Brady scoffs somewhere nearby and I whip my head around to find him sitting on a boulder not three feet away, his eyes on me. He pulls his cup to his lips, glancing toward Arianna and back. Leisurely, he climbs to his feet, fills a cup, and holds it out with a firm frown. “Her hands are empty.”
The inquisition in his tone has my pulse jumping, and my eyes dart away with guilt.
But why?
What do I have to feel guilty for?
I’m just keeping an eye on her, and that’s because I care.
I’ve always cared. Shit, I care as much as him, as much as Mason.
Mason.
My muscles clench and I look back to the brown-haired girl at the edge of the party.
With my mind spinning like this, I shouldn’t make my way to her, I really fucking shouldn’t, but I do, and before she’s even spotted me, I’m speaking.
“You two seemed comfortable.”
Her eyes flash to mine, confusion bringing creases to their corners.
Confusion I feel just the same because that’s not why I came over here.
That’s not what I meant to say.
“We just met,” she hesitantly defends.
“Didn’t seem like it.”
She blanches and all I can think is what the fuck is wrong with me?
Slowly, Arianna tips her head. “Okay…” She drags out. “I’m not really sure what to say to that so… if there’s something you want to say… you can.”
Her tone is gentle and curious, and I find myself swallowing.
“No, no, uh…” I clear my throat, backtracking, torn by the irritation burning through me and refusing to think on the reason for it. “I’m sorry, it’s just I hear you were out of town, hanging with this Trey dude, and then Noah shows up, gets one look at you and—” I cut myself off, my mouth clamping shut as I look to her.
She slips closer. “And… what?”
My chest lifts and falls with a full breath and I frown. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
Her eyes fall, and I tip my head, catching the small curve of her lips she tries to veil.
Why’s that make her smile?
Is it him?
Is it me?
Why the fuck does it matter?
“He might as well have asked you out right there in front of us all.”
“He didn’t.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
“The fact that he wanted to.” I frown. “You know that, right? That he wanted to?”
Arianna steps forward, grabs the drink I brought over from my hand. As she goes to step past, her gaze lifts to mine, and with a hidden smile, she whispers, “I know… that he’s gone.”
“Do you wish he weren’t?”
Her lips part and I tense, rushing to speak before she can.
“Don’t answer that.”
“What if I want to?” she rasps, peeking up beneath her full lashes.
“Arianna.”
“Chase.”
I glare and she grins.
A low giggle follows, and she steps past me. “I’m going to check on Cam.”
She smiles at the sand, and I’m about ready to bury myself beneath it.
I don’t know what in the fuck is wrong with me right now, but it better be right by tomorrow.
If not, who the hell knows what’ll happen.
I sure as fuck don’t.
Chapter 6
Arianna
* * *
The five of us are up early the following morning, but only for long enough to finish cleaning up from the night before. After that, Cam and I tuck ourselves beneath the covers, eating chips and dip for breakfast. We’re on episode three of Emily in Paris when she presses pause with a sigh.
I already know what she’s going to say, and to be honest, it took a little longer than I expected.
“Mason shook his hand,” she rasps, and our eyes meet. “He shook his hand…”
My smile is sad because we both know what it means.
Mason didn’t feel threatened by Trey, no jealousy or anger.
He didn’t pull a Mason and make a scene, knock Trey on his ass and dare him to rise to his feet.
My brother shook Trey’s hand.
It was the first time my brother’s feelings have been truly clear.
He loves Cameron, but not the way she wants him to.
“You know what’s weird,” she whispers, tears brimming her eyes as they meet mine. “It doesn’t hurt the way I thought it would. It stings, but I kind of thought I’d feel like I was dying.” She chuckles through her sniffles. “Does that even make sense?”