Page 67 of Come Break My Heart Again

I smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. Have a good night.”

“Thanks.” I glance at the clock. It’s already four p.m., later than I thought.

Tuck sighs dramatically when I climb into the cab of his truck. “Finally.”

“What are the chances I can talk you out of this?” I ask, clicking my seat belt into place.

“Zero,” he replies, pulling onto the street.

I sigh, settling back against the seat. “I’m not wearing a suit.”

“Relax, princess. I’m not either. We’re stopping to change.”

“Okay.”

“You’re coming, Ry.” Tuck says it like he knows exactly what I’m thinking—a ride home means I won’t have to go after all.

I groan. “Why?”

“You could use some fun.”

“At thepond? You know Ones will be there. Wait.” I look over. “Is that what this is about? That girl you’ve been texting?”

“I have no idea if Keira will be there,” Tuck tells me.

“Mmhmm.” I glance back out the window, not sure if I believe him.

We reach my trailer a few minutes later.

“I’ll be back in five,” Tuck tells me.

I nod, then climb out of the truck. The trailer is empty when I enter it, no sign of my mom or Cormac. I have no clue where either of them is. They each have their own routine established. It’s been just the two of them for the past year, since Cormac’s dad packed up and left—again.

My mom has always done her own thing, but my little brother’s schedule is more of a mystery. And concerning. He hasn’t called me to pick him up again, but that doesn’t mean he’s been staying out of trouble.

I change into board shorts, scrub at my hands again, then head outside to wait for Tuck. He’s right; I haven’t done much besides work and school lately. I’ve avoided hanging out with Phoenix after the failed burger trip. Tuck and I spent last nightwatching movies with Reese, but I haven’t hung out much with anyone, except the two of them.

Tuck smiles when he sees me waiting, cranking up some country song on the radio.

The drive to the pond takes about ten minutes. Tuck parks his truck behind a long line of other cars. We definitely aren’t the only ones here.

The “path” to the pond is basically just trampled grass and bent branches that leads to the clearing surrounding the water. There are a few benches and a couple of picnic tables, but not much else around.

I spot Phoenix and a few other familiar faces underneath a tree and point them out to Tuck. We head in that direction. Reese is part of the group, which is a surprise.

I sink down in the grass next to her, leaning back on my elbows. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” Reese is busy eating grapes out of a plastic bag.

I squint over. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Ditto.”

“Tuck,” I explain.

“He’s a real dictator.”

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