Chapter 10
ten
Reese
Bailey’s phone buzzed against the bar top. He glanced down, tapped the screen, and whatever he saw made his lips twist into that grin—the cocky, shit-eating kind. He shot me a knowing look.
"Should I even ask?"
He leaned back in his seat. "I just got a for-my-eyes-only text from the baker girl of my dreams," he said, running a hand through his hair.
Bakergirl. It was the username of a girl he'd met on a dating app. They hadn’t met in person yet, but he was utterly captivated, snatched by the balls at just the idea of her.
"For your sake, I hope she’s exactly who you think she is and not, you know… some person named Earl or Bertha who wants to lure you into their sketchy stalker van," I said, under my breath.
“Don’t tempt me with a good time… but trust me, she’s definitely a hot college girl who bakes.”
"Right. Well, good luck with that." I chuckled, taking a slow sip of my drink, already mentally preparing for the inevitable “I got catfished” meltdown.
The moment Chandler Hartford came over with Willow trailing just a step behind, I felt the atmosphere shift. Bailey leaned against the bar, his eyes narrowing in playful foreboding as he murmured, "Uh oh, here's trouble."
Willow, always the whirlwind, who happened to be the coach's daughter, circled around to Bailey's other side with a mischievous grin and gave him an affectionate shove that nearly made him spill his drink.
Chandler drifted closer with an empty wine glass. Waiting for the bartender to take notice, she turned those hazel eyes toward me.
"Didn't get to talk to you much at the tournament," she said, softly. "But you killed it out there. Like always."
A small smirk toyed at the corner of my lips. "Would you expect anything less?"
"There's never a day I don't expect you to be the very best," Chandler replied, her sarcasm so sweet it was almost sincere.
"As long as you know." I chuckled, glad we could still joke around. I still cared about her, but I wasn’t sure how to navigate being around her.
With everything going on in my life, especially the situation with Boston, I couldn't quite figure out where she fit into it all.
I had a strong suspicion that she knew she belonged with him. And where exactly did that leave me?
As the evening went on, we found ourselves on the back patio. A large group had congregated there—my teammates, Caroline, and other members from the committee all seated at the back tables. They were in the middle of playing truth or dare.
I hung back, observing as I looked at the lake.
Caroline was at the heart of it all, taking charge of the game.
She had always been fierce, but tonight there was a colder edge to her.
Something seemed off about her. I noticed the empty shot glasses near her elbow, which probably had something to do with it.
"Alright, alright, settle down!" Sam called out to the group, giggling. "Who's next? Bailey!"
“You know I always take the dare, baby girl,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.
“Dare you to try to get the hot bartender's phone number,” she said with a devilish grin.
Bailey stood up from his seat, a smile spread across his face. We all watched as he disappeared into the bar. Moments later, he emerged, phone held high.
"Got them digits, baby!" Bailey shouted, winking at the round of applause that greeted him.
It wasn't long before Caroline's gaze landed on the one person I’d hoped she wouldn’t go after.
"Chandler, truth or dare?" she asked with an impish smile.
"Truth," Chandler responded.
"Who do you like more, Reese or Boston?" Her question hung in the air, halting any chatter or laughter.
Every eye turned to Chandler. Boston and I looked at each other, and he paused mid-sip. I’d had enough of this stupid game. The Chandler situation wasn’t a game to me, and I knew it wasn’t to Boston either.
"Caroline, stop," I demanded.
"What? What's the problem?" Caroline never took her eyes off Chandler. "Didn't you hook up with Reese last summer? How far did you get? First base? Second? Did you go all the way?"
"Caroline!" Boston growled, heavy with anger. "What the fuck?"
“What’s the matter, Boston? Was she doing the same thing with you?” Caroline retorted.
Chandler's hazel eyes flickered with hurt before she turned in retreat. Boston followed after her, not looking back.
Willow and Parker, their faces etched with disapproval, turned to let Caroline know how wrong she was.
Caroline stood defiantly, almost amused as they spoke, and I couldn’t stand back anymore.
When I reached her, I didn't hesitate. My hand found the bend of her elbow, grip firm but not rough as I commanded, "Come with me. "
She didn’t resist, which surprised me more than her earlier outburst. Caroline allowed herself to be steered away from the chaos she had stirred. We came to a stop at the side of the building.
"What the fuck was that?" I asked, my voice low but edged with enough intensity to let her know I was serious.
Caroline leaned back against the brick wall, her fingers found their way into her hair, sifting through the strands.
Without a word, she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the ground, knees drawn up.
"I don't know," she whispered and damnit, why did seeing her like this make me want to knock out whoever put that look in her eyes? I was so sure she didn’t have a soft side… but maybe I was wrong.
