6. June
JUNE
“So?” Lexie asks. Cradled against her chest is a warm mug of coffee as she pulls her long brown hair over one shoulder with her free hand.
After my date with Bryan, Lexie insisted we meet up at The Bean Scene the next morning so I could fill her and Violet in on every detail during Violet’s break. “How’d it go with Fireman Bryan?”
I stab my straw through the top of my iced latte. “You know, you don’t have to call him Fireman Bryan. Just Bryan is okay.”
“Nah, Fireman Bryan has a better ring to it.” She grins shamelessly. “So?”
I knew this would happen. The playful, yet unavoidable interrogation that would follow after I told my friends about my plans with Bryan.
But even knowing they’d expect a replay of the entire evening, I’m afraid they’ll only be disappointed by how uneventful it really was.
Good, yes. Memorable? It should be. And yet, the main highlight anytime I replay yesterday’s events is the stupid sandwich Ford made me, and just how smart the guy is.
“June?” Lexie prods.
“It went well?” Hesitating, I play back my date with Bryan. “I mean, yeah. Yeah, it went well.”
Lexie hides her amusement behind her coffee, but I don’t miss the mirth dancing in her pretty brown eyes. “You sound super sure about that.”
She makes a good point. Why am I so on the fence with Bryan? Twirling my straw, I admit, “I don’t know. I’ve only really been on a few dates, so I don’t have a ton of experience to compare it to.”
“Did he open your door?” she prods.
I nod.
“Did he pay for dinner?”
My head bobs again.
“Did he kiss you goodnight?”
My cheeks flame, but I nod once more.
“Did he let you touch his firehose?”
“Lexie!” I toss the paper straw wrapper at her.
With a laugh, she bats it away. “Just trying to get the full picture is all—”
“I know,” Violet groans as she collapses into the chair across from mine. “I know I screwed up. I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry about what?” Lexie asks.
Violet winces as if the betrayal is so grave that the idea of voicing it aloud is almost painful. “I was supposed to tutor June before her date, but I totally spaced on it.”
“Ouch.” Lexie grimaces and turns to me. “To be fair, Violet’s bailed on me before, too. Bless her soul.” She tacks on a pointed look at Violet that would make a lesser woman cower.
“Don’t worry about it, Vi,” I say, coming to her defense. “Ford actually helped—”
“Ford helped you?” Violet nearly chokes on her coffee.
I shrug. “Yeah. Is that weird?”
“I mean, he’s Ford,” Violet points out as if that alone is enough of an explanation. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m pretty sure he has a good heart—”
“Pretty sure?” Lexie interjects.
“Let’s just say, the man sucks at letting people in,” Violet returns. “The fact that he stepped up and helped you yesterday?” Her eyes bug out, emphasizing the absolute insanity of such a thing.
The issue is, I still don’t see it.
Am I the crazy one for thinking he might have a heart buried deep down in there somewhere?
“Why is it so surprising?” I ask.
“Because he’s Ford,” she repeats. “The man’s made it clear he thinks you’re cute and all, but offering to help when he knows he won’t get anything out of it is…” She hesitates. “I don’t know… Color me surprised, I guess.”
“Yeah, no shit,” Lexie says from across the small table. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they’re from The Drift with how guarded those boys are.”
“Boys?” Violet quips. “As in…plural? As in…”
She doesn’t finish her sentence. She doesn’t need to.
Lexie’s expression is more than enough proof that Violet hit the nail on the head a little too perfectly.
Yeah, our Lexie isn’t referring to just any boy.
She's referring to the third brother. The sexy, quiet, oh so mysterious Hawke Harden. The question is…is Lexie admitting she’s finally noticed the guy?
And I mean, actually noticed him? If she is, I can only imagine the fallout.
Hawke Harden isn’t just a rich boy from the right side of the tracks.
He’s Lexie’s older brother’s literal enemy.
Talk about playing with fire. Add in the fact that she supposedly hates him, and I’m a little bit confused.
“Anyway,” Lexie drags out. “Why’d you ditch our girl here?”
“I didn’t mean to,” Violet starts. “It’s just, Jagger asked if I wanted some food after my shift, and I kind of lost track of time, which is no excuse,” she rushes out. “I know I failed—”
“Don’t worry. I won’t hold it against you,” I tease.
And it’s true. I won’t. Even if I wind up with an F, it wouldn’t be anyone’s fault but my own.
Add in a certain Harden brother who swooped in to save the day, and I don’t have it in me to hold a grudge.
Especially not one toward my best friend.
“Besides, Ford’s actually a really good tutor,” I add. “I had no idea he was so…”
“Smart?” Violet offers.
I nod.
