Page 41 of California Wild

His grip on the soda tightened, plastic groaning beneath his fingers.

Isaac let out a low, impressed breath. “Damn.”

Jesse didn’t answer.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

Because Hayley was scanning the room.

Eyes sharp, shoulders squared like she was ready for a fight.

And then—

She saw him.

That second—God, that second—it stretched like something cinematic.

Her gaze locked on his, all the oxygen vanished from the rooftop, and the hum of voices and distorted guitar became white noise in the back of Jesse’s skull.

And she froze.

Right there.

Like the sight of him cracked her straight down the middle.

His pulse pounded so loud he could feel it in his throat. His lungs forgot how to work. Everything in him screamed to look away—to do anything but stand there like a goddamn deer in headlights.

But he didn’t.

He held her stare, silent and still, as the entire bar roared back to life around them.

Because whatever this was between them?

It wasn’t finished.

Not even close.

Chapter 6

The bar throbbed with energy—music vibrating through the floorboards, bodies pressed too close, heat rising from spilled drinks and too many conversations at once. Hayley smiled on instinct, like she was playing a part she knew by heart. Rockstar. Heartbreaker. Girl everyone wanted to touch but no one really knew.

Laughter spilled from her lips, bright and effortless, as someone shoved a tequila shot toward her. “Come on, Fox! Take it!”

She gave them a wink, her lashes fluttering like she meant it. “Fine. But you owe me a lime.”

Cheers erupted as she tipped the glass back. The tequila hit her throat like fire and gold—burning and brilliant—but she barely tasted it.

Because she wasn’t here.

Not really.

She was still anchored to that flicker of a moment.

That impossible flicker.

Jesse Navarro.

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