I SLUMPED ONTO MY PARENT'S couch in the living room. A bowl of popcorn in one arm, a can of pop in the other as my cousin Lily rattled off a thousand reasons I should go out with her tonight through the phone. "Just come," Lily begged. "For me. Please."

I held it to my ear, flicking through shows I had no intention of watching.

My dad bailed on our evening ride. Jace's training ran late, and when he finally called after an hour, he apologized because he had forgotten about some banquet he and Mom were supposed to attend.

"I'm tired," I told my cousin. Not a lie, riding took me out, and after some well-deserved pizza I picked up for Nico and I—the former ditching because he had other plans, I was going to pass out.

Lily whined. "Come on, you leave tomorrow, and I barely saw you today."

Because I was in no mood to discuss my pathetic excuse of a life and managed to avoid everyone.

"What are you going to do?" she asked. "Watch music documentaries and wallow in that empty house all by yourself."

"It might have crossed my mind."

I could feel her frown through the phone. "Just come for an hour. Jace said he wasn't coming, so there's no chance you'll run into him."

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to go. My favourite band was playing, and I could always use a few more band shirts to add to my collection.

I sawed my teeth. "I don't have a ride." Thanks to the truck that was going to cost me an arm and a leg to fix. I nearly fainted when Olivia called with the estimate. There was no way in hell I would be able to afford it, which meant it was up to my dad to decide if he wanted it towed home or the shop to fix it.

"I can be there in twenty," she said. "Get your fine ass off the couch and throw on some makeup. You're going out tonight."

Despite myself, I grinned, glancing at the clock on the mantel. "Fine."

***

Lily and I paid the entry fee, earning our wristbands for all the shows tonight before heading to the beer gardens.

We slipped through bodies. Some we recognized, the majority we didn't. People flocked from miles to enjoy the Tastes of Music Festival, which meant a lot of new faces and plum full motels.

My cousin took the lead, her straight brown hair sweeping midback as she walked confidently upon the carpet of grass. I myself needed it out of my face, so I pulled mine back, throwing on an old AC/DC t-shirt I tucked loosely into my pants before adding my jean jacket.

We approached the steps of a large patio built in the center of the park, climbing our way past people to the roofed bar atop.

"Who did you catch a ride with if your car's in the shop?" Lily asked when we reached the counter, her green eyes carved with ebony liner. 

"A friend from school," I replied, lifting my voice over the bass of the band playing on the main stage. The park was packed with people. The crowd stretched from the parking lot toward the main stage centred before us, extending to the lake on my right.

"Obviously," she said, ordering two beers. "Who is it?"

I hesitated. As fun and trustworthy as Lily was, she was also super judgemental and loyal to our team to a fault, meaning she would likely deem my catching a ride with Hunt an unforgivable betrayal. "Just some guy in my Stats class."

She cocked a dark brow; the smile lines around her mouth growing. "Is he here for the festival?" she asked, likely thinking it couldn't have been anyone we knew. The only two people attending Bridgewater University were Hunt and I. And I knew the thought of me catching a ride with him would never have crossed her mind.

"Maybe," I replied, though I couldn't be sure. I wasn't exactly paying attention to him.

Her eyes danced. "What's his name?" I grabbed my beer, giving her a look. "Oh, come on, Nadine. Is he cute?"

I took a long pull. "You could say that." And it wasn't a lie.

Her smile broadened. "Good. I'm happy you found someone else. Jace is a prick."

I wasn't about to disagree, and I wasn't about to correct her about her assumptions, not as she said, "I told you not to date riders from the same team," paying the bartender with a few bills.

I tipped my head, mocking her when my back was turned. Jace was a mistake. I knew that, but he'd been different. Or so I thought.

I didn't want to think about it. Not as my favorite band took the stage and shouted a welcome greeting into the microphone.

The crowd erupted, and my cousin turned—hair sweeping the hood of her sweater. "Where do you want to stand?"

My team roared in laughter from our table on the deck skirting the beer hut. Cushioned benches stretched long around a square, low-lying table. Each one dotted the patio, full of people sitting or looking for a place to sit.

I focused on the band, taking a swig of my beer as women I recognized and didn't, flocked by. I wasn't looking for company tonight. But Morin was with a girl nearly straddled in his lap—her full lips devouring his. He was lucky my dad was gone. Otherwise, he'd find himself going home alone.

String lights hung from low hanging branches of poplar trees the patio was built around, while square lanterns illuminated the tables. The town was all about the aesthetic. I didn't blame them. It was one of the many reasons the tourists returned every year.

