Page 50 of When We Were Reckless
That wasn’t what she was going to say, but I didn’t push it. “Do you know that for a fact? Or are you just basing it on the rumors?”
“It doesn’t matter. I barely know the guy. It’s just a summer fling. No harm, no foul. It means absolutely nothing.”
Despite her breezy tone, I could tell she was lying. Evie liked Ridge, and I could tell he was crazy about her. It was so obvious it was laughable. “What time is he picking you up?”
“Not for a few hours.” She pushed my inflatable with her foot and sent me drifting across the pool. With my eyes closed, I hung my arms over the sides, my fingertips skimming the water while the hot Texas sun beat down on my face and bronzed my skin.
“You should come with us,” she said a little while later.
I snorted. “As a third wheel? No thanks.”
“You wouldn’t have been a third wheel if you would have said yes to Walker.”
“I couldn’t do that. You know I couldn’t. Not after—”
“After what, Quinn? I don’t trust Jesse. He’s running hot and cold, and he’s playing you.”
“Maybe he is. But I’m the one who initiated it.”
I was referring to three nights ago at the waterfall when I’d climbed on top of Jesse and straddled him. So shameless. I had no idea how I’d had the guts to pull a move like that, but I’d done it, and the following morning, in the harsh light of day, I’d felt like an idiot. So embarrassed that I threw myself at him. Had begged him to touch me. I must have reeked of desperation.
What was wrong with me?
But last night, he showed up for work, and I caught him watching me a few times. Not only that, but when he walked me to my car, he kissed me. He pushed me against the stone wall of the brewery, and he’d kissed me in the dark, his lips firm but soft, his arms caging me in, his tongue stroking mine and setting off tiny explosions inside me.
And I knew why he’d kissed me. He hadn’t been too happy when Walker had stopped by and asked me to the Fourth of July fireworks. Not only had Walker invited me to the fireworks, but he’d done it within earshot of Jesse and Mason.
I’d lied and told Walker that I already made plans to spend the holiday with my family. It wasn’t a total lie. My brothers were working, and Mom asked me to eat dinner at the brewery with her. Our way of being together as a family. So Iwasspending the holiday with my family. But I still could have gone to the fireworks with Walker afterward. I’d just chosen not to.
I didn’t want to lead Walker on. I could barely handle one guy, let alone two. And the guy I wanted was playing head games with me. Did he want me or not? I was so confused. I don’t even thinkheknew what he wanted.
“Just be careful, okay?” Evie said later after she’d gotten ready for her date with Ridge. Although she refused to call it a date. Allegedly, they were just ‘hanging out.’
He was picking her up at my house instead of hers because her car had broken down again. At least, that was the reason she’d given him. But I knew the truth. She didn’t want Ridge to see where she lived, and she didn’t want to subject him to her mom or her mom’s boyfriend, who was now living with them.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I wrapped my arms around her. “I love you. And don’t worry about me. I can look after myself.”
She raised a skeptical brow, but she hugged me and told me she loved me too. “Make him work for it. Seriously, Quinn. He needs to prove himself to you, not the other way around.”
I knew she was right, and maybe I needed that reminder.
“Ridge is here,” Evie said, sliding her phone into her pocket after checking it. “Is it okay if I crash here tonight?”
“You don’t even have to ask.” She smiled and headed for the front door. “But Evie…”
She spun around to face me and waited for me to tell her what was on my mind.
“You should let Ridge in. Let him see the real you.”
Evie gave me a sad smile. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’d try to fix things.”
Before I had a chance to respond, she walked out the front door. My curiosity got the best of me, so I moved to the window and watched her and Ridge. He circled the hood of his pickup and pulled her into a kiss. Then he did the most amazing thing. Ridge opened the passenger door for her. Like a gentleman. Like Evie’s knight in shining armor. My hand went to my heart. He treated her like she was his queen, and he was her king.
