Page 41 of Faking Summer
"Yeah," he admitted, his voice a rumble deep in his chest. "We talked on the dock outside. I think we both got the clarity we needed." There was something in the way he said those words, a finality, a realization, that told me all I didn't want to know.
I knew he had history with her. There was a possibility something had happened between them, but I continued to pry, anyway. "What kind of clarity?"
Reese's hand found mine, turning me in a slow circle. His fingers applied gentle pressure at my waist, guiding me with ease. As we spun, his head tilted toward the back of the room, drawing my gaze to where Chandler and Boston slow danced together.
"Things are exactly how they should be, and Boston made it back just in time. I’m happy for them," he murmured.
"Me too," I whispered back, my smile fragile.
"Besides," he murmured, his voice vibrating against the shell of my ear, "I could never leave without dancing with you first."
I found myself leaning closer, drawn in by his gravity. "Well," I started, my voice barely above a whisper, "I could deal with you leaving or not showing up tonight, but I really need you there for my sister's wedding. I need to be able to rely on you. They already think I'm a joke, like everyone else."
There was a flicker of confusion on his face, like he didn’t understand what I had just said. "Why wouldn't I be there?" he asked. "Why do you think you can’t rely on me?"
I stepped back, gathering the right words to tell him how bad he had hurt me in the past, to bring up something I never wanted to talk about ever again.
"Sorry, Reese, I hate to interrupt," a photographer said, holding up the camera hanging around his neck. "But could I get some photos of you? You weren't here at the end of the award ceremony," he asked apologetically.
Reese released his gaze from mine and nodded. I let him go.
I caught fragments of their conversation. "You're going big places, man," the photographer said. "I see you going in the top five of the draft."
It was true. Reese was bigger than this town, and we all knew he’d make it big one day. That thought shouldn't have mattered to me, but hearing it made my chest feel heavy and tight. Why did the thought of Reese leaving us all behind make me feel unsettled? We were nothing more than two people who had found a mutual benefit in each other. I reminded myself of the role I had to play—the fiery, untouchable Caroline Matthews.
"Appreciate that," came Reese's voice.
With every click, I was reminded that he was out of reach, still in his own world while I remained in mine. We were on separate paths, just as we had always been.
Top five—on the path to becoming a legend. A professional athlete. A life I couldn’t even imagine.
"We'll see, they never go how you think," Reese said casually.
eighteen
Reese
The sharp ding of my phone pierced the quiet as I sat on the boat, taking in my favorite view. This was my favorite place to be when I needed to clear my mind. With a long sigh, I pulled my phone out of my pocket to see messages coming through from the group chat.
Bailey
One last end of summer celebration?
Crew
I call the twins
Parker
Once again, no one wants that freak show.
Crew
As long as you know that freak show is all mine
Bailey
What kind of celebration are you guys talking about? A fucking orgy? I just want to drink together. You know, hang out, maybe.
