Page 46 of Stick Around,

“Kellan is dangerously good at crafting. Should we be concerned?” Enzo tried to hide his smirk and failed.

I flipped them both off cheerfully. “You’re just jealous of my skills. It’s not my fault you two haven’t fully grown out of your toxic masculinity.”

“He has a point.” Enzo raised his beer in a toast. “To sparkles.”

Reid clicked his beer to Enzo’s. “To pink.”

Quinn stared at the three of us, her mouth opening like she might say something, then closing again. She shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you, Kellen. You were already sexy, but this made you ten times as much.”

“Do you have any more of those barrettes? I think I might start wearing a few in my hair.” Reid grinned as Quinn giggled.

The three of us lingered in the kitchen despite Quinn refusing to let us help clean up. Reid and Enzo nursed beers while I mixedmyself a Jack and Coke. The four of us sharing space was easier than it should have been.

I glanced at Reid and Enzo, wondering if they felt it too. This was something unexpected and probably complicated as hell. Because there wasn’t just me and Quinn. There was Reid and Quinn. Enzo and Quinn. Whatever this was becoming, it wasn’t conventional.

And the weirdest part? I didn’t mind. Not even a little bit.

My parents would have lost their minds over something like this. Their toxic marriage had been a masterclass in possession and jealousy. They would both go ballistic if either one of them so much as smiled at someone else. It was why I tended to keep things casual and short.

But this was different. Watching Quinn laugh at something Reid said and seeing the way Enzo’s eyes followed her around the kitchen didn’t spark jealousy. It felt right somehow, like we each brought something different to the table—different pieces of a whole.

The thought of her leaving in a few weeks left me feeling hollow. But it didn’t have to be that way, did it? She’d already extended her stay once.

She was a teacher. Teachers could work anywhere. And it was summer, which was the perfect time for transitions and for someone to fall in love with a place.

Or with people.

I shut that thought down fast. I wasn’t ready to examine what was happening in my chest every time she smiled.

Grabbing my drink, I wandered to the window, looking out at the hills separating us from the ocean. “It’s going to be a killer sunset tonight.” I turned to her, suddenly nervous. “Want to ride out to the beach and watch the sun go down?”

Her eyes lit up, then dimmed. “I don’t think I’m confident enough to ride that far on my own. Or that fast.”

I grinned. “We can share a horse. Tater Tot can easily carry both of us.”

Quinn bit her lip, glancing at Reid and Enzo. Something unspoken passed between them, and my stomach twisted with unexpected uncertainty.

“You guys could come too.” I wasn’t even sure if I wanted them to accept, but it felt important to acknowledge whatever was forming between all of us.

Enzo finished his beer and stood. “Can’t. I’ve got evening horse duty.”

Reid set down his empty beer bottle. “I need to check the lodge now that we’ve got more guests coming in. Plus, there’s that reservation paperwork I’ve been putting off.”

I nodded, feeling oddly relieved and disappointed at the same time. “Guess it’s just you and me, Quinn. You game?”

Quinn’s smile returned. “Absolutely. Let me grab a sweater.”

As she disappeared up the stairs, Reid gave me a look. “That hobby horse thing was smooth, Brooks.”

“Just doing my part to keep our guest happy.” I shrugged, trying to play it cool.

Enzo snorted. “Is she even still considered a guest at this point?”

“I have no idea,” I admitted.

Reid’s expression softened. “Yeah. Welcome to the club.”

“She leaves soon,” Enzo reminded us, his voice carefully neutral.