Chapter 13

"Hey,can I try driving the boat?" I asked suddenly, desperate to change the subject and distract myself from the moment we were having.

"Sure," Reese agreed, looking surprised by my request. "Come here."

I walked over to stand next to him, hesitating slightly before placing my hands on the wheel. His proximity sent a flurry of goosebumps across my skin, and I could feel my palms becoming sweaty beneath my grip. His touch was gentle yet firm as he showed me how to steer and maintain our course.

"See? You're a natural," Reese said encouragingly as I navigated the boat through the waves. "I knew you had it in you."

"Thanks," I replied, my cheeks warming with his praise. But beneath the surface, a small part of me still wanted another taste of his lips, and I knew that no amount of laughter or distraction could completely erase the desire. Time would tell if I could resist the pull towards Reese Carrington.

"Hey, so how have you been doing?" I asked tentatively, shifting my gaze from the water to his expression. "I heard you and Blair had a pretty big argument last night."

Reese sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Yeah, we did. But things will be fine. It's just that... we both know this situation isn't going anywhere. We've been dragging it on for too long, and it's time to let it go."

"Is that really what you want?" I questioned, my own heart twisting at the thought of Reese getting back together with her. Despite their tumultuous history, they seemed like such a perfect couple–-the gorgeous boy with the stunning, wealthy girl who always turned heads wherever she went.

"It is what I want," he admitted, his eyes searching mine for a moment before looking away. "But other times, I wonder if it's just easier to do the same shit we've been doing because it's what everyone expects." He shifted uncomfortably, clearly struggling with the vulnerability he was displaying.

"I get it," I offered reassuringly, hoping to ease his discomfort. "But maybe if you stopped trying so hard to please everyone else and do what you want, you'd be happier. And who knows? You might even stop being such a dick most of the time."

His eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed playfully. "Oh, so now I'm a dick?"

"I'm not wrong!" I defended myself with a grin, realizing how much I liked this rare moment when Reese let his guard down and allowed me to see beyond his tough exterior.

"Fair enough," he agreed, smirking. Reese's eyes danced with amusement, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, I call it like I see it," I said, trying to stifle my giggles.

"Alright, I'll give you that," he said, snickering, his laughter infectious. It felt like a weight had been lifted from both of our shoulders as we shared this light-hearted moment.

"You really should laugh more often and relax, Reese. You're not too terrible when you put your guard down."

"Hartford, are you actually complimenting me right now?" Reese feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "I'm touched."

"Watch it," I warned, unable to suppress my grin. "Or I might take it back."

We spent the rest of the evening making our way around the lake, talking and laughing more than I ever expected. He told me stories from his childhood, like the first time his dad took him to Italy.

"I told my dad I wanted the real deal, and next thing I knew, we were on a flight to Italy." he said nonchalantly.

My mouth fell open, unsure whether to laugh or be jealous. "Just like that? Out of nowhere?"

"Just like that." He nodded, looking proud and a tad sheepish at the same time. "Landed in Rome and had the best pasta of my life by dinner."

"Wow," I breathed out, a mixture of amazement and amusement dancing in my thoughts. "I can't even imagine that. If I told my mom I wanted authentic Italian, she'd toss me an apron and tell me to start boiling the noodles myself."

Reese laughed, an infectious sound that made me smile despite the bright, flashing reminder of how different our worlds were. "Yeah, it's crazy thinking back on it now. My dad... he always tried to make the impossible happen for me when I was younger."

"Must've been nice," I mused, not with envy, but a genuine curiosity for this life that was so different from my own experiences. I was struck by how different he seemed away from everyone else—more relaxed and genuinely charming.

"And what about your mom?" Reese asked, his voice gentle as he raised an eyebrow, "tell me more about her."

Even now, I couldn"t help but smile at an act of kindness she did that I'll never forget. "She was a little strict growing up. But I could talk to her about anything. She did something pretty amazing for me once, kind of like my version of Italy."

"Go on," Reese urged, raising an eyebrow with genuine interest.

"My Grandma and I, we used to garden together—she had the most beautiful flowers I"ve ever seen." The corners of my mouth lifted unconsciously. "It was our thing. After she passed, it felt like a piece of me went with her and all that beauty was gone. But somehow, every time spring rolls around and I see flowers start to bloom, it"s like she"s still here, you know?"

"Sounds like she meant a lot to you," Reese said softly, holding my gaze with genuine empathy.

