Page 96 of Pucking Tangled
So they packed up Waylon's truck because it had the most room, tossed towels, drinks, and an old Bluetooth speaker into the back and headed across state lines to Kilgore Falls. Mia insisted on bringing Skeeter, who promptly drooled all over the front seat, but no one fought over who sat where. No one talked about who had touched who last. They just went with the flow.
Since it was the middle of the week, it was pretty quiet, making it the perfect little escape. It was warm enough outside that the cool water felt refreshing as it shimmered beneath the sun.
Casey watched, soaking it all in as the breeze blew through Mia’s hair after she peeled off her hoodie.Hishoodie, thank you very much.
Waylon was the first in the water, splashing and behaving like a little kid.
Luca followed, his entrance a lot more graceful.
Mia laughed at Skeeter as he followed the guys and barked at the water.
That dog was going to stink on the way home, and Casey would probably owe Waylon a good truck cleaning because of it.
Oh, well.
The ease he already felt was worth it.
“You coming or what?” Mia turned to him, holding out her hand.
Casey grinned. “I’ll race you,” he challenged, taking off at a full run.
She let out a laugh, and he could hear her chasing after him. When he hit the water she wasn’t far behind, jumping on his back and trying to push him under.
The day unfolded like something out of a dream.
They swam. Raced some more. Teased each other andplayed with Skeeter until he abandoned them for a nap under a shade tree.
Owen somehow balanced Mia on his shoulders while Luca tried to pull her off. Waylon climbed a half-dead tree and jumped from the branch just to make her scream. All the while, Casey couldn’t stop watching her—the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed, the smile that never left her face, how her body fit so easily among theirs.
She wasn’t trying to be anyone’s favorite.
And they weren’t fighting for her attention.
They just existed. Like it was always meant to be this way.
“I saw Mia packed sandwiches. I don’t know about you all, but I’m hungry,” Waylon said, making his way out of the water and back onto the shore to grab the cooler.
He set it on the blanket Owen had spread out on the sand earlier, and everyone joined him as if the mention of food was the only reminder they needed that they were all hungry.
They ate, sipped sodas and water, then Mia stretched out between them, basking in the warm sun.
Waylon was beside her. She rested her head on his chest while holding Luca’s hand.
Owen sat at her feet, absently rubbing her ankle.
Casey had one leg draped lazily over hers as he took in the scene.
After a while, he had begun to wonder if she’d fallen asleep, but then she cracked an eye open and murmured, “This is the happiest I’ve felt in a long time.”
They all agreed.
By the time the sun started to dip low in the sky, casting a golden glow across the falls, Luca and Owen were back in the water tossing a football while Waylon sat onthe tailgate of his truck, taking a quick call from his parents.
Casey stood and offered Mia his hand. “Take a walk with me, please.”
They wandered along the shoreline, feet sinking into the cool, wet sand.
“I was afraid that loving you would tear us apart.” He blew out a nervous breath.
