Chapter 28
Wren
“Well, damn,” someone drawls from behind us, followed by a sharp whistle that echoes off the high ceiling, causing more heads to turn in our direction. “Don’t you two clean up nice.”
I laugh before I even turn around because I already know who it is.
“Heath,” I say, shaking my head as he grins like he just won something. His golden-retriever energy is in full force with his broad smile, dimples popping, and a suit that almost fits him, tie already loosened even though the night’s barely started. “I wish I could say the same to you.”
“Seriously, where the fuck did you find that suit? Goodwill?” Jett asks, hiding his chuckle.
Heath puffs out his chest as he picks at a piece of invisible lint. “Actually, I did.”
“Oh, sweetie,” I chastise. “I could’ve helped you find a suit.”
Heath shrugs. “It’s not like I’ll have it for long.”
“Plan on stripping?” Jett teases.
“Never know where the night might take me.”
We all share a laugh.
“Can we ever get through one night without someone running around naked?” I murmur as memories flash of nights together when we dared each other to do crazy things.
“So, you two together again?” Heath flicks his attention from me to Jett standing beside me, steady and solid and entirely too handsome for his own good. His hand brushes my lower back, and I melt into his familiar touch.
“We’re—” I start at the same time Jett simply says, “Yes.”
My cheeks heat as I stare up where Jett’s piercing blue eyes are waiting for me. I shake my head and roll my eyes.
Saylor squeals and pulls me into a hug, her bright pink hair glittering under the lights. “You freaking did this,” she says, spinning slowly to take it all in. “It’s like I teleported to Vegas.”
“I had help,” I say, brushing off the praise.
“Take the compliment,” Jett states.
Behind her, Greer saunters our way, a fake pout on her face as she lifts her drink. “I lost twenty fake dollars in under a minute. Ten-out-of-ten experience.”
“Wait until the blackjack tables fill up,” Heath says. “Jacob gets mean.”
As if summoned, Jacob appears near the stage, already laughing loudly with his wife at his side as they talk with a group of guests. Abby’s eyes flick in our direction, and I wave.
“Abby looks stunning,” I muse, and the girls all agree.
“It’s nice to see her out,” Heath says. “She’s been off lately.”
“Motherhood changes a woman,” Greer adds.
Music hums from the far side of the hall where the band is setting up.
I spot Baker at the mic, guitar slung low, adjusting levels while his drummer messes around behind him.
Glancing to my side, I notice I’m not the only one observing him, and he’s watching her.
When he catches my eye, his cheeks redden, my attention swinging to Greer, who’s also blushing.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“About Baker?” she questions, and I hum. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Guys don’t look at their friends like that.”
“Like how?”
“Like he wants to strip you out of your dress.”
Greer splutters, choking on her drink.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
A firm hand lands on my hip. Warmth floods my side before his soft breath tickles my ear. “This dress is killing me.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not wearing it.” My words are soft as I smirk. Jett chuckles deeply, sending vibrations over my body.
“Would you two get a room?” Levi says as he steps into our circle.
“It’s like prom night all over again,” Heath adds.
“Funny,” Jett muses. “We were reminiscing about that.”
I dip my head to hide my blush.
“Speaking of prom night, where’s Davis?” I glance around the room for our other friend.
“Heard he’s working tonight,” Levi supplies.
“Such a buzzkill,” Heath says with a groan. “Does he not know the meaning of fun anymore?”
Greer shrugs. “I don’t think so. All he does is work and brood in his cabin.”
“Life has a way of changing your priorities,” Levi states, and my head whips in his direction, clearly missing something. A dark quiet falls over the group, but it’s short-lived.
“Who wants to get drunk, dance, and find a hot guy to flirt with?” Saylor blurts out, practically vibrating with excitement next to Levi. I don’t miss the way his nostrils flare and make a note to myself to harass Saylor about it later.
“Replace guy with girl and I’m in,” Heath says, and the two of them head off to the bar.
I slide into the chair at our table as the lights dim and the low hum of conversation settles.
The room glows beneath the warm lights, plates clinking as caterers place them in front of guests.
Someone laughs too loudly before they’re shushed.
It all feels warm and alive, like the town pushed aside their differences to be here together.
Coach Pierce steps up to the mic, clearing his throat in a way that makes the room hush.
He looks good tonight—proud and relaxed, a man who’s celebrating all he’s built in his short years as our head football coach.
