Page 9 of It's Just You

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Finn

I’d seriously forgottenhow much fun hanging out with Sam could be. God, I’d missed him.

“And then I told her to go away and never come back, you know? I don’t need some cheater in my bed, even if she is pretty,” Sam finished recounting the details of his last relationship — or at least, the girl he’d done before he’d figured out his wasn’t the only bed she warmed at night and that her “girls’ nights out” hadn’t actually been spent with the girls.

“It’s a shame, though better you found out now than later. And be happy you didn’t catch anything.” I handed him the batter for the pancakes.

“Yeah, true. And with you? Any new guys? Did you pick someone up recently?”

I shook my head as he poured some of the batter into the pan. “Nothing serious, sadly. I’ve had a few hookups, but still waiting for the one to sweep me off my feet. Even my friend Micah got married recently, and let me tell you… That stung, even though I’m happy for him. But I want someone like him as well, you know? Or like his husband, really. Micah’s not my type, but Carter… Shame he’s only ever had eyes for Micah, and I’d never mess with a relationship anyway.”

I stared at the pan, remembering the joy in Micah’s eyes as he’d walked down the aisle. He and Carter were a match made in heaven, and I was happy for them.

I just kind of wanted the same.

“Sucks to hear that.” Sam flipped the first pancake. “But there will be the right one, someone who loves you just as much as this Carter loves his Micah.” He grinned at me. “And in the meantime… we can always just enjoy ourselves.”

“Says the one who didn’t even want to go to the bar with me yesterday,” I jabbed, even though I knew he’d been too exhausted from the drive home from his university to go out for drinks.

“We can go today?” he offered, though he didn’t sound too enthusiastic.

“Not your scene?”

“No, not really. But there’s a bonfire tonight if you wanna come.”

I looked at my fingernails, which were painted a nice shade of pink, and gestured at my tight, fitted, glitter-covered clothing. “Sure? Or are they going to burn me as a witch there?”

Sam laughed. “Don’t worry. We haven’t burned any witches in at least a few years. Things have changed a lot since you lived here.”

I winced. Back then, I’d been the ugly teen with nothing but acne all over my face. I didn’t want to be reminded of that time at all. The scars were bad enough.

“If you can guarantee no one’s gonna throw me into the fire, sure, why not?” Inside, though, I was cringing. Bonfire. Outdoors. Me. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to smell like mosquito repellant, so I’d have to worry about that nuisance too.

“Yes!” Sam grinned at me, clearly excited I’d decided to go with him. He finished with the first set of pancakes, putting them on a plate and adding another round of batter to the pan. “Once we’re done here, we can eat then see what else to do today. Though, just catching up seems like a good idea, don’t you think?”

“Sounds good to me. It’s not like I have anything else to do here,” I said.

Sam arched a brow at me. “Talk about being bitter, man. That’s not how I remember you. Besides, if you don’t wanna spend time with me, then just say so.” Another flip of another set of pancakes.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be bitter, and I do want to hang out with you. I’m just not used to being here again, and so far, seeing you again has been the only thing making it bearable.”

That, and getting a good look at Kane, even if it hadn’t led anywhere. Though it might be fun to flirt with him a little over the summer. It might give me some entertainment to make the summer vacation better. Maybe I needed to try my luck. He’d said he wasn’t gay, but it couldn’t do any harm. And who knew? Maybe he was less straight than he thought. It wouldn’t be the first time that had happened. He hadn’t seemed offended by my flirting at all, only confused, so… he wouldn’t beat my ass for it, which was a plus, too.

I’d be spending time with Sam anyway, so Kane would be around too. If I didn’t land in bed with him, well, I’d be gone in a few weeks. If I succeeded, it would heat up the summer in the best of ways.

That sounded really good. Smiling, I turned toward Sam, who was still working on the pancakes. “Sorry for my mood. I’ll do better. Now, what do you need help with?”

“Go ahead and set the table, please.” He nodded toward a cabinet.

Now that I had a goal for the summer, things were starting to look up.

Gettingto stay for breakfast was a great way to make Kane feel more at ease with me, given our first embarrassing encounter. I’d also get a read on his plans for the day, and his plans in general, for the summer. I didn’t mind seeing his parents, either. They’d always been accepting of me, even when the rest of the world hadn’t.

It had been years since I’d sat down and shared a meal with them, but it might as well have been yesterday.

Well, not really. Sam’s dad had gotten thin, really thin, and his mom seemed to have lost weight as well. We’d all grown up, too, but the banter and the laughter were the same.

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