“Yeah, Jagger says Ford got the brains of the family, which is saying something considering the fact that Jagger’s degree is in Economics.”
“What about Robin?” Lexie prods before her eyes widen. “Not that I care,” she rushes out. “It’s just, you know, the sooner he graduates, the sooner he’ll leave me alone and stop stalking me at work, right?”
He stalks Lexie at work?
“Good cover,” Violet volleys. “And I actually don’t know what Hawke’s major is. You’ll have to ask him.”
She snorts. “Yeah, no thank you.”
“Speaking of Hawke,” I add. “Maybe he isn’t stalking you. Maybe he’s stalking Ethan?”
Lexie hesitates. “Maybe.”
“How are things on that front, anyway?” I prod.
“How’s my big brother?” Lexie shrugs. “Good, I think. I’m not sure. It’s not like we really talk.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t eavesdrop,” Violet points out.
Lexie’s full lips purse before she takes another sip of coffee, not bothering to confirm or deny Violet’s assumption.
Interesting. I wonder what it means. What it could mean.
What does Lexie know? Ethan’s always so quick to draw a line in the sand.
Hardens versus Drifters. Violet and I have clearly been lumped in with the former, while Lexie’s still attached to the latter, though I have no idea whether it’s obligatory or voluntary or even if it’s really a choice with which she has any control.
She lives in The Drift. Works in The Drift.
Was raised to hate anything and everything outside of The Drift.
The only reason she even crosses into Harden territory is to hang out with Violet and me.
Does Ethan give her crap for it? For coming here? Does he even know?
“Finally, a familiar face.” A flyer lands on our table.
“Cobie?” Standing, Violet pulls the gorgeous girl into a hug. “Hey! What are you doing here?”
After a quick squeeze, Cobie pulls away from Violet’s embrace and explains, “My dad roped me into heading up a fundraiser for charity.” She turns to Lexie, then me. “Hi, I’m Cobie.”
Violet smiles. “Lex, June, this is Jagger’s little sister. She’s staying with them.”
Lexie nods. “Nice to meet you, Cobie.”
I offer a small wave. “Hi.”
“Hey,” she returns, turning back to Violet. “So will you help me?”
“With what?” Violet questions.
“The fundraiser,” Cobie explains. “After I told my dad I want to stick around long-term, he said I need to prove I’m part of the Harden community, and what better way to prove I’m part of it than by spearheading a fundraiser?”
Lexie’s nose wrinkles. “That sounds promising.”
“You have no idea,” Cobie grumbles. “The problem is, it’s kind of hard to find volunteers when you don’t know anyone in town. So what do you say? Want to help me?”
Violet’s gaze bounces from Lexie to me and back again before finally landing on Cobie. “I mean, we’re happy to try. What do you need?”
Picking up the flyer, Lexie begins scanning the logistics.
Meanwhile, Cobie explains, “Okay, so there’s this auction, and—”
“Yeesh.” Lexie grimaces. “You picked the one thing that makes me and my friends useless.”
I don’t miss the way Lexie says, “friends,” as in plural.
Warmth spreads through my chest, and I smile against the straw of my coffee.
It’s not that I’m entirely caught off guard.
It's just…Lexie’s a little like a snapping turtle.
Seemingly harmless, but with a bite that could take off a finger.
Knowing she’s accepted me so wholly feels good. Really good.
I’ve never really had friends. That sounds pathetic, but it’s true.
I’ve always kept my friend circle small, but when my best friend in high school moved during our junior year, I decided that keeping my head down was probably the best course of action moving forward.
And it was going well. Focusing on school and work and baking and the occasional volunteering opportunity, and I was happy as a clam.
Then, my recluse of a roommate was replaced with Violet a couple of months into the new school year, and the rest is history.
I finally clicked with someone. Two someones, actually, since Lexie and Violet are basically a package deal.
Not that I’m complaining. I kind of love their friendship.
And the fact that they’re willing to make their duo a trio? Yup. I officially have warm fuzzies.
“What Lexie’s trying to say is that we don’t exactly have any spare cash, and we also don’t really have anything to donate for the auction,” Violet clarifies. She snatches the flyer from Lexie and begins scanning it. “Is there anything else we can do to help?”
“I actually don’t need your money,” Cobie rushes out. “What I need are volunteers. One evening. Three hours.” She pauses. “Okay, technically two evenings. One evening for the actual auction to take place, then another evening when the bidder cashes in. But still. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. You in?”
My brows furrow in confusion. “And…what are they cashing in on?”
“Our time,” Violet answers for me. She sets the flyer back onto the table and looks up at Cobie. “That’s what the flyer says. Am I right?”