Page 7 of Burly and Possessive

Andrea’s grin returns, teasing this time. “And now you’re staying in his cabin. Pretty convenient, huh?”

I immediately catch her meaning and laugh despite myself. “Hold on now. I just ran away from my fiancé. A man is the last thing I want or need right now.”

Her eyes twinkle with mischief. “Sure, sure. But I’ve got to say, you could do worse than my brother. Something to think about.”

“Noted. I’ll take that under consideration if I lose my mind and decide to risk my heart again,” I reply dryly, but the easy banter feels good.

“Okay,” Andrea says, leaning forward and dropping her voice like she’s about to reveal a state secret. “Here’s what I think you need: a distraction.”

I tilt my head, skeptical. “A distraction?”

“Yep. Something fun. Like...the outdoor movie nights we put on. We’re starting the summer series in a few nights, and it’s a blast. You have to come and volunteer with me—I won’t take no for an answer.”

I blink at her, caught completely off guard. “Outdoor movie?”

“Why not?” Andrea shrugs, then grins. “Before you say no, hear me out. It’s not some fancy film festival or anything—it’s super low-key. Everyone lounges on blankets under the stars. It’s a fun group of people, and it might help get your mind off things.”

“I don’t know...” I trail off, unsure how to explain that being around people feels like the last thing I want right now.

Andrea waves a hand dismissively. “Trust me, it’s therapeutic. And you’ll meet people. Maybe we can convince you to stay.”

I hesitate, her enthusiasm almost convincing me. “You’re selling this hard.”

“Because I know you’ll love it.” Her grin turns sly. “And because I’ve already told the others you might show up.”

“You what?” I gape at her.

She laughs unapologetically. “Relax. No one’s expecting you to become the event coordinator. Just come once. If you hate it, you can blame me forever.”

I shake my head, trying to come up with a reason to say no, but Andrea’s unwavering grin makes it impossible. “I’m not feeling sociable right now.”

Andrea scoffs at my protests. “Outdoor movie night is about relaxing and enjoying a movie. That’s really all it is. Parents let their kids run around. It’s totally low-key, I promise.”

Her confidence is infectious, and before I can stop myself, I ask, “What exactly would I be doing? Hypothetically.”

“Just help me out with the concessions,” she says breezily. “If you can count back change and keep the kids from stealing candy, you’ll be perfect. And I know you’re perfect.”

I lean back in my seat, crossing my arms. “And if I absolutely hate it?”

“Then we’ll quit together.” She raises her coffee cup in a mock toast. “But you won’t. I promise.”

Her certainty makes me laugh softly. “Fine. I’ll give it a shot. But if it’s awful, you owe me pie.”

“Deal!” She beams at me.

An unexpected flicker of something resembling hope warms me. Like there’s a world beyond my heartbreak worth spending time in. I don’t know where I thought I’d end up when I fled thechurch and my ex, but where I’ve landed is so much better and more supportive than I ever imagined. A part of me wishes this was more than a temporary location for me. Do I even want to go back home? I can’t imagine what it would be like, now that I walked away from my engagement. Would people look at me with pity? Or would they blame me for walking out?

The drive back to the cabin is quiet, the crisp mountain air streaming through the open windows. Andrea hums along to the radio, her fingers tapping the steering wheel in time with the music.

I stare out as we climb the road up the mountain and realize the heaviness sitting on my chest is lighter somehow. Not gone, but easier to carry.

Andrea glances at me as she pulls into the driveway. “See? I told you pie fixes everything.”

I laugh, unbuckling my seatbelt. “I think it was more your company than the pie.”

“Thank you,” she says with a wink. “But don’t tell Jax I’m your new best friend, or he’ll find a way to keep us apart.”

We climb out of the car, the cabin’s wooden porch creaking under our feet. Andrea pauses at the door, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious. “Hey, thanks for letting me drag you out today. I know it probably wasn’t easy.”

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