Page 11 of Infatuated

“I figured that one out the hard way. If you’ll excuse me, I need to change and get back to some guests.”

I pull open the screen door and trudge to my room. “Clean up your wet mess before you leave again,” Mom calls after me.

I drop my soaked clothes into the tub and grab a towel to dry myself off. Looking out my window, I see Lana walking to the house. I pull a pair of shorts and a t-shirt on and race down the stairs, then stop and stand in the doorway as she reaches the top landing. Her steps falter when she sees me standing there.

Her mouth pops open into an O shape, and then she narrows her eyes at me before ignoring me and turning to her mom.

“Heard you went for a dip in the pond?” Violet asks.

“Yes.” She glares in my direction. “It was unexpected.” I push open the door and put my hat on top of my head. She raises her hand in my direction. “Tristan thought it would be fun for me to cool down. I didn’t get a chance to tell him I’m not a good swimmer until he pulled me in with him.”

I clear my throat to gain her attention, and she looks at me. “Don’t forget to tell them how you pushed me in first,” I smirk, and she stares at me wide-eyed.

“Lana, did you push him in?” her mom asks.

Her cheeks turn red as she ducks her head. “He started it,” she mumbles.

“I don’t care, young lady. Apologize to him.”

Her mouth pops open again, and she gives her mom the ‘do I have to’ look. When her mom doesn’t back down, she huffs.

“Sorry for pushing you into the water.”

I smirk. “You can make it up to me by going on a hike. A few people said they wanted to check out the trails, and I said I would go. I’m sure adding another to the group won’t hurt.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Actually, Holden offered me riding lessons. I saw him on my way back to get changed and decided to take him up on the offer. Maybe another time.”

My grin falls, and my mood sours once again. She talks with her mom another minute while I just stare at her.Holden? He’s my best friend—like the brother I’ve never had—but there is no way I want her hanging out with him. He has had his fair share of tail over the past year. And he’s looking to get more. She will end up as just another notch on his belt if she’s not careful.

Girls flock to him, and he enjoys every minute of it. He once told me I could get as much action as him if I’d ditch Kasey. I was in too deep with her, though. Too stuck in my picket fence fantasy with the sexy cheerleader to even give it a second thought.

I clench my hands into fists, thinking of Kasey. I need a distraction. I look out and see Holden walking up the path with Molly by his side. Holden laughs, and Molly smiles up at him. She bats her eyes and smacks him playfully on his arm.

Hook, line, and sinker. He’s caught another one.

Lana jogs down the steps and stops in front of him. I hear her ask about riding lessons, and he glances up at me, waiting for permission. I keep my eyes glued to his and give a slight nod. It’s not like I can really stop her. She looks back at me, sensing the silent conversation between us, and rolls her eyes.

Then, she stomps off in the direction of the barn, not even waiting for Holden to join her.

Chapter 7

Lana

The nerve of that guy! I saw Holden look to Tristan, but for what? Permission? Screw that. I don’t need permission for a guy—whom I hardly know—to do anything. Holden jogs up behind me when he reaches my side, falling into step. I pick up the pace, and he stays with me. I don’t notice when he stops until he calls for me.

“Lana, barn’s this way.”

I turn and see he’s stopped with his thumb over his shoulder, waiting for me. I walk past him in the direction he’s pointing, and he catches up again.

“Wanna talk about what’s bothering you? Clearly, something’s on your mind.”

“Nope, how about we go riding? Show me your favorite place to go.” The barn comes into view, but I can smell it before I can see it.

“Ever been riding?” he asks.

I nod and tell him a few times as he leads me over to a brown horse with white spots along her neck. He introduces me to Clementine, the horse that’s been assigned to me for the vacation. He takes me through the steps of getting her saddled, not that I’ll actually need to know how. I think it’s a ploy to stand closer to me and brush against me.

Holden takes her reins and walks her and another horse out of the barn before tying them to a hitching post.