seemed to move through life unscathed by complexities that could so easily take down anyone else.

The moment was interrupted by the newly awakened fluorescent lights overhead.

"Chandler!" Willow's voice echoed down the hallway, shattering the fragile stillness between me and Reese. "Hurry up and come eat before all the pizza is gone!"

"Let's go, Hartford," Reese said, flashing me a wink.

The auditorium buzzed with chatter, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter. We sat cross-legged on the floor, paper plates heavy with slices of pepperoni and cheese pizza balanced precariously on our knees. I picked at the toppings. My appetite had fled during my earlier conversation with Reese.

The night continued on for what felt like forever, and we snacked on chips and sipped sodas, voices growing quieter onceexhaustion set in. Eventually we retreated to our cots, the lights dimming to a soft glow that barely reached the corners of the room.

I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, the sounds of steady breathing around me. My thoughts were a tangled web of conflicting emotions. I had told Boston that everything was okay, that what we had was just summer fun. But I hadn’t been honest—not with him, not with myself.

There were a few empty cots on my right, which made me wonder if one was meant for Boston. I wondered where he was, if he was thinking about me. And then there was Reese, on the left, his presence like a shadow, filled with mystery. How could two people who were so different both have a place in my heart?

I shifted restlessly, pulling the thin blanket up to my chin. Maybe it was the nostalgia of the passing summer or the vulnerability of the night, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something real was slipping through my fingers. Was it possible to hope for more with Boston, even as part of me still clung to the hurt and memories of my past with Reese?

A sigh escaped my lips, unheard in the silent expanse of the auditorium. I felt like I was standing at a crossroads, with my future more uncertain than ever before. Whether it was fear of the unknown or the pain of letting go, I wasn't sure. All I knew was that deep down I hoped for something beyond the simplicity of ”just having fun.”

My eyelids grew heavy as the minutes ticked by, images of Boston and Reese blurring together until they were indistinguishable. In the depth of the night, I finally succumbed to sleep, my dreams a tangled mess, leaving me to wonder if the morning would bring clarity or even more confusion.

TWENTY-EIGHT

boston

A whirlwindof lime green flew past me in the form of a family decked out in matching vacation shirts. "On your left!" they chirped almost in unison, and I ducked out of the way. I luckily avoided a collision and reached my gate in the terminal.

I slung my duffle onto an empty chair as I sank down beside it. I relaxed for a moment, taking in the scent of overpriced airport coffee and fresh magazines. My fingers fumbled for my phone, as I waited for the alert to start boarding. The screen lit up, and I saw the notification for messages waiting in the group chat.

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