Page 117 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

“Oh!” Anna exclaims. “Great! We can use all the hands we can get.” She turns toward me. “Do you two know each other already?”

He lifts his chin at me. “Chase, right? We went to school together.” My forehead scrunches as I try to remember him. My memory’s a little hazy from trying to block out a lot of those years.

He offers his hand. “I’m Logan. I’m not surprised you don’t remember, we didn’t really run in the same circles.”

The light bulb goes off as I shake his hand. Logan. He was a football player, I think. Hung out with that douchebag Reed—who I definitely do remember.

“Right. Yeah, man. My bad. You can come help bring in the last of the food trays since you’re offering.”

“Lead the way.” He grins.

After we’re done, I grab us both some water. We sit on the floor against the wall, taking a break before Anna tasks us with the next thing.

“You’re Sam and Anna’s son, right?” Logan asks.

“Something like that.” I look over at him. “How do you know Anna?”

“I’m a personal trainer here. She wanted some help promotin’ her yoga group, asked me to spread the word.” He unscrews his water bottle and takes a sip.

“She convince you to come to the party tonight, yet?”

He snorts out a laugh. “You know it.”

“I’m pretty sure she’s invited the entire town. You’d be the odd man out if you didn’t show up.”

His eyes gleam. “The whole town, huh? Maybe my piece will be there.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. His piece? “Oh yeah? You got a girl?”

He shrugs, tossing his water bottle up in the air. “She ain’t my girl. I mean… she’s cool, but she’s just a nice way to pass the time. Haven’t seen her in a few weeks though.”

I don’t respond because I literally give zero fucks about this guy getting his dick wet.

“How about you? You got a girl?”

Now, this I do give a fuck about. “Yep.”

He stares at me. When I don’t elaborate he shakes his head, chuckling. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

I lean my head against the wall. “Not when there isn’t much to say.”

“Fair enough.” He stands up, dusting off his pants. “I’m gonna go find Anna and see what else she needs.”

He leaves me behind with thoughts of Goldi and how happy I am that she’s all fucking mine.

48

Alina

I’m at brunch with Jax. Becca’s down at the church meeting with Eli and Sarah, so it’s just the two of us today. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since our talk, and I hadn’t realized how much I missed him until this moment. We’re spending the day together before heading over to Sam’s party tonight. It’s Jax’s last night before he leaves for California, and he said he wanted to go with me, even if he had to give me up at the doors.

“I’m moving,” Jax blurts.

My hands grip the edge of the table, my equilibrium suddenly thrown off from his words. “What do you mean, you’re movin’?”

“To California. I spend most of my time there anyway, and… there’s not much holding me here.”

He’s movin’ because of me. My heart cries as it cracks in my chest.

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