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“Yep.” Wes flashes her a grin that’s equal parts cocky and playful. “Unless you’re afraid you’ll lose.”

Quinn snorts. “Please. I could beat you with one hand tied behind my back.”

“Prove it,” Wes challenges, tossing her a beanbag.

Quinn catches it easily, her lips curving into a grin that tells me this is about to get interesting.

“I hope you’re ready for a beatdown, Archer.”

“Bring it.” Wes’s eyes glint with anticipation, and I swear there’s something… something more in that look.

For a moment, they just stand there, locked in a silent standoff, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Should we leave them alone?” I murmur to Griffin, who’s standing beside me, watching the scene unfold with amusement. “Nah,” Griff replies, a lazy grin tugging at his lips. “This is too good.”

As Wes and Quinn battle it out in the most intense cornhole game I’ve ever witnessed, I glance over to find Jane standing off to the side, arms crossed, watching Griffin with a mixture of curiosity and guardedness.

“Not joining the fun?” I ask softly, stepping beside her.

“Cornhole isn’t really my thing,” Jane murmurs, her eyes flicking back to Griffin, who’s laughing at one of Wes’s sarcastic remarks.

“Griffin … he’s not what I expected,” she admits after a moment, her voice quieter now.

“What do you mean?”

Jane’s lips press together, her brow furrowing slightly. “I thought he was all charm and bravado.” She pauses, her gaze softening as she watches him. “But there’s… more.”

I follow her gaze, watching as Griffin’s laughter fades, and for just a moment…

There’s something raw in his expression. Something vulnerable.

“You’re right,” I murmur, a small smile tugging at my lips. “There’s a lot more to Griffin than he lets on.”

Jane’s eyes linger on him a moment longer before she looks away, her cheeks tinged with the faintest blush.

Oh, this is gettinginteresting.

And just as expected, both of Beck’s two best friends seem to be headed down a rabbit hole of interest and flirtation. If I’m not wrong, Quinn and Jane are quite smitten, and it looks VERY reciprocated.

***

Later that night, after everyone has left and Jake is asleep in Beck’s spare room, I find myself standing outside on Beck’s deck, the cool night air brushing against my skin.

I wrap my arms around myself, staring up at the stars, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

I can’t stop thinking about Jake’s question.

If Beck goes …, will we go too? Will me?Now that’s a million-dollar question.

My career gives me the flexibility to move. I can write from anywhere. But uprooting Jake? Taking him away from the life we’ve built here?

I’m not just making this decision for myself. I’m making it forhim.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Beck’s voice is soft, but it startles me, and I turn to find him standing behind me, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

“Jake’s asleep and I didn’t want to wake him yet for the ride home.” I murmur, offering him a small smile.