Page 20 of Always Mine

My beinginvisible didn’t last long, and I’m regretting not asking for the Nikes my-damn-self after Lily made me buy her boot choice. They aren’t terrible, I guess, but they’re not me.

At least, not anymore.

I’m currently talking to what feels like the fiftieth person in five minutes, and I’m past the point of feeling overwhelmed. I’m so ready to run home and hide.

“You look great, Pax. It’s good to see you,” Billy says, pulling me in for a quick hug. He smells like tobacco with an underlying hit of beer. The memory of the one time Wyatt and I stole his pack of Marlboros floods my brain and I smirk despite myself.

“Hurry up or we’ll get caught,” I mutter, peeking around the back of his barn.

“Would you wait a second? I can’t get the dang thing lit.” He flicks the lighter with shaking hands, getting more aggravated with every spin.

“Here, give it to me.” He doesn’t protest, handing it over.

“Hurry before we get caught.

I shoot him a glare before flicking the wheel three times, finally getting a flame. Then I light up the cigarette, sucking in the smoke and instantly cough. It feels like my lungs are on fire. “Shit.”

Laughing, Wyatt snatches it from me and takes a drag, coughing harder than I did. “Shit, that hurts,” he groans, cheeks flushed red from his coughing fit.

“See, and you thought it was—”

“What are you boys doing?”

“Paxton?”

I blink, taking in Billy’s concerned expression. “Oh, sorry. I think I zoned out for a second. It’s good to see you, Billy.” My tone is shaky, the memory of Wyatt making me feel raw.

Everything in this town makes me think of him. How am I going to survive being here for months? Especially if he hates me?

Billy nods, oblivious to my inner struggles before looking from me to Lily. “Keep him in check,” he says, like he had the same flashback I just did.

“I always do.” She nudges me, smiling at Billy like they’re sharing some kind of secret. “We’ll see you tonight.”

What the hell does she mean by that? I want to go home and sleep, not stay out all day and night.

“Tonight?” I cock my head, turning to look at her. “What’s tonight?”

Her eyes gleam, and she rubs her hands together in excitement. “Don’t worry, we’re going to have so much fun.”

Oh hell no. Why does she look so mischievous? I can’t take much more of her, and I can’t be sure, but I swear I hear the soft chuckle from Billy as he walks away.

EIGHT

Wyatt

I fight back a yawn as I slide Billy another beer. It’s karaoke night at Red’s, and Ember was short handed again.She really needs to hire more employees.

I don’t know why I agreed to do this after the disaster that happened the last time, but when she begs me, my marshmallow-soft heart can't tell her no.

The only good thing about karaoke is that everyone’s too busy drinking and judging each other’s bad singing to pay much attention to me.

“You planning on singing tonight?” Cooper asks, coming to sit on the open barstool in front of me.

“Hey, you.” I grab a bottle of Bud from the ice chest, pop the cap, and slide it over to him. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I wasn’t going to, but Hunter convinced me. Plus, you’re here, so figured I’d stop by.” He looks around the room, wincing slightly at the off-key notes to Dolly Parton pouring through the speakers. “I don’t know how you’re listening to this. I’d have brought some earplugs.”

Laughing, I grab a menu for him. “To be honest, you block it out after a while.”

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