4. Leah

CHAPTER 4

LEAH

"I think the raspberry is my favorite. What about you?" Jackson takes another sip from his margarita and grimaces.

"I'm honestly trying here, but I don't know how you like these." He shivers and I can't help but laugh when he sets his glass back on the tray.

"They're not as good as Shane's but they're not terrible." I giggle, taking another sip of my drink.

"Well maybe I'll have the honor of trying hers sometime. In the meantime, I think I'll stick to what I know." He waves the waitress over and orders a beer before resting his elbows on the table and turning his attention back to me. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" I tilt my head, stirring my drink to give myself something to do.

"I can't remember. Maybe you should tell me again." He grabs my hand in his and I swallow past the nerves creeping up my spine.

"You look beautiful tonight." I chew on my bottom lip in an effort to keep myself from grinning like an idiot.

Was he this smooth the first time we went out? If so, how did I miss it?

"Thank you." I smile, feeling my cheeks warm when he winks at me. "Okay." I clear my throat, tossing my hair behind my shoulder before I take another sip of my margarita. "No work talk, sooo… What do you like to do on the weekends?"

"Well, there's the boring stuff like laundry and reading of course. I'll usually go for a run when it's nice out, and Sundays are reserved for football when it's on." He takes another sip from his beer before putting it back on the table. "What about you?" He tips his chin up at me with a smirk that keeps catching my attention.

"I also do laundry and read on the weekends. But I do not run. If I'm running, it's safe to assume someone is chasing me. I do go to the gym with my friends though, when we can fit it into our schedules. And every Sunday I have dinner with my parents." I smile at the thought of them, and his eyes soften on me.

"That sounds really nice. I take it you guys are close?" His fingers brush along mine before he takes my hand in his again.

"Yes, very. My mom is like one of my best friends and my dad and I have always had a really good relationship. They mean everything to me." He smiles and then narrows his eyes on me.

"So, are you into sports at all?" He squeezes my hand a little tighter and looks over his shoulder. "Because I could have sworn I caught you peeking at one of the games playing behind me." He chuckles and I feel my cheeks heat.

"Sports? Yes. Football? Not so much." I scrunch my nose in apology, but he turns around completely to see what's playing on the flatscreen on the far wall of Casa Taco.

"A hockey girl? I would have never guessed." My stomach twists when he smiles at me and I inwardly curse myself for giving into the temptation to check the Badgers score.

"Yeah, I got into it during middle school and it just kind of stuck." I pick up my margarita and finish it off, willing the conversation to change.

"Maybe I can take you to a Badgers game sometime." I damn near choke to death on my drink when those words leave his mouth.

"Are you okay?" Jackson grabs my water glass from the table and slides it to me.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just…went down the wrong way."

Someone dig me a hole to crawl into, because I'm pretty sure I'm in the process of dying from embarrassment.

"You sure?" The way he's caressing my arm as he makes sure I'm not going to continue my gasp for breath makes me feel like I'm in good hands. I nod my head and take one last sip of water as he leans back into his seat. He only waits a moment before he continues our conversation.

"Okay, let's see…What's your favorite season?" The way Jackson flawlessly eases into a new topic of conversation has me smiling at him in appreciation.

I have a good feeling about giving us a second chance.

A chance to move on and put my feelings—bitter or otherwise—of Sawyer to rest and start something new with some one new.

Lauren

How did the date go?

Shane

Yesss. Tell us everything!

Me

It was great actually giggle emoji He did NOT like the margaritas but I told him that's because he hasn't tried Shanes.

Shane

queen emoji manicure emoji margarita emoji

Ruby

What elseeee?

Me

He's really sweet. We talked about so much more than work. It was nice. I have no idea what happened the first time we went out but this time was so much better.

Tay

Speaking of sports, Sawyer was asking about you tonight. I think he missed having you there.

I hate the way my heart squeezes from the thought of him missing me. The text I got while in the middle of my date with him saying as much really did it for me too.

