Page 131 of Wright Together

“About as well as Bailey.”

My eyes found my sister in the crowd in front of us. She was with a group of her volleyball girlfriends, chatting through the whole thing. Her eyes were bright, and her heart was full.

After we’d enrolled her at Lubbock High, Emery—who was a government teacher at the high school—had spoken with the volleyball coach on her behalf. And then Bailey got a tryout…and made it! After that, she’d found a group of girlfriends that I’d wished so desperately to have all through high school. People to rely on and have slumber parties with and do makeovers. She had that and more. I was so proud.

Bailey waved when she saw me watching. I waved back, but she was already turning around. I loved her, but she was still a teenager.

“No, he is definitely worse than Bailey,” I told him.

“To be fair, he was raised by a breed of humans who eat their own.”

I laughed and covered my mouth when the people in front of us looked back at us. Whitt smothered a smirk and apologized profusely.

Thankfully, Colton was also doing well even if he was a sullen mess about it. He’d remained on the Tacos and taken us to a rec title. Now, he was on the varsity team at the high school. I was terrified that he’d be running the entire place if he stayed more than this year. Only time would tell.

Jensen finished up his speech, and we stepped up to offer our congratulations.

I pushed Whitt toward the line. “I’m going to use the restroom first.”

He frowned. “It won’t take that long.”

I laughed and gestured to the hundred people in front of him. “Yeah, right.”

He rolled his eyes and then tugged me in for a kiss. “Get us drinks while you’re at it.”

“Done.”

This whole song and dance was too much for me. I couldn’t handle the political theatrics, as I still maintained that no politician was out for anyone but himself. Jensen Wright included.

So, I left my boyfriend to find a restroom. Miraculously, the line was short, and I made it in and out in a matter of minutes. I was heading back to the drink line, which I could already spot wasnota short line on the other side of the room, when I saw Harley’s latest platinum-blonde dye job. I’d recognize it anywhere with the bob and bangs she’d dramatically cut.

I opened my mouth to say hi, only to see Chase Sinclair grasp her by the back of her head and smash their mouths together. My eyes widened in alarm. Chase was…what? Ten years older than her? At least. And she’d assured me that Chase wasn’t interested. Even though I could see with my own two eyes that he wasvery muchinterested.

I was frozen mid-step, uncertain whether to say something in her defense or walk away. I certainly couldn’t tell Whitt.

But I didn’t have to do anything.

Harley wrenched her head back away from him. I couldn’t see her expression, but I didn’t need to. The crack of her hand across his face was enough to know exactly what she was thinking.

Chase slowly turned back to look at her. There was fire in his eyes. Intense, demanding desire in every single inch of his demeanor. He was a caged lion who had picked the lock and was barely holding himself back.

“Youwere the one who said to wait,” she snarled. “Fuck you.”

Then, she pushed out of his embrace and dashed in the other direction. I wanted to run after her. To comfort her. But if it were me, I wouldn’t want anyone to know that it had ever happened. I bit my lip and was just about to go after her when Chase decided for us both, jogging out of the hotel ballroom in her direction.

Good luck with that, buddy.

I went in search of drinks. I got us our usual and then found Whitt at the head of the line. He said his congratulations to Jensen, ruffled Colton’s unruly hair, and then found me with a smile.

I passed him a bourbon and Coke, and we left the bustle of the election-night win to the rest of the Wrights. We stepped out onto the open-air balcony overlooking the lit-up Texas Tech campus. Whitt leaned against the railing and watched me with intense eyes.

“What?” I asked with a disarming laugh.

“Just can’t believe this is my life.”

“Compared to what?”

“Seattle,” he said evenly with a shrug. “I dated, but nothing ever went anywhere. I had a job, but no one respected me or cared about my ideas. I had friends, but I haven’t spoken to a single one since I moved.”