Page 22 of Perfect Pact

“I’m scared,” Cole teases.

“You should be.”

Picking up the last box, I load it into the back of Jase’s truck. This was not exactly how I saw the day going, but I’m thankful for them dropping in. I thought I could do this on my own, but having Jase and Cole stop by made me realize I don’t have to do it by myself all the time. I can’t help but feel like it should be Lance here helping me.

“Is that it?” Jase nods to Cole, who jumps back into the truck.

“For now.”

“How long are you in town for?”

“Not sure.” I can’t help that my eyes fall to Beth again. “Taking it one day at a time.”

Jase chuckles, patting me on the back. “Good luck with that one.”

“Thanks. I think.”

Jase spins around and hollers, “Pony Up—Thursday. Come out, have a few beers, maybe play some pool?”

I take a seat in the old porch swing, deciding after all that hard work, I earned myself a break and a moment of silence chased by a cold beer. “Maybe. I’ll see what I have going on.”

“Sure thing.”

Cole jumps in the truck and rolls down the window. Before he takes off, I realize he never finished his story about the list.

“What’s this list I was on?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.” He waves me off. “It was just my revenge list, but you’re good.” He gives me two thumbs up. “I called off the sharpshooter.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Maybe—maybe not.” Cole smiles as Jase puts it in reverse and backs out of the driveway.

The truck backs out, and Beth is standing there, staring at me, her hands on her hips. She doesn’t look pissed. Or happy to see me. She’s just looking at me.

“Is everything okay?” I begin to rock back and forth, enjoying the beer Cole left.

“You kinda look like him.”

I know who she’s talking about. I’m a younger version of my dad, and he’s a spitting image of my grandfather.

I don’t reply, choosing the hard-to-get route.

“Especially sitting in his spot.”

She takes a step forward, then freezes.

I frown. Part of me is pissed I do that to her—that I make her question every movement. Then, part of me knows, with every step she takes, she knows what I’m going to say. She knows I want her. She knows I’m going to ask her out.

“Those cold?” Beth continues the small talk.

Mission accomplished.

I smile really big. “You want one?”

“I don’t know.

“Come on. This one’s a freebie. No strings attached.”