After typing out: "Of course he did. I'm fucking delightful." I realize I'm also a little too buzzed to be having conversations about Sawyer in the group chat and I delete it.

Me

Hope you guys had fun at the game. I gotta go to bed so I can sleep off some of this alcohol before school in the morning.

Lauren

Night night boozy baby.

Shane

Drink lots of water. Night!

Ruby

silly emoji sleep z's emoji

Friday nights are hands down my favorite night of the week because it's girls' night. We switch out who hosts every week, the husbands and kids all hang out at whoever's house we aren't at, and we get a few hours of uninterrupted girl talk. No matter what kind of week I'm having, I know I can count on Fridays to turn things around. Lauren is hosting this week while the boys and babies are at Tank and Ruby's.

"Okay, so do we want to all meet at the trail at like six tomorrow?" Taylor asks, twisting on her barstool.

"We will probably be there a little early to do some of the activities they have for Hendrix's age, but we can meet up with you guys at the trail when it's time to go in."

"Max said he will stay outside with the kids because he quote: doesn't need to go to jail for choking a clown to death. " Shane air quotes before grabbing a chip and popping it in her mouth. "He doesn't do well with jump scares."

"See, it's not just me!" I point out, bringing my margarita glass to my lips.

"Okay, but…he has like, reasons for not liking jump scares. Like… war reasons," Shane mumbles, as if she doesn't want Max—who isn't here—to overhear us.

"Well now I feel like an asshole for making the comparison so thanks for that." I plop down on the stool next to Taylor, grabbing a chip from the bowl.

"Okay! So, Max will stay with the kids, but everyone else goes in." Taylor swiftly changes the subject, giving me an idea.

"Do you think it would be okay if I invited Jackson?" I avoid eye contact from any of them for a moment, but the second I look up the room fills with dramatic looks and flirty oooh 's from my friends.

Jackson and I have been out a couple of times since the margarita tasting and things have been going surprisingly well—outside of the fact that I'm not sure I've felt the spark yet. I don't know how long it usually takes to feel that spark everyone talks about, but I do know that I don't want to give up on something that I haven't given a fair chance. My friends are nothing if not observant as hell, so I know they'll be able to get a read on the situation and tell me if something is off.

"Yes! Bring him. I want to meet him again." Shane claps her hands together excitedly.

"Duh, of course!" Lauren chimes in.

"So, things are getting pretty serious with you two then?" Taylor's tone catches me off guard. She's the main one out of the five of us that is usually encouraging us to go all in, to take chances and, for lack of a better term, get it .

"I don't know about it being serious, it's only been a couple of weeks but it's going well I guess…" Taylor nods silently and I glance around for help from the other girls, but they simply shrug like they don't know what's going on either. "It's a haunted trail, Tay, not a marriage proposal. I think it'll be fine." I laugh, making her shake her head and reach for another chip.

"No, yeah. I know. I just meant I'm glad you're feeling good about him. That's all." When she smiles at me it doesn't quite meet her eyes and I can't help but wonder what's going through that sweet, chaotic little mind of hers.

"Speaking of marriage proposals." Taylor perks up again, "Tucker and I have set a date for our wedding."

"Finally! You got me all excited about being sisters-in-law like forever ago. Make it happen already," Ruby groans, leaning over to squeeze Taylor.

"What's the date?" Shane sing-songs, shimmying in her seat.

"June first."

"Thank God. A summer wedding." I throw my arms around her letting out a sigh of relief. I hate when big events happen during the school year because I'm never able to give them the attention they truly deserve.

"You're welcome." She winks at me, finally acting a little more like herself. "Okay, who wants to look up bridesmaid's dresses?" she sings out excitedly.

We spend the rest of the night huddled on the couch looking at different dress styles suitable for a summer wedding, making plans for after the haunted trail, reminiscing on the past, and telling Ruby how much we wished we'd known her when we were kids. A well-rounded girl's night that was very much needed.