One Wright Stand

“Fuck.”

“Welp,” Jennifer said with a laugh, “you could stay here and sleep it off.”

I massaged my temples. “No, it’s Landon’s big day. He’s going back to the PGA after this weekend. I can’t miss it.”

The Wrights were as close as Lubbock got to royalty. They owned Wright Construction, a Fortune 500 company and the largest construction company in the United States. Jensen, Austin, Landon, Morgan, and Sutton were likely the most well-known people in this city. I’d grown up with Sutton, admiring her older brothers and sister, watching Jensen all but raise them after their parents passed, and seeing them one by one make a name for themselves on their own all while finding their one true pairing.

Even Sutton had, and along came baby Jason…until tragedy hit. I closed my eyes against the reminder. I’d been there that day. I’d been standing next to her husband Maverick when he collapsed.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jennifer asked.

“Fine,” I said at once, pushing those thoughts out of my head. “Just a headache.”

This was why I’d wanted to become a doctor. I could have fixed it. I could have helped.

“Okay,” Jennifer said. “I can drive if you want to get dressed.”

“Sounds good. The Tylenol will kick in soon.”

I worked for a smile as I passed my roommate. It came out as more of a grimace.

I’d definitely forgotten about Landon’s party last night when I got hammered, and I was paying for it today.

My phone buzzed where I’d thankfully plugged it in last night. Cézanne had sent a handful of messages, and I skimmed them as I went in search of a bathing suit.

You still drunk, child?

I laughed and rolled my eyes. She was only six months older than me, but she’d been calling me child for as long as I’d known her.

A bit. I forgot I had a pool party this morning. Sunshine and loud music…just what I need.

You poor thing. Suffering at a pool party.

Oh, Cézanne. I tugged on a forest-green bikini with pink and white flowers on it, then my favorite black cover-up, which showed off my milky-white legs, a floppy hat to protect me against the beat of the sun, and oversize glasses…so hopefully not everyone would notice I was a hot mess.

Twenty minutes later, after Jennifer had packed the essentials and made me eat something, we were in her tiny Honda Civic. The AC had sputtering fits and only worked on days that Jennifer cussed it out. Sweet little thing. It made my heart soar to hear her get so mad at the vehicle.

“I swear…this fucking thing,” she spat, hitting the console as she headed toward Landon’s house. “You piece of shit.”

The car must have heard her because cool air finally came out of the vents, and I leaned my drunk head against them, saying a prayer to whoever was listening.

“We could have taken my car.”

Jennifer side-eyed me. “Bertha works just fine.”

“Bertha needs new AC.”

“Don’t even with me right now, Annie.”

I grinned. I wasn’t wrong. But where the money for that was going to come from was up for debate.

We arrived at Landon’s house without incident. He lived way on the outskirts of the south side of town, where all the new money was trying to escape the expansion. He’d built the Wright golf course over the last year and had its first tournament this summer. It was a sprawling PGA-approved course, and he lived right on the eighteenth hole with his beautiful girlfriend, Heidi.

Jennifer parked Bertha down the street from the mansion on the only hill in Lubbock, and we hiked up to the front door with our provisions. Jennifer knocked twice and waited, fidgeting with her hands as if she couldn’t possibly stay still.

Heidi wrenched the door open and smiled wide. “Hey, girls!”

“Hey, Heidi,” I said with a smile. “You look great.”

“Thanks.”

“Hi,” Jennifer said, reaching into her bag and pulling out her trusty camera. “I thought I could take some pictures.”

“Yes! Oh my God, I’d love that.” Heidi pulled the door wide and glanced over at her best friend, Emery. “Wouldn’t you love that, Em?”

“Hmm?” she asked, pulling herself out of the giant novel she was reading.

“Having your picture taken?”

Emery narrowed her eyes at Heidi. “I hate you.”

“Right back at you,” she said with a laugh. She turned back to us. “Well, come on in. Jensen and Landon are working on the grill out back. There are drinks in the fridge, if you want anything, and Julia and I put together some finger food in the kitchen. Help yourself.”

“Sutton here yet?” I asked.

Heidi shook her head. “I haven’t seen her or her little cutie, but I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

Heidi winked at us, her blonde ponytail bouncing as she rushed over to Emery and poked her in the side. Emery rolled her eyes and playfully smacked her with the book.