I crouched down before her, so we were face-to-face at her level "No, tell me," I insisted. "What was that?"
Her blue eyes, shifting shades in the darkness, captured mine.
I saw something flicker—a small glance of vulnerability.
"Everyone was wondering it but was too scared to ask," she said, with a shrug so casual it could have been rehearsed.
"Everyone thinks I'm evil anyway, so why not be the one to find out the truth for you and Boston. "
How could she think that about herself? How many people had put that in her head? Had I? There was an ache of sadness that settled heavy in my chest from the thought alone.
"Why though?" I asked, searching her face. "Do you get off on making her cry? On knowing that you're bigger and better or something? Because you play the evil queen part well and all, but I don’t think that’s really you."
"I am evil," Caroline admitted. "I think it’s in my blood, and I was destined to be this way. And no..." She hesitated, her gaze flickering away and then back to mine. "I don't think I'm better than her… I know I'm not."
In that moment, I saw past the icy exterior, past her actions, to something deeper—something she kept locked behind those steely blue eyes. Moved by an impulse that was part instinct, part curiosity, I shifted to the ground, caging her in with my legs, one on either side of her.
"Talk to me," I said, resting an arm on my knee—leaving no space for her to shut me out.
"Why?" she asked, softly.
"You made that scene. You brought me into this, so help me understand." The heat between us was undeniable, her body caught between my legs and the rough brick wall, trapping her into having this conversation. I wasn’t just boxing her in with my arms—I was trying to break through the icy fortress she’d built around herself.
She’s always been snarky, a firecracker, but right now?
She looked… breakable. And I didn’t like it.
Something about this—about her right now—hit differently.
If she’d just let me, maybe I could shoulder some of the weight she carried, take away some of the burden she refused to share.
She didn’t have to battle whatever she was dealing with alone, not when I was right here.
But I was last person she’d let in. And fuck, I wanted in.
She looked away for a moment, lost in thought or maybe just unwilling to look me in the eye. "Maybe I'm jealous of her," she admitted, and it was like that admission cost her a piece of her soul. "How easy she has things. How everyone, including you, thinks she's so beautiful."
I processed her words, letting them sink in. "What is it you want to hear, Caroline? That you’re fucking hot? Do you want me to tell you that my dick gets hard anytime I’m around you?" The words just came out, surprising even me.
Her lips parted slightly, a sharp inhale the only sound between us. I leaned closer, letting my hand hover near her jaw before trailing my fingers along the column of her throat, slow and deliberate, until they rested just below her ear.
“Because you’re hot as fuck,” I added, my voice nearly a growl as my thumb brushed the curve of her neck. A lazy smirk tugged at my lips. "Not exactly a ray of sunshine… but hey, some of us like a challenge."
In the dim light, I saw her breath catch before she swallowed it.
"I think you are probably trying to make me feel better, but I know what’s going on," she said, looking down at her hands.
"You're waiting for her to pick you. Just like Boston is. And he chose her, whether she picks him or not. He’s fully in when it comes to her, regardless of anything else. "
I caught the pain in her words, and it struck me harder than I expected.
Did I look this pathetic? That I’d just wait around for someone to decide between me and someone else?
I had a soft spot for Chandler, I always would—and maybe some part of me hoped she’d realize there was nothing between her and Boston, and I was the one for her.
But that wasn’t reality, and even I could see it now.
Those two? They were always meant to be together.
“I'm not anyone's second choice, and you shouldn't be either," I said, casually shifting the watch on my arm.
Her posture seemed to deflate ever so slightly, but the lift of her chin told me she wasn't about to show any more weakness. "I don't even know why we're talking about this, like we’re friends or something," she spat out. "We’re more enemies than anything else."
"We don’t have to be," I confessed, my gaze locked on hers, unwilling to be the first to look away.
Caroline chuckled, but it was humorless. "Even if that were true..." She paused, and for a moment, she almost seemed hurt. "I still can't ever forget about what happened."
She pushed herself off the ground slowly until she stood over me.
"What happened? What are you talking about?” I asked, confused as fuck. Why was this woman so damn confusing? And once again, why did I even care?
"I'll apologize, okay?" Caroline stepped over my right leg. "I'll tell Chandler that I'm sorry, and I won't get in your business anymore. But please," she paused then continued, "don't try to pretend that you care about me."
As she walked away, I tracked every movement until she was gone from sight.
But she was etched in my mind. My arms rested heavily on my knees, more confused than ever.
All I knew was that there was a moment tonight when our eyes collided that something shifted, at least for me.
I wanted to understand her, to keep finding ways to see glimpses of whoever Caroline really was.