Page 35 of Forget Me Not

“Just say the word,” I growl back at her.

“Wow, Tyler,” Christine sneers. “Never expected you to downgrade to pure trash.”

Oh, hell no. Did she seriously just say that?

“You bitch!” I charge at her, but I’m immediately pulled back by Tyler. His arms wrap around my lower torso as I stretch my hands out, trying to get a grip on any part of her I can.

Christine jumps back as if she’s surprised I’d actually come at her. “You’re a fucking psycho. Go the hell back to wherever you came from.” She flips her hair over her shoulder as she spins around.

After a few steps, she glances over her shoulder with a devious smirk on her face as if she planned this to a T. She wanted to make me look bad. She pushed every button perfectly and set me off.

“I’m good,” I tell Tyler, and he lets me go. I rub my temples, disappointed that I allowed that girl to get me so worked up. “I’m sorry,” I tell him regretfully.

“You’re sorry?” He chuckles. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I really should’ve let you beat her ass.”

A smile draws on my face. “Then why didn’t you?”

“She’s not worth it. That girl has been a pain in my ass for years and I would love nothing more than to watch someone shut her up for a while. But she’s also known for spreading rumors and creating drama. I’d hate for you to be dragged into that shit so soon after moving here.”

“Well, I think it’s a little too late for that. But don’t worry about me. Stuck-up little bitches don’t intimidate me in the least.”

We move up the line and a guy at the front hands us each a cup. When it’s our turn, Tyler fills us both up and we part ways from the crowd, finding an empty space by the large fire.

“Cheers,” Tyler says, holding his cup in the air.

“And what is it we’re cheersing to?”

“You. Being a total badass.”

I laugh as some of the weight I’ve been carrying for as long as I remember starts to subside. I never wanted love, but I didn’t realize just how much I truly wanted friendship. “What makes you say that?”

“I pretty much could tell the minute I first saw you. I was certain when you called that guy out for spilling your drink. And now, after that stunt with Christine, I’m positive that Ido notwant to get on your bad side.”

I knock my cup against his and waggle my brows. “I’d say that’s a good call.” I take a small sip, remembering last night and how only two drinks led to poor choices.

“So, tell me about yourself, Rhea. What do you like to do for fun? Who’s your favorite band? And most importantly, are you a pumpkin spice fanatic?”

“That’s most important?” I laugh. “No to the pumpkin spice. I like the smell but not the taste. I don’t have a favorite band, and for fun, this is slowly topping the charts.”

“Drinking beer at a fire in the middle of nowhere tops the charts?”

“Well, it does for tonight anyways.”

Tyler flashes a smile over the rim of his cup. “I’m happy to hear that.”

“How about you? Favorite band, and all that jazz?”

“Man, I knew I shouldn’t have asked that because I had a feeling you’d ask the same.” He taps his chin with one finger exaggeratedly, and I think my face actually hurts from smiling at this point. “That’s a tough one. I’m a sucker for Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and pretty much any country guy or gal. Hell no to the pumpkin spice, and as for what I like to do for fun, this is quickly topping the charts.”

My cheeks flush with heat and a giddy feeling rises in the pit of my stomach as I repeat his words. “I’m happy to hear that.”

Tyler continues to peg me with questions, trying to get to know me, and each one has me feeling more and more uncomfortable because most of them are answered with a lie. After an hour, I’ve become another carefully crafted character I’ve created—a cheerleader in middle school, a member of the drama club in high school, and an average student with a passion for photography. I’ve never even owned a camera aside from the one on my phone.

I had a boyfriend for a year, then moved, and the long-distance relationship didn’t work, so we called it quits. How the ever-loving fuck do I let these lies slip so seamlessly past my lips?

Tyler, who is nothing short of a holy being, has only had one serious relationship. He was the quarterback of his football team all through high school, and is now attending college on a four-year scholarship. Oh, and he attends church every Sunday and asked me to go with him tomorrow.

I currently feel three feet tall standing next to him.

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