Page 12 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

“Nope. I don’t accept that. Here, try this.” She thrusts a pink silk camisole in my face.

“Ugh, Lily, I literally cannot think of anything I wanna do less than sit in front of a fire in this heat.”

She points her finger at me. “You didn’t let me throw you a birthday party this year, this can be your apology.”

“I thought lettin’ you dress me up like a Barbie was the apology.”

“Nope, that’s just you making good choices.” She winks as she hands me a jean skirt.

I smile big and wide. It’s so good to have her here. She’s been gone a lot lately. Hanging out with a new group of people, and even when she is around, she’s off. After I went mother hen on her over that creep Darryl, she started pulling away. She swears up and down he’s out of the picture, but it’s hard to keep the faith when she disappears for days at a time.

I push back my worry and don’t bring him up. I’ve missed my best friend.

Becca busts through the door, a bottle of vodka in her hand I’m sure she stole from her mama’s secret stash. “Alright bitches, they don’t get me back ‘til Sunday. What are we gettin’ into?”

“Convincing Lee to come to the End of Summer Bonfire.” Lily glares at me, hands on her hips.

Becca laughs, placing the vodka on my desk. “Oh, Lee, it’s adorable how you think you have a choice.”

I sigh. “Who all’s gonna be there?”

Lily rolls her eyes. “Everyone. There’s only like twenty people in this town as it is, with nothing to do. Where else would they go?”

Becca grabs Lily’s phone as it chimes on the desk, and stares at the screen.

“Uhh... Lily, there’s someone named ‘Big D’ in your phone tellin’ you to be a good girl, and maybe he’ll re-up your stash.”

Lily rips the phone from her hand. “Jesus, Becca, mind your fucking business.”

Becca cocks an eyebrow. “Excuse me, Miss Priss? Seems like you need me to make it my business.”

Lily’s body is coiled tight. “Oh, please. Just because your dad’s the preacher of this Podunk town doesn’t mean you have the right to invade people’s lives whenever you please.”

I’m too busy processing the fact Lily needs a “stash” to be offended by her words about the town I’ve lived in my whole life. My eyebrows draw together. “Lil, what the heck is goin’ on with you? You can talk to us, you know?”

She ignores me, fingers flying over the keyboard, and breathing heavy like she just ran a marathon. Her phone rings and she mutters something about privacy as she scurries out of the room.

My mouth is hanging as I meet Becca’s eyes. She raises her arms out to the side mouthing, “What the fuck?”

I shake my head in disbelief.

A few hours later, we make it to the lake. It’s a balmy night, and everyone who’s anyone is here. People cluster in groups along the bank. There are a few Adirondack chairs around the fire, and my booty is sitting comfortably in one for the duration. I’m nursing a warm, stale beer in a red Solo cup, pretending to listen to Ricky Walker tell me all about his daddy’s fishing store. But my eyes are on Chase. That ratchet girl Suzy Abbott has her breasts pressed up so tight to his side, I’m surprised she can breathe.

When she leans up to whisper in his ear, my stomach burns with jealousy.

When her hand slips into his jeans, my jealousy turns to anger.

I’m not naive—I know he sleeps around. I’ve smelled the perfume lingering on his clothes as he lays in my bed and tells me he’s no good. But to see it right in front of me? It makes me sick. I know he feels something. I wish he would get over his issues and just let me love him. But if he wants to spend his time being too afraid, that’s his choice. His stupid, terrible, idiotic choice.

I turn sharply toward Ricky, looking him up and down. His blond spiky hair and dull brown eyes aren’t really my thing, but he’ll do.

Is he still talkin’? I cut him off. “Yeah, great. Listen. You wanna get out of here?”

His eyes widen. “Uh... yeah. Yes.” He clears his throat. “Like, now?”

“Yup.” I spring up, letting my cup fall to the sand as I grab his hand, pulling him from his seat.

I march down the bank toward the parking lot, on a mission to find Ricky’s truck. I don’t bother looking back.

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