I turn to face him and can see the questioning look in his gorgeous eyes. “Lucas is gonna help me with something.”
“You don’t owe me any explanations. We’re friends, right?” he shoves a hand in his pocket and shuffles on his feet.
“Right. Friends.”
I give him a sad wave and walk back in the direction of his brother and somehow it feels wrong. Each step I take away from Zane has my feet feeling heavier.
I glance back over my shoulder and Zane is still watching me.
“Zane…” He looks up. “You want to come?”
His gaze shifts down the beach to his brother and I wonder what caused such a rift between them. It has to be more than me.
“Better not. You go ahead.”
Chapter 15
Hattie Mae
Turns out Lucas wanted to take me up on my raincheck for the movies. While we were spreading my father’s ashes in the center of the lake didn’t seem like a great time to tell him I am into his brother. Maybe it was me being a coward or being selfish and not wanting to lose the friendship I am forming with Lucas, but I agreed to the movie.
Now I am back at my place getting ready to go to out with the brother of the guy I am crushing on.
What’s wrong with me? I should have said no, but I need fun and Zane said we are just friends. There is nothing wrong with going out and having fun. Guys do it all the time.
Giving myself a once over in the mirror I am pleased with my effort. I’m wearing denim cutoffs and a white sleeveless shirt paired with some cute cowgirl boots that have pink roses on them. My hair is braided and laying to my left shoulder. The finishing touch is one of my dad’s belt buckles.
Grabbing a glass of lemonade, I go out onto my porch to be a nosy neighbor and people watch while I wait for Lucas.
Most days it is quiet around here but when the drama does pop off, fireworks explode over the tiniest things. Last week Mr. Hubbard was pissed because his neighbor Claris’s cat kept shitting in his yard by his porch. He was running around the yard in his boxers chasing the cat with a water hose.
Claris came out screaming and hit him on the head with a frying pan. She didn’t hit him hard enough to hurt him, but she did ring his bell. I think he was seeing stars.
My phone pings with a new text from Justin.
Justin: I’ll be in town tomorrow.
Me: I told you not to come. I don’t want you here. Whatever you need to say to me can happen on the phone.
Justin: I need to see you, Hattie. We’ve not been apart this long ever.
Hattie: Fine. Text me when you get to town.
Justin: Thanks. I will.
Lucas pulls up in his truck.
I give him a wave and put my glass inside while grabbing my purse. I lock the door behind me and hope this isn’t me making a dumb mistake.
I’ve always played it safe and look where that has gotten me.
As I am going out my door I see Kiesha on her porch watching me from a few doors down. I wave to her, but she quickly turns her head and goes inside.
That was weird, but I don’t have time to figure out what crawled up her ass.
I climb in the truck and Lucas smiles at me and squeezes my thigh.
“So what movie are we going to see?”