Chapter Sixteen WILLOW

Silas leads me deeper into the woods, heading toward the beach that’s on the other side of the trees. The air grows cooler and I’m shivering, tugging on the hem of my sweat-shirt and trying to cover my bare skin.

“Can’t we just talk here?” I come to a stop and so does Silas, who turns to face me. He hasn’t said a single thing since we left the party and he looks stressed out.

“Sure, we can.” His tone is easy, but I note the frown that appears on his face when he pulls his phone out of his pocket and checks it. I see the long list of text notifications that appears when his face unlocks the screen and I just know they’re all from Alana. She’s probably looking for him.

I would be too if he was my boyfriend and we just got into a very public argument.

“What do you want to talk about?” I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing my upper arms to try and generate some heat.

“It’s just—it’s been so weird for me and Alana since you came back,” he admits.

I go completely still at his confession. I’m barely even breathing, I’m so shocked.

“Over the summer we had a great time. We got really close, really fast and she was so much fun. Now, we come back to campus and I thought things would be perfect. Even better because there are no parents around, you know? Instead, she’s acting jealous over you all the time and constantly bringing you up. Then we start fighting and it spirals out of control.” He shakes his head.

I gape at him, shocked he would say all of that. “Why are you bringing me into your relationship?”

“I’m not. She is.”

“But why?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Like I said, I think she’s jealous of you. I can’t be friends with you because she’s jealous? Such bullshit. She can’t tell me what to do.”

“Don’t you want to respect her wishes? She’s your girlfriend. I would think you’d care about her feelings. And why does it matter if we’re friends or not?”

“Like I just said, I don’t like Alana telling me what to do. Saying who I can and cannot talk to. She’s not my mom. It’s not my problem if she’s jealous of you,” he practically spits out.

I hate that he keeps saying that. “Maybe she’s not jealous. She could just be uncomfortable with you wanting to talk to me when she knows …”

I clamp my lips shut, not about to delve any further.

“When she knows what?” he asks after a few seconds of silence.

“Nothing.” I shake my head.

“You used to like me, right?”

Thank God it’s dark out here so he can’t see how red my face must be. My cheeks are burning and I forget all about being cold. I try to speak, but the words feel like they’re clogged in my throat, and besides, what would I say?

“If you love Alana, you’ll focus all of your attention on her and forget about me,” I tell him, standing up a little straighter. “I don’t need to be brought into the middle of your relationship. You’ve both made your choice.”

He remains quiet for a moment, and I can hear the waves crashing along the shore in the near distance, mixed with the steady throb of the bass coming from the music playing at the party. I wish I was there, laughing with Iris. Wondering if she has a thing for Brooks. Staring at Rhett and contemplating throwing myself at him.

Not here in the dark having to listen to Silas complain about Alana and how they fight about me, which is flat out dumb.

And none of my business.

“I have to go,” I tell him, turning on my heel and scurrying away from him. I launch into a full out run when I hear him call my name. Hear his footsteps drawing closer. A quick peek over my shoulder lets me know he’s chasing after me, a determined expression on his face, and I increase my pace. Keep looking backward to make sure he’s not too close—

I collide with a wall. It’s solid but warm and I realize that it’s not just a wall, it’s an actual person. A boy. A tall, broad boy whose arms immediately clamp around me, steadying me on my feet.

“Hey, everything okay?”

I’d recognize that deep voice anywhere.

Lifting my head, I stare into Rhett’s eyes, sending him a pleading look. “I’m fine.”

“You sure?” His voice is a low murmur and sends a zip of awareness down my spine that’s only intensified when he brushes my hair away from my face, his fingers lingering on my skin.

This type of reaction never happened with Silas.

“Oh. Hey.” We both turn to find Silas standing in front of us, looking vaguely sweaty as he shoves his hair from his forehead. “You all right, Willow?”

“She’s fine,” Rhett answers for me, his voice firm. He somehow angles me to his side, keeping his arm around my shoulders and I wonder what we look like to Silas.

I’m hoping we look like a couple.

Silas frowns, his gaze switching from me to Rhett and then back to me. “Willow? Are you okay?”

“She’s with me, you know.” Rhett’s arm tightens around my shoulders and he tugs me even closer. He’s as solid as a rock and so warm. I lean into him as if I have no control of myself. “You can take your concern elsewhere—like maybe to your girlfriend? I highly suggest you get the hell out of here if you don’t want any trouble.”

“What the hell? Are you serious?” Silas’s gaze meets mine. “You never mentioned that to me.”

“You never gave me the chance,” I murmur, going along with it.

God, what am I doing?

Silas watches us for long, silent seconds until he finally shakes his head. “Figures.”

That’s all he says before he turns and walks away.