"More than I can explain. And Mom—she noticed how much I missed her. One day, she came home with these seeds..." I trailed off, lost in the recollection of the day my mother handed me the tiny packet.

"Seeds?" Reese repeated, his curiosity piqued.

"Rare ones. Himalayan poppy seeds. They were Grandma"s favorite. The flowers are this light blue color that you"d swear couldn"t exist naturally. Magical almost." It was the only thing I planted since she passed.

"Did they grow?" he asked, leaning in closer.

"Nah," I admitted with a wistful chuckle. "They never bloomed like Grandma"s did. And Mom... she could never find those seeds again. But she got me back into the garden—it was special." I glanced up at Reese, meeting his gaze. "Nothing extravagant like your Italy story, though."

Reese pushed off from his seat, closing the distance between us until he was crouched beside me, his presence grounding. "Your story beats mine," he said, his voice earnest.

But before the silence could stretch too long, he straightened up, his charm sliding back into place seamlessly. "Anyway," he said with a wink, his smile returned. "Did you ever hear about the time I convinced Crew and Bailey I was a lost prince?"

I could sense that our discussion was starting to delve into deeper territory and he was trying to retreat. His voice had its usual hint of mischief, but I knew then that he wasn't as carefree as he seemed—even if he hardly ever showed it.

When we got back to the marina, Reese tied up the boat and helped me out onto the dock. As we walked to his truck, our hands brushed against each other as we exchanged playful banter. I could still feel the attraction lingering between us. Even the faint touch stirred something inside me. I glanced at his vehicle, a shiny

black truck with tinted windows and a slightly aggressive stance. It was exactly the kind of truck one would expect from Reese.

"Here we are," he said, opening the tailgate and casually tossing a few of his things into the back. He then walked over to the passenger side, opened the door, and extended a hand to help me in. His green eyes met mine, a silent invitation for me to trust him. His strong grip held on to my hand, guiding me up into the high seat.

I settled into the plush leather seat, my eyes wandering around the interior. It wasn't long before something caught my eye, a CD that was tucked into the otherwise sleek and clutter-free dashboard. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Really? You're a Swiftie?" I asked, teasing him while holding up the CD case so he could see it.

"Can you blame me?" he replied with a lopsided grin that somehow made him even more attractive. "I'm not ashamed to admit that I like her music."

"Neither am I," I admitted, still snickering. "I just wouldn't have expected it from you, that's all, and who even has CDs anymore?" I joked, laughing harder as I dangled the CD just out of Reese's reach. His arm was fully extended, fingertips grazing the case, but I continued to pull it away, my laughter bubbling up with each attempt he made to grab it.

"Give it back," he demanded, shifting over the center console and leaning in closer while still reaching for the CD. My smile faded, knowing how close we were now. I could feel the heat radiating off his body. His eyes were dark and intense, full of desire.

"Reese," I whispered hesitating, barely able to breathe as I stared into those hypnotizing eyes. Our faces were only inches apart, and I knew without a doubt that all it would take was one small movement for our lips to touch.

His gaze drifted to my mouth and lingered there for a heartbeat before he pulled back, as if physically forcing himself to put some distance between us. "Don't worry, I'm playing by your rules, Hartford," A small smile formed at the corner of his mouth, and I had the sudden urge to kiss it away, to explore him further—but I didn't. "Let's get you home."

My stupid, stupid rules. Him respecting my wishes only magnified the desire for him that was consuming me, and I hated how much more I wanted him because of it.

The drive back to the cabin was a blur of teasing remarks and tense glances. When we finally arrived, he walked me to the front door. The air between us thickened with an unspoken energy, and I fidgeted nervously with the keys in my hand.

With his hands stuffed in the pockets of his shorts, he turned to face me and the faint porch light. "Change your mind yet?" His voice broke the silence, playful and sure. "Ready for that goodnight kiss?"

I felt that familiar flutter in my stomach, the one I'd been trying to ignore ever since the first time I met him. I shook my head, trying to brush off the butterflies. "Not a chance."

Reese chuckled and stepped closer, taking my hand in his. My breath caught in my throat as he kissed the back of my hand.

"The pleasure was all mine, Hartford," he said, his voice low and smooth before he let go of my hand.

When he finally walked away, I was left standing on the front porch, disoriented by the sudden absence of his touch. Reese shot me a wink and gave me one last look—a silent communication that this was just the beginning—before turning and walking away into the night.