She pulled her eyes from Luke and looked at Will. She smiled and said, “That’s our second cousin, Trish. She is my mom’s cousin’s daughter. This is her first time in Texas. Will spent all day yesterday teaching her how to two-step. Her dad is in the military. She’s been in Alaska for the last five years.”
Will and Libby had gone to Alaska once to visit someone on their mom’s side of the family.
“Don’t worry, Lex. That boy only has eyes for you.” Libby bumped my shoulder.
Will looked over and saw us watching him. He stopped dancing and whispered something into Trish’s ear. She smiled and nodded, and then they began walking toward us.
Will stopped in front of me, and his smile melted my heart. For the first time in a month, my body craved something more.
“Lex, this is my cousin, Trish. Trish, this is Lex,” Will said.
She held her hand out and smiled big. “I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about you. Will hasn’t stopped talking about you since we got here two days ago.”
I reached out for her hand and shook it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Trish looked back at Will and hit him in the stomach. “You didn’t tell me she was drop-dead gorgeous.”
I felt my cheeks blush as Will grinned bigger.
“You want something to drink, Lex?” Will asked.
Panic set in.
Stop this, Alex. It’s Will.
“Bottle of water if they have it.”
Will frowned, but then he smiled. “You got it, sweetheart.”
Grace walked up and started talking with Libby and Trish. I watched as Will walked over to a bunch of coolers. He opened each cooler, looking for water.
Claire walked up to Will and put her hand on his arm. She leaned in close and said something to him. Will shook his head as he dug through the cooler. She leaned in further and whispered into his ear. He stopped what he was doing and looked at her. I couldn’t tell what he said to her, but she put her finger in mouth and pouted.
Oh no, she didn’t! That little tramp.
Will shook his head again and went back to digging in the cooler. Claire shrugged her shoulders and began walking away.
“I’ll be right back!” I shouted to Grace.
“Where are you going?”
I turned and looked at her as I smiled. “To set Claire straight once and for all.”
Grace gave me a big smile and winked. “Go get her.”
I made my way across the makeshift dance floor. Claire was now trying to put the moves on Luke, and he was pushing her away from him. I placed my hand on her shoulder and spun her around.
“What the—” Claire looked at me and gave me a fake smile. “Alex, gesh, I thought you were someone else.”
“Who, Claire? Another girl whose boyfriend you’ve either slept with or hit on tonight?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”
I took a few steps closer to her and began poking my index finger in her chest. “Listen to me, and listen good. Will. Is. Mine. You so much as look his way again, and I’ll beat your ass from here to China. Luke is taken, too. So, bitch, just back the fuck off.”
Claire swallowed hard and looked at Luke. I peeked over to him, and he smiled and nodded.
“Um…sorry, Alex. I was just asking Will to dance, that’s all.”