Page 19 of Send It

Lincoln

Lincoln

What the fuck?

What is going on?

Where are you?

It was obvious that something happened that set Colson off, and for the entire night my texts have remained unanswered. Did he tell Reiss about us? Did Reiss shut him down?

Lincoln

Did Reiss freak out? What the fuck happened Colson?

I’ll talk to him. Please just talk to me.

Two hours later he replied.

Colson

I’m not good for you.

Lincoln

You told him?

Colson

No, he made that perfectly clear before I got the chance. But he’s right. This isn’t going to work out.

I stare at the screen and wonder what happened between them or what the fuck Reiss could have said to Colson to make his switch completely flip. Because it seems like that’s what has happened. A total one-eighty.

“Are you okay?” Stas groans next to me. “You’ve been tossing and turning for over an hour. I’m sleepy.”

“I’m good,” I snap, yet again readjusting myself.

“Did something happen with Colson?” She asks, turning to face me.

I nod wordlessly into my pillow and she sits up onto her elbow. “What happened, Linc? Are you okay?”

I groan, flipping over and placing the pillow over my face, before barely pulling it down so I can see her.

“We kissed.”

Stas sits up, clapping her hands excitedly, “Omg, you kissed! What do you mean you kissed? Like tongue kisses or just a little peck? What the fuck happened?!”

“We kissed, Stas. At the lake house on my birthday.”

Her eyes widened, “You just kissed?”

“We swam together, naked.” I shrug.

She all but squeals, “Oh my God, Linc! That was two weeks ago and you are just now telling me?”

“It didn’t feel right to tell,” I shrug. “Reiss doesn’t know.”

Stassie’s brows pull together tightly, “Why was Colson an asshole to you earlier?”

“I don’t know,” I sigh. “When we’re alone everything is different, but when Reiss is around it’s like things used to be. I’m the little kid they can’t get rid of fast enough.”

“He’s afraid of Reiss’ reaction?” She questions.

“I guess,” I agree. “He’s afraid of everything. He’s so guarded and I don’t know what he’s thinking or how he really feels. Then toss in his injury flare up on top of that and the fact that he’s literally alone at home.”

“When are Brian and Kim coming back?” She asks.

I feel the anger bubbling up, “Who knows?”

“Are they coming to Nationals?”

I sigh, “I don’t know.”

“Do you really like him?” Stas asks, causing my face to twist. “Or do you like the idea of him?”

“What does that even mean?”

“Do you think maybe you want him so bad because you can’t have him? I mean, it’s exciting because he is Reiss’ friend. Do you think you’d still want him if he was just some guy at a party?”

I think about the words coming out of her mouth and the words start falling out of mine without even thinking.

“For as long as I can remember it’s been Colson.

I’ve never wanted anyone like I want him.

I can date Jackson and be fine, Stassie, we would be happy and we would get along.

It would be comfortable but he’d never be Colson.

I don’t want what’s easy or what anyone else thinks is right for me.

I want that fire that burns inside of me when Colson looks at me, Stas. ”

“Oh no,” she sighs. “It’s worse than I thought.”

I quickly wipe away a stray tear that manages to escape, “It’s impossible.”

She hugs me, “Just take some time for yourself. If it’s meant to happen, y’all will find a way. Are you going to tell Reiss?”

I shrug, “I guess not. I don’t want to come between them. If Colson wants to find a way to be together, he will tell him.”

Stassie shakes her head in agreement, “I think that’s smart. Let him get his shit together and figure it out.”

“Get some rest,” she demands. “It’s not easy to be the two prettiest girls on the lake.”

“I don’t want to go,” I sigh.

Stas smiles, just before flicking off the lamp, “If you don’t go, how will Colson see all the Instagram photos you’re gonna post that scream he’s missing out.”

“If he even cares. He made it clear that he didn’t care what I did.”

Stassie laughs loudly, “Please, girl. That boy is so fucked when it comes to you. It’s so obvious that if Reiss doesn’t catch on soon, I’m gonna worry that your brother is actually stupid.”

“He must be,” I agree. “He still hasn’t caught on to you.”

“Don’t even go there. Reiss is hot. Super fucking hot but it’s a real turn off the way he sleeps around. I can’t get down with that.”

“He’s all talk and no action,” I laugh.

I wait for her to say something but she doesn’t, which makes me wonder what she knows that I don’t.

The next morning, I put on five different bathing suits before settling on a pink string bikini and a white cover up. Stassie braids my hair into one long french braid and we wait for Reiss and some of the guys to meet us at Lakeside.

“Show up here and I’ll put you to work,” Rick says, laughing when he sees Stassie and I.

“Shut up and get me a waffle,” Stassie says. “Pronto.”

Rick’s eyes bounce to me as he chuckles, “You want anything, Linc?”

“Nah, I’m not very hungry. Thanks though.”

He disappears and a few minutes later Reiss walks in with two guys we hang out with at the track and Mira.

I yank him hard by the arm, “What is she doing here?”

Mira slips next to him, “Retract the claws, Bane. I come in peace.”

“I’ll bet you do,” I seethe.

She looks at Reiss and then back at me, “You know whatever vendetta you have against Landon doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

“Right,” I nod. “You don’t have anything to do with sabotaging Reiss’ bike in Indiana last year, do you? I heard you talking, Mira. I know that was Landon.”

Reiss’ eyes fall to me, “Back off, Linc. She’s not like him.”

“It was Landon,” she agrees. “He’s a prick, okay. He hangs out with assholes. I don’t want to do anything to hurt your brother.”

We stare at each other for a beat before Stassie walks up, just as shocked to see Mira as I am, but no one misses the way Reiss’ attention shifts to Stas.

Not even Mira.

“Jack’s here.” Stas announces. “He just pulled in down at the dock.”

Everyone follows her and I laugh as Stassie tries her best to eat her waffle out of a styrofoam box as she walks, acting completely unphased.

Walking up to the boat I don't miss the way Jackson looks. He’s good looking. I know it and every girl in this town knows it. Plus the money doesn’t go unnoticed. He drives a flashy car, has a giant house, and this giant boat we’re about to go out on.

“Hey, Linc.” He says, reaching his hand out to help me step onto the boat. “Ready to be stuck with me all day?”

I take his hand and step onto the boat, “That sounds very serial killer-ish.”

“Kiss? Yes. Marry? Hell yes. Kill? Not so much.”

He smiles wickedly and I’d be lying if I said the grin wasn’t a panty melting one. It is, but the problem is my mind isn’t on him. My mind is on Colson, and how his head was buried between my thighs at the lake house.