I giggled nervously and kissed my mother on the cheek. “Nah. I think we just haven’t seen each other in so long. We’re trying to get back into the swing of things.”
She nodded and said, “I was hoping we could talk tomorrow.”
“Of course, Mom. Maybe we can go for a ride and picnic by the river? I’m dying to get my feet in that water!”
“Sounds like a plan, Liza. Have fun tonight.”
As I made my way up to my room, I looked down at my engagement ring. I walked over to my dresser, pulled the ring off my finger, and opened my jewelry box. I set the ring inside and closed the lid. Then I unclasped my necklace and took Walker’s ring off of it. I set it on the dresser with my necklace and closed my eyes. If I wanted to move on with my future, I needed to leave the past behind.
I pulled out my phone and flopped onto my bed. The moment I heard Keith’s voice, I wanted to lay into him for what he’d done. I took a deep breath and said, “Hey.”
“Hey, baby. Listen, I’m so sorry I did that to you, Liza. You asked for the summer, and I didn’t abide by the rules. Do you hate me?”
“No, of course not. But I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t pissed off.”
“I love you, Liza.”
I closed my eyes. When I opened them, a single tear escaped. I was so confused. I loved Keith. But did I want to leave everything and everyone I knew behind to marry him? I wasn’t sure yet.
“I love you, too,” I said. “Are y’all on your way?”
Keith laughed. “Yeah. Road trip and hiking trip with my old man. Fun times ahead.”
I laughed and sat up. “I better run. We’re all going out dancing tonight.”
Silence. I braced myself for what was about to come.
“Walker going?” Keith asked.
I sighed. “Keith, when are you going to move past this?”
“When you stop wearing the damn ring he gave you. My ring should be on your finger. Not his.”
I looked down and instantly felt guilty. I walked over to my jewelry box and took out the engagement ring. I slipped it on my finger, then picked up Walker’s double heart ring.
“I’m not doing this with you again. It’s getting old.”
I heard Keith take a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Liza. I’m really trying. I won’t bring it up again. But promise that you’ll keep my ring on. I want you to think of me every time you see it.”
Slipping Walker’s ring back onto the necklace I placed it on the dresser. “Thank you for letting it go. I promise, I’ll keep the ring on. But I need to get going. Text or call me when y’all stop for the night.”
“All right, baby. I love you.”
I smiled at the ring on my finger. “I am wearing it, Keith. And I love you, too.”
“Night, baby.”
“Night,” I said.
I hung up and let out a sigh. I love Keith. I want a future with him. Didn’t I?
I WATCHED FROM the bar as Liza danced with some cowboy to Florida Georgia’s “This is How We Roll.” I turned away and motioned for another Coke.
The bartender smiled. “You’re being kind of boring, cowboy,” she said as she slid a shot in front of me.
I raised an eyebrow at her. She was cute—long blonde hair and sultry hazel eyes.
I pushed the drink back and winked. “I’m driving tonight and I’m also taken.”
She pouted and poured me another Coke and drank the shot.
I saw my sister Ava dancing with some guy. The way his hands were all over her made me want to punch him in the nuts. But Ava had already given me a talk, telling me not to even look at her. She wanted to have fun—if that meant some flirting and a few guys coping a feel, I guess that was her business.
The song ended and Liza came up to the bar. She was well on her way to being drunk, if she wasn’t already. She grabbed my Coke and drank it down in one gulp. She put the glass down and made a face.
“Yuck. That’s just a Coke.”
I nodded. “Um, yeah. Designated driver here, remember?”
She rolled her eyes and called for the bartender. The blonde came over and eyed Liza—she probably thought Liza was my girlfriend.
“I’ll take a fireball,” Liza said. “No! I’ll take two!”
The bartender nodded, looking at me, as if for permission. But if this is what Liza needed to do to feel good, who was I to stop her?
When the shots were placed in front of Liza, I slid the money to the bartender. She winked and said, “You might be getting lucky tonight.”
I laughed and said, “I don’t think so.”
Liza downed one shot and then the next. She let out a little yelp and licked her lips. When she looked at me, my dick jumped. Fuck. Don’t think about her that way, Walker. You have Jessica. She loves you and wants a future with you.
“Will you dance with me, Walker?” Liza asked, an innocent smile playing on her lips.
They’d been playing nothing but fast songs all night. I nodded, took her hand, and led her to the dance floor. The moment I turned to face her, the song changed. “Glass” by Thompson Square began playing. I swallowed hard and my heart instantly slammed. A slow song meant holding Liza close, pressed up against me. She came closer and I took her in my arms. As we danced, her smell brought me back to those moments we’d spent alone together before leaving for college. I’d often wondered if we’d made the right choice in not sleeping together. Maybe if we had, we’d have fought harder to make things work between us.
I leaned in closer and took a deep breath. She smelled heavenly. I closed my eyes and tried to push these thoughts out of my head. We danced in silence. As the song ended, Liza pulled away. She looked into my eyes. I wasn’t sure what to do. My heart was telling me to kiss her, but my head was telling me to walk away. Blake Shelton’s “Who are you when I’m not looking” began playing. Liza’s eyes lingered on my lips. I slowly leaned in. As we grew closer, she licked her lips in anticipation.
“Walker,” she whispered.
Just as we were about to make contact, I heard someone yell out my name. I pulled back instantly and looked around.
“Walker fucking Moore!”
Mitchell Cunningham walked over as I let go of Liza and took a few steps back. I smiled and shook Mitchell’s hand.
“I can’t believe I’m running into you here in the middle of Hicksville, Walker.” I laughed as I looked back at Liza.