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But she laughed dismissively, turning to gather up her hot chocolate supplies.
I tried not to be bothered by the brush-off, even though nothing could ever happen between us. I had a phone full of women, after all. Women who wanted to come over and do more than shove sugary drinks down my throat.
So why the fuck was I bothered?
Knowing I needed a distraction from the strange reaction to this woman, I said, “Leave the whipped cream.”
She turned back to me, red eyebrows drawing together. “Why?”
I smirked. “Shall I show you?”
Della’s breath caught, and she fumbled with the lid of the cooler, but only for a second before getting it shut and latched. “Hayes Madigan, you tease.” She shook her head at me like I was exasperating to her.
She had no fucking idea I wasn’t teasing.
That my self-restraint had worn thin after all these years.
She picked up the cooler and left, taking the whipped cream with her.
Pity.
4
DELLA
Saturday afternoon, I drove my car—with its now-functioning heater—through the country to my best friend’s house just outside of Cottonwood Falls for a get-together. The cold front had thankfully left the area, leaving us with pale-blue skies, soft-yellow sunlight, and the beginning tells of springtime passing out my window.
Just as I crested a hill on the dirt road, a gorgeous white farmhouse came into view. I smiled at the sight of it standing out amongst miles of rolling meadows. The picturesque home was the personification of Liv’s happily ever after with her childhood friend. Hard to believe they’d gone from neighbors growing up to husband and wife with three children between them.
They’d had a whole tumultuous love story and made multiple humans while I remained single.
It was like I was sitting in this car, watching life blur by out the windows but never really getting anywhere.
A heavy ache settled in my heart as I slowed and pulled into their gravel drive. I hoped this impending move to Dallas would give me a chance at the same happiness they’d found together. Even if it meant leaving the town I loved.
Once my car was parked behind Liv’s truck, I turned it off and took a look around at all the other vehicles outside. Both Liv and Fletcher came from big families. Her with three siblings, and him with four. So there were plenty of people here—most of them married with children of their own.
I took a few deep breaths to brace myself for the cookout today.
This would be one of the last times we all got together before I moved away. And even though I wanted what they had... I’d miss my friends beyond comprehension.
The roar of an engine broke the silence. I twisted in my seat to see an old black-and-gray Ford rumbling down the driveway, Hayes Madigan at the wheel.
And since he clearly hadn’t noticed me yet, I let myself stare.
Tattoos covered every spare inch of skin, curling up his neck and only pausing at his face, all hard lines and edges with a silver ring curling around his bottom lip. Shaggy, dark blond hair dusted over blue-green eyes—the kind of gaze that caught you like a mouse in a trap.
So with every inch of him screaming danger, why was I still staring?
Maybe because he fascinated me.
The human version of a massive red button that said DO NOT TOUCH.
His truck stopped next to me, and the abrupt pause of the engine’s roar had me jumping.
I scrambled for my phone, pretending to be busy texting until I heard his truck door open and shut. Dad would have needed an entire can of WD-40 to fix those hinges.
After what I hoped was enough time, I opened my door and got out of my car, grabbing the pan of yeast-risen rolls I brought for a side. The sun hit my face, nice and warm, but a brisk breeze followed it up, making goosebumps rise on the back of my neck.