Love Song(31)

“He hurt my feelings.” The words slip out before I can curb them. “It wasn’t cool.”

“Aw, Blakey.” Gigi’s heavy sigh fills my ear. “Listen, Wyatt can be a dick, yes, but he’s also a secret softie. If you tell him he hurt your feelings, I promise you he’ll take it to heart and never do it again. He’s kind of a sap when he’s trying to make things up to someone.”

I don’t know if I want to experience sappy Wyatt. I can’t soften to him, because every time I do, he turns around and obliterates my pride.

“It’s fine,” I say lightly. “I’m letting it go.”

“What are you up to today?” she asks.

“Going to the library.”

“You know school’s out for summer, right?”

“I know. But we met these paranormal podcasters last night—”

“I’m sorry, what?”

Laughing, I catch her up on the Spencers. “They claim that Lake Tahoe has a supernatural history, and you know me—now I must research it.”

“You’re such a nerd. But have fun, I guess?”

After we say goodbye, I go downstairs and find Wyatt waiting for me in the kitchen.

“You ready to go?” he says brusquely.

“No,” I retort. “You’re not coming with me. I don’t need an escort to the library.”

For the first time all morning, his gaze finds mine. “I’m not going to the library. I have something to do in town, so I need the Jeep. I’ll drop you off.”

I relax. “Oh. Okay. I’ll allow it. Let me grab a travel mug.”

Wyatt doesn’t say another word as we climb into the Jeep and make the drive to Tahoe City. The silence makes me antsy, so I fill it by scrolling on my phone, cycling past mindless photos from friends and influencers and a few posts from the Delta Pi account announcing our summer charity events. I never envisioned myself being part of a sorority, but Mom encouraged me to pledge because she said it would be a built-in friend group. Turns out? Not at all. Other than my mentor, Charlie, who graduated a few years ago, the only Delta Pi I’m close with is Juliette, and neither of us even live in the sorority house.

I’m about to keep scrolling when something catches my eye—a photo posted on Tyrell’s account. Ty is one of Isaac’s teammates at Briar.

My stomach drops as I register what I’m seeing. It’s a group shot taken at a party in the backyard of one of the off-campus football houses. I see Ty’s smiling face. A couple other teammates. Two girls I don’t recognize.

And Isaac and Heather.

The cheater and the cheerleader, in the flesh.

Tears sting my eyes. Lovely. Six tearless weeks and now they’re pouring out willy-nilly at the most inconvenient times.

I shouldn’t care that Isaac is seeing Heather now. He was already seeing her while he was with me. But the fact that they’re attending a Briar party together like an actual couple makes me question Isaac’s vehement there-were-no-emotions-involved defense. You don’t start dating someone you’re not emotionally attached to, right?

Unless they’re fuck buddies. I suppose that could be it.

But… They were holding hands in that picture. Fuck buddies don’t hold hands.

Ugh.

Maybe I need a fuck buddy. Or a hookup at least. Juliette insists it will be good for my flailing confidence. Make me feel desirable again. But the only guy who was even remotely cute at the bar last night was Landon the bartender. I could’ve even disregarded the mullet if I’d been attracted to him. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to feel an attraction for anyone else when Wyatt Graham is breathing the same air as them. If Wyatt’s in the room, my traitorous nervous system refuses to acknowledge pheromones that emanate from someone other than him.

Wyatt slows down when we enter the busy mountain town. I shift my gaze out the window and take in the familiar sights of North Lake Boulevard, with its little cafés and restaurants, quaint boutiques, and several gear shops. There are hanging flower baskets on all the patios, providing a splash of color that succeeds in bolstering my mood a little.

We turn off the main boulevard, driving a few blocks west of the lake before pulling into the parking lot of the newly built community center, a complex comprising a library, fitness center, and sports arena.

I assumed he would drop me out front and then go off to day drink or something, but he pulls the Jeep into an actual space and shuts off the engine.

“I thought you had to do something in town,” I say.

“I do. I’m just parking here.”

“And walking to the boulevard?” I’m confused. “It’s, like, two miles away.”

He reaches for the door handle. “It’ll be a nice stroll.”

Hopping out of the Jeep, I sling my messenger bag over my shoulder. I brought an oversize one in case I decide to check out any books.

“Why are you being weird?” I ask Wyatt.

“I’m not being weird. You’re the weird one. Just go to the library.”

“Jeez, Graham. Is someone on their period?”

“Shut it, Logan.” He confuses me further by locking the Jeep and then casually leaning against the driver’s door.

“What, you’re not embarking on your epic walk yet?”