I feel him look over at me, so I turn my head to meet his gaze.
“What?” he asks, like that’s an odd question.
“Are they hazel? Green? Gray? Blue? I feel like they’re a different color every time I look. It’s vexing.”
He smiles at me, knowing there’s no way I’ll get a clearer look at them now with the glow of the fire in front of us. “I’m not telling you.”
“Why?” I demand, wide-eyed.
Mischief dances in his eyes. “Maybe someday you’ll get close enough to figure it out for yourself.”
My stomach tumbles. I look away from him, redirecting my gaze to the fire. “No. I’m Hunter’s girlfriend now. It’s official.”
“I heard,” he says, and I see him nodding from the corner of my eye. Gesturing around us, he says, “Not gonna lie, I feel like this whole little coming out party he threw you was for me.”
I know I don’t really owe him any explanations. Neither of us ever meant to have a single shred of interest in one another. We were both thinking of Hunter when we crossed paths, and then we just… took a little detour.
I don’t even know if he ever really liked me at all. Maybe it was just a rumor, as untrue as the rest of them.
Just in case it wasn’t, though…
I bite down on my bottom lip, looking down at my legs. “I’m sorry you blew up Valerie’s car for no reason.”
I feel his eyes locked on me, but I don’t look at him. After a few seconds, he says, “Wasn’t for no reason. It was for you.”
I didn’t expect him to say that. I’m surprised enough that I look over at him.
His lips curve up. He leans over, knocking his shoulder into mine. “We’re friends, right?”
I don’t know about that.
I’d like to be his friend, it just seems… dangerous.
“We’re friendly, at least,” I offer back.
“There you go.” He meets my gaze again, his dancing with amusement. “We’re good, Riley. Don’t worry about it.”
“I just… I wouldn’t have wanted to hurt your feelings,” I say, even though I feel awkward saying it. “If I did, I didn’t mean to.”
He smirks. “Don’t worry, buttercup. My feelings can take it.”
My heart does a jump that warns me I should probably wrap this up and get back to Hunter.
“No regrets, then?”
“Not one,” he says, and that’s more telling since he didn’t just set Valerie’s car on fire—he kissed me.
I bite down on my bottom lip, my teeth sinking in right where his did that night.
A shiver dances down my spine.
I look away.
My stomach knots up. I think it’s okay for us to be friendly, but I still think it’s safest to avoid being alone with him.
I lean forward, looking around for Hunter. His yard is so big and spread out, we’re over here by ourselves and they’re… pretty far away.
I know Hunter doesn’t want me alone with Sherlock.
Just when I’m about to give up my spot by the fire and go find Hunter, Sherlock says, “He’s behind you.”
“What?” I twist around and my heart leaps when I spot Hunter in the shadows. I don’t know how he snuck over here without me noticing… or how long he’s been standing there. “Hunter.”
“Buttercup,” he says wryly.
My stomach twists. That feeling comes back, the not quite guilty, but definitely not innocent one.
Swallowing, I start to push myself up off the ground, but Hunter cuts me off before I can stand.
“Stay where you are.”
I do, but I look up at him warily. My heart beats erratically. Is he mad? I can’t tell.
The fire plays weird tricks, making my beautiful boyfriend look a little evil, too.
Fear dances down my spine as he walks around to stand in front of me, then drops to his knees.
Anxiety tightens in my chest. I don’t want to have hurt him. I don’t think I crossed any lines, but maybe I was flirting with one. I wasn’t trying to start anything. Quite the opposite, really. I was establishing closure, saying goodbye.
“Are you mad?” I ask worriedly, looking at Hunter. “I didn’t mean to be alone with him, I was just watching the fire and he came over.”
“Mm-hmm,” Hunter murmurs, but he doesn’t look mad, exactly.
He places a hand on my chest and pushes me back.
I’m confused, but I let him lay me down on the ground.
Then he straddles me.
A breath rushes out of me. He’s on top of me like he would be in bed, but we’re not in bed. I’m on the cold ground, we’re outside, and worst of all, Sherlock is still sitting right beside me.
Hunter leans down and kisses me.
Like always, his kiss brings a wave of butterflies to my already nervous tummy. I bring my hands up and cradle his face as I kiss him back, but I’m not into PDA, so making out like this in front of Sherlock… It’s pretty far outside my comfort zone.