Page 27 of Whiskey and Wildfire

“Yeah. Fat lot of good it’ll do me.”

“Why’s that?”

“He told me I’m too mixed up right now to date.”

“Woof,” Lucas said, flinching at my words. “That’s rough buddy.”

I nodded, pushing the remnants of my burger around on the plate. “Yeah, it’s... it’s been tough. I feel like I’m stuck in limbo, you know? Not sure where I fit in anymore.”

Lucas took a sip of his sweet tea, his green eyes thoughtful. “I get it. When I first came here, I felt like a fish out of water. But you know what? Sometimes being lost is the first step to finding yourself.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “That sounds like something straight out of a self-help book.”

“Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it,” Lucas grinned, nudging me with his elbow. “Look, Logan, I know things haven’t been easy for you. But you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. And you’ve got people here who care about you.”

I raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Do I though? It feels like everyone has their own lives figured out. You and Beau, Caroline with her business plans. Even Dakota seems to have it all together.”

Lucas leaned in, his voice low and serious. “Logan, listen to me. Nobody has it all figured out. We’re all just doing our best, day by day. And yeah, some of us might look like we’ve got it together, but we’ve all got our struggles.”

I nodded slowly, letting his words sink in. “I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am,” Lucas winked, lightening the mood. “Now, about this Dakota guy. He said you’re too mixed up to date, huh?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “And he’s probably right.”

Lucas shook his head. “Or maybe he’s just giving you the space he thinks you need. Or,” he leaned close, his voicedarkening. “He’s just scared to give it a try and doesn’t want to admit it.”

“Scared? Of me?” I scoffed. “Right.”

“Think about it. Your dad is his boss. If he dated you and things didn’t go well, what do you think would happen to him? And even if the breakup was amicable, you two would have to see each other nearly every day. That could be awkward.”

“It’s already awkward,” I replied, lowering my voice. “Last night we watched a movie together, and I fell asleep on him.” I leaned in close, my voice barely above a whisper. “When I woke up, his dick was practically resting on my nose.”

Lucas’s eyes lit up. “Oh… that’s fun.”

“It was awkward as fuck is what it was.”

“Did he seem upset by it?”

I thought about it for a moment. “Embarrassed maybe, but not upset I guess.”

“That’s what I figured,” Lucas said, clicking his tongue. “He wants you.”

“I know! But I’m too much of a mess, remember?”

“And his life is perfect?” Lucas shot back. “Because I doubt it.”

“I know it’s not, but he’s a lot more put together than I am.”

“Or he’s just real good at hiding it.”

“I don’t?—”

But my words were cut off as the door to the diner jingled once more. My voice died as I saw Dakota’s tall, handsome figure step through the door, his dark hair catching the noonday sun. Those dark eyes of his made my stomach twist into a tight knot and a shiver run down my spine. When he said he was going into town, I didn’t know he meant the diner.

Behind him was someone I didn’t know though. She was shorter than him, her long dark hair in a single braid down her back. She had a sweater on despite the heat and a warm smile.It was her eyes that surprised me though. They looked just like Dakota’s.

Lucas, to my horror, raised his hand. “Hey Dakota!”

---