Luke looked down to the floor and quickly walked out the door, quietly shutting it behind him.
He was too late. The moment I heard the door shut, I turned and walked into the bathroom again. Soon my body was shaking with sobs as I sat on the cold floor and cried like I’ve never cried before.
Luke …
SITTING IN MY truck, I thought back to a few weeks ago when I had walked in on Libby and Zach. My stomach felt sick any time I thought about it. With everything that had happened with Alex and her attempted rape, Libby and I had pretty much ignored each other and focused on Alex since coming back to Mason.
Tonight was the barn dance at Mr. Banks’ place and Grace pretty much forced me into going. She kept saying I needed to get out and socialize with people. I knew Libby would be there tonight and I dreaded seeing her. Will told me that Libby had broken up with Zach the same day she had slept with him for the first time. I knew by me rejecting Libby as much as I did, I was most likely the reason she pushed herself into sleeping with Zach. Knowing that Libby felt like she had made a mistake played havoc on my heart.
Opening the truck door, I jumped out and headed to the entrance to wait on Will, who had just pulled in. Will jumped out of his truck, and jogged around to the passenger side and opened the door for his cousin, Trish. Making their way to me, I held out my hand and Trish took it. “It’s good to see you again, Trish. Are you ready for your first barn dance?”
She nodded her head in excitement. “Bring it on!” Shaking my head I laughed. Will, Trish, and I headed into the barn. I looked around and didn’t see anyone else here yet. “Come on, Trish. Let’s show Luke what I’ve taught you so far. Trish chuckled as Will pulled her out onto the dance floor.
I felt a hand slip around my waist. I looked and saw Claire Montgomery looking up at me. “Hey, cowboy. Long time no see.”
Tipping my cowboy hat, I smiled in her direction. “Claire, how are you doing?”
Smiling bigger, she winked at me as she said, “I’d do a hell of a lot better if you took me for a spin—on the dance floor.”
Letting out a chuckle, I grabbed her hand. “Come on girl, let’s two-step for a bit.”
Claire and I fell right into step. I knew all I would have to do is take her to my truck and she’d let me fuck her senseless, but Claire was not who I wanted. She’d come in handy a few times, especially when she fell to her knees and would suck me off. Of course every time I let her do that, I was drunk out of my mind.
I spun Claire around as she laughed. Looking up, I saw Libby looking directly at me. Maegan, Alex, Taylor, and Lauren were all standing around looking out on the dance floor.
Fuck. I looked away and finished my dance with Claire. When the song ended, I excused myself and headed over to where Colt was talking to a few guys from his football team. He was talking about playing football with Texas A&M.
I turned when I heard Alex laying into Claire. Turning around, I stood there while Alex basically told Claire to fuck off and stay away from both Will and me. Claire pushed past Alex and me as she made her way out of the barn to leave.
Laughing, I brought Alex in for a hug. “Damn, little cousin. Where in the hell did that come from?
Alex giggled. “I guess I got tired of hiding inside my own body.” I pushed a piece of Alex’s hair behind her ear. I hated what she had gone through this past summer. I grinned and said, “Welcome back, Alex.”
She grinned and said, “It feels good to be back. Hey, Luke?”
“Yeah?”
Clearing her throat, Alex asked, “Did Will tell you that Libby left Zach?”
My smile instantly disappeared. “Um—yeah, he did.”
Alex placed her hand on my chest. “Stop hiding inside yourself, Luke. She’s not going to wait forever.”
Looking up, I saw Libby. She was watching Alex and me. She smiled weakly as I smiled back. “I know,” I whispered.
A FEW WEEKS before school started back up, we all headed down to Port Aransas for a week. It felt great to get away and relax and it was the start to what we hoped would be an annual tradition.
“Libby, you can’t play anymore!” Grace shouted.
Libby started laughing. “What? Why?”
Grace was throwing the volleyball up in the air. “You’re too good.”
I ran up and grabbed the ball. “Awe, is Grace pitching a fit ‘cause she sucks at volleyball?” I rubbed the top of her head and she pushed my arm away.
“Fuck off, Luke. I swear, if you weren’t my brother.” I laughed as I jogged over and threw the ball to Alex. She served and Grace volleyed it back over as Libby jumped up and spiked it right in front of Colt. Maegan moaned and pushed Colt.
“Pay attention, Colt Mathews!”