We watch him go, and the moment he’s out of my eyesight, I shrug Rhett’s arm off my shoulders, turning to face him. “What was that for?”

“What are you talking about?” Rhett blinks, innocent as can be.

What a crock.

“That I’m with you? Like we’re together?” I throw my arms up in the air, exasperated with men in general tonight.

“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.” He shrugs, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“It was a mistake. Now Silas is going to tell Alana, and she’s going to tell everyone that we’re together, when we’re not.” Alana has a huge mouth. Iris and I learned that the hard way a while ago when she would share our secrets with others. Secrets we fully expected her to, you know, keep secret.

“So they talk about us. So what? Might keep things interesting.” He smiles, though it slowly starts to fade when I don’t smile in return. “What? Are you mad at me, Will? I was just trying to help.”

It’s the way he says it, his voice soft. And the look on his face too.

He means it.

A sigh leaves me and my shoulders sag. “I appreciate you trying to help, but that probably just caused more problems.”

“Let them talk. Everyone will forget about us when some new drama happens anyway, and I can practically guarantee that’ll happen in approximately forty-eight hours, if not sooner.”

He’s not wrong, but still. “What if people expect us to act like a couple? If we don’t, they’ll accuse us of lying.”

Rhett rears back. “I’m not a liar.”

“I’m sure you’re not, but you did just lie to Silas.”

“Woman, I did it to help you.” He shakes his head, incredulous. “You’re infuriating.”

“Funny because that’s exactly how I would describe you.” I storm away from him before I say something dumb, and go in search of Iris, who I find by the bonfire. It’s huge, the orange flames licking at the night sky, and when I go to stand next to her, it’s almost too hot, being this close.

The moment she sees my face, she knows something is wrong. “Tell me everything.”

I do, furiously whispering in her ear as I spill my guts and explain the entire story. By the time I’m done, she’s smiling and I’m frowning, my stomach swirling with despair over the situation.

“What am I supposed to do?” I practically wail at her when I’m finished.

“You know what I think you should do? Go along with the lie Rhett created.” Iris backs away from me and grabs hold of my shoulders, giving me a little shake. “This is perfect. You pretend to be in a relationship with Rhett, and Silas will finally leave you alone.”

“Oh my God, you make no sense. A few minutes ago, you said this could be my chance with Silas and now you’re encouraging me to have a fake relationship with Rhett instead?” I shake my head. “I don’t understand you.”

“I was trying to do reverse psychology on you, but I don’t think it worked.” She pulls me in for a hug, her mouth at my ear. “You stay here for a few minutes, okay? I’m going to go make the rounds and see what other people are saying about this.”

“No, don’t leave me.” I grab at her sleeve when she pulls away, keeping her from escaping. Then I remember how I want to stand on my own two feet and I let go of her sleeve, taking a step back. “What should I do if Silas tries to talk to me again?”

“He won’t.” Iris nods her head once. “He’s over there begging and pleading with Alana as we speak.”

I spot Silas on the other side of the fire, doing exactly as Iris described. Alana is standing next to him, staring off into the distance with her arms crossed and wearing an angry expression while Silas just keeps talking.

That doesn’t look good.

“I’ll be right back.” Iris pats my shoulder before taking off, her blonde hair streaming behind her as she practically runs over to a large group of girls, most of whom are in our grade.

I watch her as she starts talking, gesturing wildly in typical Iris fashion, while I’m also trying to keep the panic that wants to flood me at bay. This is fine. Everything is going to be fine.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

I wander around the fire, smiling at people as I pass by them, trying to appear like nothing is bothering me. I eventually find an old log on the ground that’s set back from the fire and I sit on it, watching the flames dance. The fire crackles and roars, the wood settling as it slowly turns to ash, sending up a fresh wave of sparks into the night. Some of the girls standing close to the fire squeal and jump back, and when a few of them spot me, I offer them a smile, wishing someone else would talk to me. Anyone else.

I need the distraction.

But none of them do. They smile in return and some of them even greet me with a wave and a hello, but then they take off, leaving me by myself once more. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this lonely at a party before.

One week into school and my senior year isn’t going as planned.

No, more like it’s a nightmare. I wonder if I could test out and graduate early. I have most of my required classes done. I can’t stand the idea of being this miserable during my senior year. Iris might be disappointed, but she wouldn’t miss me that badly. She spent an entire school year without me. She could do it again.

“Hey.” Looking up, I find Rhett standing there, watching me. Always coming to my rescue. “Can I join you?”

I shrug my answer, and he settles in, making the log wobble a bit with his weight.

“I’m sorry I implied that we were together to Silas.” My gaze quickly cuts to his, surprised he’d apologize this soon. I’m used to the stubborn men in my family who take hours if not days to utter “I’m sorry.” Even my dad is bad at apologizing. Mom always says it’s the Lancaster in them.

