One Wright Stand

“Well, I think the pleasure is all mine,” I finally managed to get out.

He smiled at my reaction. An honest smile. He was actually pleased to see me. A thrill shot down my spine.

I slowly extracted my hand from his and brushed a lock of my auburn hair behind my ear. I couldn’t keep a smile from my face. What was it about this guy that turned me into a puddle?

“Funny that we keep running into each other. Everyone here tried to reassure me that this isn’t a small town.”

“Well, I mean…it’s not. It’s big enough, but it’s not as big as…wherever you’re from, I’m sure.” I tried to recall if Sutton had mentioned where her cousins were from. She hadn’t told me they were hot, so I hadn’t been paying attention. “Where are you from again?”

“Vancouver. And yeah, Lubbock is tiny in comparison.”

“I’m of the opinion that the universe puts people in our path. Doesn’t really matter the size of the town.”

“I guess I have the universe to thank then.”

My heart skipped a beat. Oh, he was good. Charming and confident and so fucking good-looking. I was in trouble…or maybe he was.

Then Sutton stride into the backyard with her two-year-old son, Jason, in tow. I waved at the pair of them. Sutton’s eyes found mine, and she returned the gesture.

But despite her quirked lips and wave, she didn’t look great. She looked…tired. I felt for my friend. The last year had been rough. After Maverick had died, I’d watched her go from happy-go-lucky party girl to a shell of her former self.

Everyone had noticed her change at first, of course. But a year later, most people thought she was coming around. That things were A-OK again. Or if not perfect, at least she was moving on.

I wished that I saw the same thing. Instead, I saw my friend barely functioning. That her son was the only thing keeping her afloat. She needed to catch a break soon.

“Is she all right?” Jordan asked with a furrowed brow.

I jolted. “What do you mean?”

“She looks so…well, sad.”

My mind froze as I looked up at this man. He didn’t even know Sutton, and somehow, he could see what others couldn’t? That she was a mess.

“You can tell she’s sad?”

“I mean…look at her.”

“I know,” I whispered softly. “She’s been through a lot. She’s been my best friend since we were kids, and it’s so hard to see her like this. I wish there was more that I could do.”

“I get that,” he said easily, his eyes sliding to his brother. “I’ve been protecting my brother my entire life. There are just some things you can’t protect people from.”

“So true.”

Sutton set her stuff aside, put floaties on Jason, and then got into the pool. Emery’s sister, Kimber, was there with her kids, and Jason gravitated to the two older girls to play with them. Jennifer left her camera on a lounge chair and walked into the pool to say hi to Sutton. Then they both turned and looked at me at the same time.

I would have been offended if I hadn’t seen that exact look more times than I could count. Their eyes flitted between me and Jordan, wondering how much of a mess I was getting myself into.

Sutton arched an eyebrow. Her words were clear in my head.

Don’t you dare, Annie.

I grinned devilishly back at her. Oh, I dare, Sut. I definitely dare.

Sutton rolled her eyes. You’re the worst. You and your games.

Just one more weekend, I pleaded with my best friend. Then it’s good-bye flirtatious Annie forever.

She laughed at our silent argument and turned her back on me. She thought that I was trouble. I always had been in the past. There was only one guy I’d ever been serious about, and otherwise, I just liked to have a lot of fun. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, but she still worried. She couldn’t take another heartbreak.

Not that I had any interest in love or broken hearts or anything. But Jordan Wright was introspective and gorgeous and right fucking here. He’d been put in my path now…twice. The universe was practically offering him to me on a silver platter. Wouldn’t it be wrong to do nothing?

4

Annie

My green eyes were wide with innocence when I turned back to Jordan. I needed to shift the conversation away from Sutton and back to the matter at hand. Jordan and me. Me and Jordan. This thing that was totally happening between us. But I could hardly remember anything Sut had told me about her cousins. Except that they were visiting and from Canada. I’d mostly checked out after that.

“So, how long are you in town?” I asked.

His eyes found mine, dark and pensive. “We leave tomorrow actually.”

I frowned. That sucked. Fuck. One night. Today was all we had.