Chapter 19

I walkedup the shadowed path to the cabin. It was late, which meant I could almost picture Parker inside, sunk deep into the living room couch, eyes glued to whatever reality show he denies actually liking.

I was intent on slipping unnoticed through the front door. I didn't feel like talking to Parker about being with Reese today. But as I got closer, I heard the unmistakable sound of laughter, halting me mid-step. And then, the voices grew clearer, and I saw them. Boston and Parker were lounging on the outdoor furniture out front. Caroline was sitting comfortably on Boston's lap—her laughter was high-pitched and forced. Caroline's friend, Sam, that I had met briefly at Reese's first party, sat close to Parker. The soft glow of the string lights above them created a warm and romantic atmosphere, and I didn't want to intrude.

"Seriously," Parker said, his voice carrying a playful edge, "the girls back at college say Boston here is a golden retriever."

"What does that even mean?" I heard Boston ask, as the others snickered.

"Oh, it"s a good thing, trust me." Caroline added, playfully.

Hoping not to be seen, I held my breath and slowly tried to slip past them and make my way to the side of the cabin. If I could just make it to the back door, I'd avoid detection, and be in the clear.

"Almost there..." I whispered under my breath. One step, two steps?—

Crack! The sound of the branch under my foot was sharp, a break that echoed through the night. Four sets of eyes glanced in my direction in unison, locking onto me like I was under a spotlight.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Parker quipped, his grin visible even in the dim light. Caroline adjusted her posture a bit and remained comfortable on his lap, but her curious gaze remained.

"Chandler!" Boston called out warmly. "Come join us."

Caroline's expression instantly morphed into a scowl. I saw her grip tighten on Boston ever so slightly, and I couldn't help but be a little annoyed at her possessiveness.

"Hi, guys," I said hesitantly, clearly unsure of my welcome. "Sorry, to interrupt—I'm exhausted. Gonna head to bed," stifling a yawn for effect.

"Come on, sis," Parker chimed in, his warm, brotherly love evident in his voice. "Grab a drink and come relax."

"Next time!" I inched toward the door, trying to slip past them with a small smile.

Boston's face fell briefly but quickly recovered, giving a nod. "Alright, get some rest. We'll catch up tomorrow."

I silently twisted the door handle, easing it open just enough to slip through. I took a deep breath before getting myself ready for bed.

The next morning, I rubbed my eyes and stretched, yawning, as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. With a deep breath, I pushed myself up and headed toward the bathroom to take a shower.

I didn't expect to bump into Boston in the hallway so early. He stood there, with a white towel barely covering his waist. His damp, wavy hair hung loosely around his face, and I could smell his body wash—a mix of soap and cedar.

"Uh, sorry," I stammered, realizing that my eyes had lingered on his abs a little too long. "I was just on my way to shower."

"No worries," he smiled, moving to try to slip past me.

Things hadn't been the same between us since I asked him about the bracelet, and I was sort of avoiding him.

"Hey Chandler," he called out. I hesitated, then turned back toward him, curious.

"Have you heard about the Bayside Ball coming up in a few weeks?"

"Uh, yeah," I replied, tucking a strand of damp hair behind my ear. "Reese asked me to go with him."

"Reese?" He asked quietly.

I watched him closely, trying to decipher his thoughts.

"I mean… I think you could find a way better date than him, but that's great—if that's what you want, Chandler," he whispered. "I'm still deciding if I'm going to go."

My gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, my eyes softened with empathy. We stood there in the hallway, caught in a fragile moment. We both didn't know how to handle whatever was going on between us.

"You should go," I finally said, breaking the silence. "You should be there for the awards."

He nodded and looked at me, his face flickering with some unreadable emotion. I hesitated for a moment before turning, taking small steps toward the bathroom. As I reached the door, I paused, glancing back at him. "You know," I said softly, "I'm sure Caroline is hoping you'll ask her. You should take her."

"Caroline?" he echoed. "She is nice and all, but..." he trailed off, forcing a smile. "She's not exactly who I pictured going with, but I'll think about it."

My expression shifted, the corners of my lips curving into a gentle smile that would show more than I could ever say out loud. But instead, here we were, tiptoeing around each other in the hallway, struggling to find our footing.

"Okay," I murmured, nodding my head slowly. "I think she'd really appreciate it, Boston. You're a great guy—anyone would be lucky to go with you."

My words were meant to comfort him, but I'm unsure if they had the desired effect.

"Thanks, Chandler," he replied, nodding appreciatively. "That means a lot."

As I slipped into the bathroom and closed the door softly behind me, I looked in the mirror at myself, feeling more confused than ever before.

Suddenly, I heard Parker's loud voice from outside the door. "Hey, did I just hear you talking about taking Caroline to the ball?" he asked Boston. I could hear mischief in his voice. "Think they'll allow me to take more than one date?"

I felt a laugh bubble up in my throat, eventually spilling out into the open. I cracked the door slightly and shook my head at Parker.

"Who are these lucky ladies?" I teased, my voice lighter than it had been just moments ago. "And how do you plan on juggling them all night?"

Parker drew a look of deep contemplation, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Well, first off, there's Amara from the coffee shop–-great sense of humor. And then, of course, there's Kasie from the gym–-very athletic, obviously," he said, ticking off names on his fingers. "And let's not forget about Willow."

"Okay, okay, we get it," Boston interjected, rolling his eyes playfully. "You're quite the ladies' man."

"Indeed," he agreed with a dramatic sigh. "It's both a gift and a curse, my friends."