Page 122 of California Wild

Not the way he used to—loud, chaotic, larger than life.

Now, he carried a kind of weight. Calm. Unshakable. A presence that made people look twice and speak softer when he passed.

Hayley watched the way his friends drifted to him. Not because he demanded attention—because they trusted him. Because he held space without needing to fill it. That was new.

The Jesse she remembered had burned bright and fast.

This one burned slow—and deep.

And it scared her.

Because the man sitting next to her now, his hand low on her back, fingers tracing circles like he couldn’t stop touching her—this man was someone she didn’t recognize.

And it hit her, with quiet force:

Who exactly had she fallen in love with?

The boy who used to chase oblivion?

Or this man who looked like he could outrun it?

She didn’t have time to untangle it. Not before a familiar voice cut through the air like a dart.

“Alright, we gotta do this.”

Isaac, relaxed in a patio chair with a beer in hand, flicked his gaze her way and smirked. “Come on, Fox. We all know why you’re here.”

Hayley lifted a brow. “To eat overpriced nachos and witness Navy SEAL karaoke night?”

A ripple of laughter rolled through the table.

Isaac didn’t flinch. Cool as ever. “Nah. You’re here to sing.”

“Not happening,” she said, sipping her ginger tea.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m retired.”

“Babe,” Jesse said under his breath, leaning close, lips brushing her ear. “Don’t let them push you.”

She turned to him. “You gonna stop me?”

Jesse gave her that look. The one that said keep talking and see what happens when we get home.

Hayley smiled sweetly, then turned back to Isaac. “I’m off-duty.”

Isaac just nodded, still smirking. “Alright. Then I’ll settle for Plan B.”

She didn’t have to ask.

Because Isaac was already turning toward Jesse. “Navarro. Your turn.”

Jesse’s body stilled. His fingers on her back paused.

“Yeah, fuck no,” he said flatly.

Isaac raised his bottle in salute. “Come on. One song. We both know you’ve got the chops.”

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