“That took two weeks to get them to agree to, and in the end, only hit us with one condition… ” I raise a brow at him.
Chase drops his attention to the table. “No fighting.”
“Yes, no fighting, and what do you know, they come home to find their very own son, with a black eye because you just had to go and hit on Jake Henry’s girlfriend.”
I laugh, thinking about it, but when I look over, I find Chase frowning at the stream of beer he’s pouring into the dirt, so I close my mouth and continue cleaning.
After a moment, he sighs. “You bought a new swimsuit for that party. Pink with white stripes.”
My head snaps in his direction.
I did?
“I put you on my shoulders for a chicken fight against Cam and Brady, and we won,” he continues, licking his lips as his eyes rise to mine. “I dropped us back into the water to let you down, and I did… but then I spun around and reached for you.” He holds my gaze. “I pulled you to me, and without a word, you wrapped your legs around my waist. You smiled, and then let go. I didn’t realize until someone splashed that I didn’t. I was still holding onto you.”
I shake my head, confused, and his eyes move between mine.
“It was a total of ten seconds, if that,” he tells me then. “But that was all it took for Mason to see.”
“We were playing a game, celebrating a win.” I swallow. “It was nothing.”
“It was something, Ari, and he knew it.” Chase’s lips twitch. “He’s got a solid right hook.”
Pressure builds along my chest. “It was Mason? Mason gave you the black eye.”
My mind spins, anxiously searching for the purpose. For the meaning.
Of what Mason did and why.
Of Chase’s words and the reason he’s sharing them.
“Why did you lie?” My voice comes out lower than intended.
A shadow falls over him, and while his chin lowers the slightest bit, he doesn’t look away. “Come on now.”
Because I would have gotten angry.
Because I would have punched Mason back.
Because I would have assumed I meant more to Chase when I was so sure I didn’t…
Did I mean more to you then?
When did you let me go?
I hastily bend at the knees, my movements jerky as I pick up a few discarded can tabs from the ground.
“Arianna—”
“Why did you tell me that?”
“You said I hit on Jake’s girlfriend. I wanted you to know that wasn’t true.”
But why, I want to ask. That was two years ago, so what does it matter now? I don’t ask because what purpose would that serve?
He said he wanted me to know, fine. Now I do. So that’s that.
I pop a shoulder with overfed dramatics and do my best to wash away the entire conversation with some lighthearted teasing.
“Well, that’s a relief. She was a biatch and matched quite well with her douchey boyfriend, so consider your character redeemed.”
“One goal fulfilled,” he jokes back. “A dozen more to go.”
Looking up, I meet his green eyes, and we share a small smile before going back to the task at hand.
Chase and I tie off the bags, and when he faces me, his beanie slips even higher, now barely hanging on. With a low laugh, I step forward, tugging it back into place. My eyes move to his, and the corner of his mouth lifts into a broken smile.
“Thanks,” he mumbles as I step away.
We turn toward the metal dumpsters, located several yards away, but the slight squeal of brakes sounds behind us.
We both look over our shoulders, finding Noah rolling to a stop at the top of the hill.
“I wonder why he came back,” I think out loud, taking a step in his direction, but quickly pause turning back to Chase.
“Must be something he didn’t want to leave behind.” He stares a moment, slowly facing me, and in the next, his hand is stretched out as a frown builds across his face.
Hesitantly, I pass over my bag.
He’s already walking away before, “Thanks,” leaves me, and so I spin around, jogging up the short hillside.
Noah’s eyes are pointed past me, but lower to mine as I reach him, a small smile finding his lips.
I’m about to ask him what happened when I notice two hot coffees in the cupholders and two breakfast sandwiches sitting on the dash.
“Couldn’t have you burning the forest down trying to make your own,” he drawls lazily, his head sinking to the seat behind him.
A chuckle bubbles out of me and I grip the doorframe, bringing myself closer to him. “Thank you.”