Jocelyn Reames stands off to his side as she fulfills her duty of athletic booster’s president.
I’ll never understand why anyone would vote her into that position.
I follow her gaze as she admires my date sitting next to me.
She still can’t grasp the fact that Jett and I are destined to be together.
I lean close to Jett. “Did something happen between you two while I was gone?”
He sips his beer, rubbing his thumb over my bare shoulder. “Who?”
“Jocelyn. She won’t take her eyes off you, and every time she sees me, she glares daggers.”
“I haven’t been with anyone but you,” Jett states firmly.
I swallow, relieved to hear he hasn’t been with anyone from our town. I’d rather know if I’ll be bumping into an ex while grabbing coffee at Shoreline Sips.
I’m not naive to think he’s only been with me. Ten years is a long time to be celibate and, honestly, I don’t care about his past relationships. But he keeps saying it’s only been me… Can that be true?
He must feel her eyes on him, too, because in the next moment, he’s stealing my breath as his mouth crushes mine.
I can’t contain the gasp escaping my lips as I clench my thighs together. Hooded eyes look down at me as I try to control my breathing.
“Welcome, everyone,” Jacob greets. “Before we get too far into the evening, I wanted to say thank you on behalf of the athletic boosters and Silo Bay athletics for showing up tonight, enjoying a delicious dinner and losing all your money to me at the blackjack tables.”
Polite laughter ripples through the crowd.
“This program,” he continues, voice steady, “is more than wins and losses. It’s rides home when parents are working late. It’s meals and tutors. It’s a place to belong when the world feels too big.”
I feel it in my chest, the quiet truth of it. Beside me, Jett’s knee nudges mine under the table.
Jacob gestures around the room. “Tonight exists because of volunteers who seek out local donations, order new uniforms and supplies, who showed up early and stayed late to make this space feel special.”
My stomach tightens at the realization of how important a night like this is for our local high school and the student-athletes.
“And because of donors, like yourselves,” he says, voice lifting, “who believe in our kids.”
Applause swells.
“We had a goal tonight,” Jacob goes on as a beaming smile lights up his face. “And I’m happy to say…we significantly surpassed it.”
The room erupts in whistles and cheers. Someone in the back pounds the table, causing more laughter.
“There’s one more thing,” he adds, waiting for quiet. “An anonymous donor contributed fifteen-thousand dollars this week. No recognition requested.”
The room gasps as whispers mingle.
“There were only initials provided,” Jacob says, smiling. “So to whomever E.H. is, thank you.”
The letters land like ice stabbing down my spine.
As the room keeps clapping, I feel it all from far away as if I’m sinking underwater. Fifteen thousand dollars. Initials E.H. My hands go cold as my body goes numb.
Jett notices my shift in demeanor immediately, and I see his back stiffen. Is he putting the pieces of the puzzle together too?
He moves his chair closer as he finds my hands gripped in fists beneath the table. “Wren,” he murmurs, thumb brushing the back of my hand. “What’s the matter, baby?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Your body says otherwise.”
I force air into my lungs, arranging my face into something I hope passes for normal. “Just— I’m shocked at the amount. That’s a lot of new equipment.”
His gaze lingers, searching for any tells. He can see the cracks in my armor, the lies leaving my lips, but he doesn’t push, which I’m thankful for. Jett squeezes my hand once, solid and sure, as the room comes back into focus.
Our plates are set in front of us as conversation fills the space where fear tries to settle.
I laugh when I’m supposed to and tell myself the check was a coincidence.
It has to be. Right? Elias wouldn’t spend fifteen-thousand dollars of his own money to prove a point…
Would he? No, he’s always been too stingy with his money, only wanting to spend it when it benefited him or when he could ogle over his purchases.
As the last plate is cleared, Jett stands and offers me his hand. “Roulette?”
I let him pull me up, grateful for movement and distraction from anything that isn’t my own thoughts. Baker and his band take the stage as we move to the side room where the gambling tables are set up. The familiar cords of LoCash’s “I Love This Life” plays through the speakers.
The roulette table is crowded as fake chips clack like falling rain.
I exchange a handful of coins for a stack of green and gold, feeling absurdly giddy.
I’ve never been one to gamble. I didn’t see the point in risking hard-earned money for a chance to win more.
But tonight, with fake currency, I’ve never been more eager to bet it all.
“Lucky number?” he asks.
“Four,” I say without thinking.