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“It’s so good to see you!” Heather pretty much launches herself at Zara, pulling her into a suffocating hug.

I swear to God, a boa constrictor has nothing on this girl.

“Is it true that you’re going to school in town? Man, I can’t wait to hang out with you. I’ll introduce you to all my friends.”

Fuck. I should have gone with my gut feeling and gone home. Of all the things that remind me that Atlas is gone, Heather is the one that hurts the most.

Chapter 11

Too Hot To Handle

ZARA

“Classes don’t start until next Monday, but cheerleading tryouts are on Friday afternoon. I’m on a cheerleading scholarship, but two of my friends are trying out. If I remember well, you’re quite athletic. Why don’t you come too? I know the coach, and I can put in a good word for you. It would be so much fun if you were on the team too!”

Heather is talking a thousand miles a second, and I’m struggling to keep up.

I’m usually good at multitasking, but I can’t keep up with her and keep breathing at the same time.

“Uh, that sounds great,” I manage to get in edge-wise, while finally untangling myself from her hug. “But cheerleading isn’t my thing. I’m not huge in team sports. I think it’s my attention span that’s lacking.”

“Aww,” Heather pouts. “But you have such a great energy. You’d be perfect.”

My ass hits the padding of the lounger again, as I rub my arms to get some feeling back into them. I think Heather’s talents are wasted in cheer. She’s crazy strong. She would be perfect for wrestling. “Sorry,” I hate to disappoint her. “I’m justnew in town, and I think I might give myself freshman year to figure things out. Then I’ll probably have a better idea of what kind of extracurricular I want to try my hand at.”

Heather’s smile doesn’t falter. “It’s understandable. You’ve been to boarding school in Connecticut, right? Your mom told my mom, and my mom told me. They asked me to make sure you didn’t feel lonely here, and I admit I was a little nervous. You know? What if we hated each other at first sight, or something? But I’m so excited it’s you!”

Heather was very nice to me two years ago, so I’m actually happy to already have a girlfriend. “Yeah, it’s so good to see you.” I say honestly.

Her smile widens. “Oh, wait. It’s fine if you don’t like cheerleading. I understand that isn’t for everyone. But youhaveto rush Zeta Theta Beta with me. It’s the best sorority on campus. And the Zetas often end up dating guys from the hockey team, because they’re affiliated with Gamma Delta Tau, which is the team’s fraternity. It will be so much fun to rush together. I convinced my friend Angela to rush with me, but to be honest, I don’t know if she’s Zeta material. You would be absolutely perfect, though. I mean, I’m a legacy, so they have to let me rush, but I know a few Zetas from high school and I can talk to them and make sure they talk you up with the president.”

I’m not sure sororities are for me either, but I feel bad shooting down two of Heather’s ideas.

“Heath,” Ares intervenes while I’m still looking for the right words to let her down gently. “Just give Zara a second to get her bearings. She literally arrived in Star Cove yesterday. From what I gathered, she had no idea her mom was engaged to our dad, either. The fact that we’ve all met before is great, but it’s been a while. And Zara has been on the East Coast all this time. Just let her settle in before you steamroll her into being your BFF.”

Ares’s tone is kind, and I appreciate his help.

“Yeah,” I smile gratefully at him. “Just give me a second. I’m excited to hang out with you, too. Let’s just?—”

“Of course.” Heather interrupts me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I just get too excited sometimes and I kinda get carried away.” Her words are directed at me, but she glares at Ares the entire time. “It’s just awesome to see you again.”

I nod. “It’s awesome to see you, too.”

“You barely even got here and you’re already having a good influence on the Hunter guys.”

Ares’s lips are tight as he looks at his neighbor. “What’s that supposed to mean, Heath?”

Her glare fades, but there’s hurt in her tone. “I don’t know. These days, it takes getting a speeding ticket to get to talk to you. I don’t think I saw you come home once since last Easter.”

A muscle pops in Ares’s perfect jaw. “I’m busy, Heather. It’s called having a job. You should try that sometime.”

He walks away.

In two long strides, he’s almost with his feet in the water.

“I was talking to you!” Heather screams, upset. “Ares and I used to be good friends. Now he can barely stand to be in the same room with me for five minutes before he walks away. Did you see the way he just talked to me?”

Her question seems directed at Chance.

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