Page 47 of Palm South University: Season 3

We were just kids, and the first two months of our summer affair had been absolute bliss. He was working for my grandparents on harvest in Kansas and I was there visiting. It was almost too perfect, right out of a country song or a rom-com movie.

But then I’d ruined it.

And now, I’ll never know if what we had was real, if it could have survived had I nurtured it instead of torched it with a flame thrower.

The loud purr of an engine shakes me from my thoughts and Jess and I both turn in the direction of it, our smiles falling when we see who’s responsible for the noise.

Landon pulls into a parking spot at the pizza place next door in a brand new Corvette Stingray, his brothers crowding him with whistles and cheers. I swallow, eyes narrowing as Jess scoffs.

“Looks likesomeone’sovercompensating.”

“Clearly.”

Jess stirs her coffee again, taking a sip before settling her eyes on me. “What ever happened between you two, anyway?”

My stomach lurches again, this time for a completely different reason, but I don’t miss a beat. “Meh, he was fun for formal, but I’ve got too much to focus on this semester. Elections are coming up soon.”

“Mmm,” Jess says with a nod. “You ready to take your Big’s place as president? Continue the family tradition?”

I wink. “Born ready.”

“I figured. I swear it’s actually in your blood. If you do half of what you did as recruitment chair as president, our sorority is going to be unstoppable.”

“That’s the plan.”

Jess watches me for a minute, smiling. “I’m really proud of you, Ex. Seriously.”

My heart warms, and I reach for her hand, squeezing it gently in response.

For a while we just sit and drink our coffee, but my eyes keep wandering to Landon and his brothers, all still crowded around the new car. But I’m not glaring or huffing — no, I’m smiling. Because where I was stumped on how to exact my revenge before, the answer now is crystal clear, thanks to what I would bet money on is a gift from Mommy and Daddy.

Suddenly, I have a plan, one I know will hit him where it hurts.

Now, the only question is — when?