It’s been a weird few weeks.
I finish buttoning up my shirt and slide my blazer on before looking back at her. “Did you have anything in mind?”
She smiles up at me, her eyes full of hope. I haven’t been able to say no to her since the whole Jackson thing. The sniveling little asshole hasn’t said a word to her since that day either. I fucking hate cowards like that. “There’s the house of horrors on the other side of town?”
I groan as I grab my bag and slide my feet into my Chucks. “Fine, fine. We can do it.”
“Yes!” she exclaims, jumping to her feet. “At least we don’t have to wear costumes, right?”
“I’ll take the win.”
She does a little jig on the spot, making me laugh. “You should because I was going to make us be Pippy Longstocking twins.”
I laugh even harder at her as she grins. We head out of the school, ignoring everyone we pass, arm in arm, to where the cars are parked. “I’ll pick you up at eight?”
I nod as I head to the driver’s side of my car. “Sounds perfect. I’ll dress comfortably.”
“Whoop! I’ll see you in a bit.” She bounces into her car, and I shake my head as I get my shit sorted out before starting the engine.
I feel eyes on me, so I look up and see the three boys who haven’t been that far from me since my dad’s birthday all watching me. They’re kings surveying their kingdom, yet I’m their only focus. It’s almost a heady feeling.
I shake it off because their attention isn’t what I need right now. Or maybe even ever. I might have forgiven them for being assholes and taken refuge in each of them at one point or another since I returned to Echoes Cove, but we’re not anything more than people who used to be friends.
I put the car in reverse and pull out of my spot, the weight of their gazes burning into me.
Sometimes I wish we’d never left here. I can’t help but wonder how different life would be if I hadn’t left with my dad all those years ago. But I can’t really wish that I didn’t have that time with Dad.
I drive home, unable to think about anything but the four boys who’ve had me twisted up in knots since I returned to Echoes Cove. One way or another, everything always seems to lead back to them.
I pull the car into the garage, spotting another delivery of yellow tulips on the steps.
I can’t help but frown. No one should be able to get this close to the house without me letting them in unless they’re coming in via the Saints’ property. I’m pretty positive the flowers aren’t from Lincoln or East, and it’s starting to feel a little creepy. Especially after how they both reacted to the cards that come along with them. So I leave the flowers where they are, spotting the plain white envelope and decide to head inside to get ready for tonight’s house of horrors.
Fall is officially here, so I dig out a pair of jeans and the hoodie East wrapped me in the day he rescued me before grabbing a quick shower. He’s definitely not getting the hoodie back, like, ever
It doesn’t take me long to get ready, and I reheat some of the shrimp linguine Mrs. Potts prepared while I flick through the series I keep meaning to start on Netflix. I have way too many TV subscriptions for the amount of TV I don’t watch, but fuck it.
I flick through the videos on the ‘for me’ page on my latest addiction of an app, glad that despite the shit I’ve dealt with, very few people even know about the account I have on here. The pictures of the football team preparing for their game make me scowl. What a fucking let down those guys ended up being. Indi has bounced back from the Jackson thing pretty well, but it’s impossible to miss how she freezes up when he’s near us at school.
I know she hasn’t been to any games since their camping trip too, which fucking sucks because she loves football.
Boys are so stupid. Who even needs them?
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I pull up the message thread.
Indi: On my way
I put my dishes away in the dishwasher and pull my hair up into a messy bun. Screw hot girl summer, this is comfy girl fall.
I lock everywhere up and head down to the gate to wait for her, finding another bunch of tulips leaning against the railing.
This is getting to be a little much now, so I pull up my phone and snap a picture. I shoot a message to someone I totally didn’t envision messaging anytime soon.
Me: Is this you? Because two bunches in one day is a lot *laughing emoji* also, if it’s not you, can you check your security to see if someone’s using your place to access mine because one set was left against my front door.
Lincoln: Wasn’t me. I’ll look into it
I check the post box while I’m waiting for Indi to arrive and flick through the junk mail. I find a manila envelope stashed in here. It has my name on it but no address, so it was hand delivered.