“You weren’t stupid,” he says as we head down the sidewalk for the driveway. Even though it’s nearing the end of September, blossoming crimson and violet flowers border the pathway, making the yard beautiful. I wish it could look that way forever, but I know that the petals will eventually wilt and fade as the seasons change, and life will change with it. “You just wanted to get out. We both wanted that.”
Jax is right. Dreamer or not, a part of me was searching for freedom from The Subs when I first went out with Conner. I’m not looking for that in Tristan, though. I’m honestly not even sure what I’m looking for in him other than to help him. And I really enjoy spending time with him.
Whether that’s wrong or right, only the stars really know. And I’m not about to die to find out the answers, so I guess I’m left to discover it on my own.
***
Philman’s is a grocery store in the same town where the Habitat for Humanity house is being built. They have the best cakes that have ever existed in the whole wide world.
Forty-five minutes later, we’re wandering up and down the aisles of the store. My cake was supposed to be ready by noon, but the baker is running behind schedule, so we gather some stuff for my birthday dinner while we wait.
“I want kabobs with my corn,” I announce when I spot a bag of skewers on a shelf. “With potatoes and chicken and tomatoes on it.”
“You’re super demanding,” Jax tells me then shoots a grin in my direction, letting me know he’s teasing. He chucks a bag of skewers into the cart. “Kabobs it is.”
Mason and I high five then Jax steers the cart toward the vegetable section so we can get my vegetable requests. That particular section of the store is right by the deli, which really doesn’t matter except for today. Because today, there are people standing at that deli.
At first, I think I’m imagining them, but when I realize I’m not, I feel stupid for thinking I could come to this town without running into Nova, Quinton, and Tristan.
“Shit,” I curse under my breath as I duck behind the cart of tomatoes like a coward.
Jax gapes down at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What the hell are you doing?” he asks with a tomato in his hand.
“Hiding,” I hiss, gripping onto the edge of the tomato cart
“I know that.” His gaze scans the store while Mason messes around with a basket of tomatoes beside my head. “But from who?”
“People.”
“Avery.”
“Ugh.” I lift my hand without standing up and point toward where I’m pretty sure the deli is. “Tristan is over there.”
“And?” he asks in confusion while examining the tomato he’s holding, acting like this isn’t a big deal.
But it is. A super huge deal. Because I’m here with my family that none of them know about.
“I don’t want to see him after last night,” I lie, feeling like an ass.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s embarrassing.”
“Yeah, for Conner, not you.” He reaches down with his free hand and pulls me to my feet. “You don’t need to hide, Avery. You did nothing wrong.” When I open my mouth to protest, he adds, “You have to listen to me. I’m super wise.”
“Says the man fondling the tomato,” I retort, refusing to look over at the deli. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll walk away without noticing me.
He shakes his head as he grabs a plastic bag to put the tomato in. “You’re supposed to do this to see if they’re ripe.” He sniffs the tomato and then drops it into the bag.
Mason mimics Jax, leaning in to smell a tomato, and then he chucks it into the bag. “I think Jax is right,” he says. “It does smell ripe.”
Jax smirks at me. “See, I’m right.”
“You two are such dorks.” I select a large tomato and sniff it. “All I smell is dirt.”
Jax opens his mouth to say something, and by the humor in his expression, I bet it’s another snotty remark, but something I knew was coming interrupts him.
“Avery, what are you doing here?” Nova asks as she winds around the lettuce section toward us. She’s alone, which is good. Maybe, if I’m lucky, Quinton and Tristan won’t come over.
Says the stupid dreamer side of me.
I seriously think about chucking the tomato at her and running out of the store. Instead, I put the tomato in the bag and plaster on my best smile. “Shopping for food,” I tell her casually as I pretend to have a deep fascination with the cucumbers to the right of me.
“It’s her birthday,” Jax chimes in as Nova reaches us. She has a deli bag in her hand, and the air suddenly smells like chicken. “We’re just killing time until her cake is done.”
“Oh, right. I forgot it was your birthday,” Nova says cheerfully. “Happy birthday, Avery.”
“Thanks.” I pick up a cucumber and turn it in my hand. I feel like a liar and don’t like myself very much at the moment, but I can’t bring myself to explain who Jax and Mason are.
Jax has other ideas, though. “Avery”—he clears his throat—“maybe you should introduce us.”
I grip the cucumber before tossing it into the basket, and then I face Nova. “This is…” I trail off when I spot Quinton and Tristan walking in our direction. Their eyes are on me in all my birthday tiara glory. I consider removing the crown from my head, but then I’d be pretending to be someone I’m not, and I’ve already done a lot of that lately.
I hold my breath as I wait for them to reach us, noting how pissed off Tristan looks. Albeit, he still looks sexy. He’s wearing a pinstriped shirt over a fitted T-shirt, loose jeans, his face is freshly shaven, and his hair styled in a messily perfect way. My thoughts drift to how amazing it would feel to rip off his shirt and sketch the lines of his carved muscles and colorful ink… lick his abs… kiss his flesh… then his lips… his jaw while my hand slips down to his…
I blink out of my lust-induced dazed. What, oh what, have I gotten myself into?
Quinton is saying something to Tristan in a low tone as they veer around the carts of vegetables, but Tristan isn’t looking at Quinton, only me.
He looks so mad.
“Hey, look who I found,” Nova says to them when they arrive in front of us. They have deli bags in their hands, too, so I’m guessing they came here for lunch. “Avery is here, picking up her birthday cake.”