“I probably shouldn’t have done that,” he continues when I remain quiet. “But I wanted him to leave you alone and I didn’t know what else to say. The guy is more determined than I thought he’d be.”

“The guy should worry about his own girlfriend and not me,” I murmur. It feels good to voice my feelings out loud.

“No shit.” Rhett shifts, kicking his legs out straight in front of him and crossing his feet. He’s got on a fresh set of white Nikes with a navy swoosh, and I absently wonder how he keeps them so clean. “Are you upset because you like that guy and you think I ruined your chances with him? I can go tell him I was—”

“No. Don’t go to him. I don’t want you saying anything to him.” I grab hold of his arm and clutch it, my gaze pleading. “Just leave it alone.”

He drops his gaze to my hands still on his arm before lifting it to mine. “Okay, I will.”

“I just don’t want people to get the wrong idea.” I release my hold on his arm, missing touching him almost immediately. He’s so muscular, and he’s almost as hot as the fire burning in front of us. “About … us.”

“Why? You don’t want people thinking we’re together?”

“Well … no.” I squint at him. “Do you?”

“Is it that big of a deal?”

“I figured it would be a big deal to you.” His frown deepens and I further explain myself. “You don’t really seem like the serious type, from what Iris has told me.”

“I’m not.” He pauses. “Usually.”

“Then there’s no reason anyone would believe we’re together.” I stare at the fire once again, fighting the sadness that wants to overtake me.

“Right? That’s perfect then.”

I glance over at him. “What do you mean?”

“We can play stupid.”

“Play stupid how?”

“It’s our word against his. And Alana’s.” Rhett shrugs and I admire the line of his shoulders. They are just so incredibly broad. I bet it would feel nice, resting my head there, drawing comfort from his strength. His warmth. I remember what it felt like when he wrapped me up in his arms. “Maybe we can be friends.”

I jerk my gaze to his when I realize he’s waiting for a reply. “You want to be my friend?”

“Why not? I like you, Will.” He flashes me one of those onesided smiles that makes my heart flutter.

I realize I do not want to be just his friend. There’s something brewing between us. I can feel it.

Can he?

“I like you too,” I admit, my voice almost a whisper. “As a friend.”

“Right.” He nods, his gaze focused on the fire as well. “We’re friendly.”

“For sure.” I’m nodding as well. “Keeps things simple.”

“I like simple.”

“Me too.”

“Guess we have that in common.”

“I suppose so,” I murmur. “It’s been rough for me since I came back.”

“Rough how?”

“I’ve felt a little out of sorts since I came back here.”

“What do you mean?”

“No one really ever tries to talk to me. Everyone feels like a stranger, except for Iris. Well, and you’ve been nice to me too.”

“I don’t intimidate easily.” His friendly smile makes me smile at him in response.

“I’m sure that’s not the issue when it comes to me,” I say, my voice wry. Come on now, we don’t need to get too carried away.

“Seriously, Will? You do know why you’re sitting here alone on this log watching the fire, right?” I shake my head, both curious and dreading what he’s about to say. “Everyone’s intimidated by you. Even little Silas over there.”

He waves a hand in Silas’s direction, who is still with Alana. She doesn’t seem as rigid as she did a few minutes ago.

“No way.” I shake my head.

“Definitely,” Rhett says with a nod. “You’re intimidating as fuck.”

“I don’t even understand how.” I find it incredibly difficult to believe that’s the case. I’m just me. I haven’t changed that much over the years, and it feels like I’ve become more invisible since returning to Lancaster Prep.

“You’re a Lancaster. You’re a senior. You’ve got this air about you that seems to say that you’re … I don’t know. Better than everyone else?” He lifts his brows, and oh my God …

I’m horrified by him saying that. Devastated.

“Do I act like a snobby—bitch around everyone? Is that why?” My voice is a harsh whisper and I swear, tears are threatening to spill.

“What? No. Not at all. I described that all wrong. You’re just—you emit something. It’s like your aura or some shit.” He shifts on the log, seemingly uncomfortable, and I wonder if it’s from sitting for too long or if it’s what he’s saying that’s making him act a certain kind of way? “You’re like … sophisticated. Mysterious.”

“Mysterious?”

“Yeah. Very mysterious. All the mystery that swirls around you makes me want to get to know you better. Figure you out. Just as friends, though.” He stares straight ahead, as if he’s transfixed by the fire, and I study his chiseled profile for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

“Maybe that’s what we should do then,” I murmur.

His head swivels in my direction, his brows drawn together. “Do what?”

“Get to know one another better. Figure each other out.” I pause. “As friends.”