I eased forward, about to order another beer from the waitress I recognized from Linda's bar, when my gaze snagged on another.

Across the tables, past a sea of heads Baker and Bell stood before the railing near the stairs.

Her smile was stretched from ear to ear, a beer in hand as she sang—or rather screamed the lyrics to the current song.

I quirked a small smile. It was the first time in a long time I'd seen her so happy. Not that I saw her often. But when I did, recently, her light had dimmed. She used to be so full of life.

The song ended, and she scanned the crowd, twisting her neck before those whiskey-coloured eyes met mine.

I kept her gaze locked. Slightly surprised when she didn't look away.

She looked good. Still wearing that jean jacket, her hair was curled loosely—pulled high with a few pieces framing the delicate features of her face. And her eyes...

They were the brightest of gold, framed in long lashes and black liner that shaped the natural angles of that sharp gaze.

"Hunt," Bear barked from his seat when I didn't immediately answer the waitress standing above.

I said nothing, and he followed my line of sight—twisting in his seat. He chuckled, shaking his dark head before taking a drink of his beer. "Looks like Hunt found his next victim."

Morin tipped his bald head, dark eyes darting through the crowd. "Who?"

"Baker," Bear answered.

Morin laughed. Then stilled. "Wait, seriously?"

The waitress grew impatient, tapping her foot in annoyance—with the time it took me to give my order or the fact that I wasn't giving her my attention the way I usually did, I didn't know. "I'll get another beer."

She rolled her eyes before peeling away.

I thought about getting it myself and casually bumping into Baker, but with the look Lily Bell cut me, I wouldn't risk getting burned.

She glared when she realized who stole Baker's attention, her green eyes like the hottest of flame.

She hated me just as much as the rest of Baker's family, and it showed in the way she hooked an arm in her cousin's and claimed her attention. 

I dipped my chin, not wanting to decipher what she was saying. I could only assume they were scolding statements.

Lily cut me a look of warning before shoving Baker down the stairs. "She's hot," Bear said, following them with his gaze. "And that ass."

I met him with a look of warning when he reverted, my temper slowly climbing. "What? It's not like anything'll happen with the two of you. But that doesn't mean I can't try."

My teeth ground, but I said nothing. I didn't need to give them any reason to think I harboured feelings for Nadine. I didn't. But she did help me when I needed it. Maybe that's why I felt so drawn to her now.

I tucked the long-hanging pendant I wore around my neck beneath my brown hoodless sweater, my backwards cap as black as the sky above.

"She just broke up with her boyfriend," Morin warned, taking notice of my abrupt change in mood.

"That means she's on the rebound," Bear replied.

Morin laughed, reaching for his beer on the table and jostling the girl with long spiralling curls in his lap. "You think you got a shot?"

It was a rhetorical question laced with sarcasm, but Bear answered anyway. "Why not?" His gaze set on me in challenge.

I glared, casually glancing back at the crowd where Baker had chosen her spot and kept a wary eye.

The band was as good as I hoped though my enjoyment was quickly put on hold when Lily scolded me atop the patio. "Is that who drove you home?" She scolded as we wended through the crowd. "Hunt?"

"I needed a ride," I snipped. "And you weren't answering your phone."

She combed frustrated fingers through her hair. "Have you forgotten who he is?"

"I'm well aware," I deadpanned, cutting through the tight crowd. I hated Lily's temper and her condescending remarks. I didn't need the lecture. I heard it plenty of times.

She continued, ticking off the reasons why I was an idiot for catching a ride with Hunt when I stopped.

Lily ran into my back. "Nadine, what are you—"

She didn't finish that question.

A few feet ahead, closer to the stage, stood Jace—black hoodie standing with several members of our team, including Jessica.

My heart flopped, finding his arms wrapped around her waist. But it was the kiss that had it shattering.

"Nadine," Lily called when I turned, shoving my way through bodies as the next song came on. "Nadine!"

I snapped back around, coming face to face with her. "Did you know?"

Her eyes ticked in mine. "Jace was supposed to tell you."

"Oh my god!"

"I told you they were seen together."

"Rumours, you said. You didn't tell me it was official."

"I didn't know how," she snapped back, more from the music, I assumed. "You were so... we didn't know how to talk to you after Hama, and then you went back to school. I didn't want to stress you out."

Too late. My gaze flicked back to them, where the rest of our team stood, watching the two people I trusted the most sway to my favourite song. "How long have the others known?" I asked.

Her eyes were stained with apology. "Nadine..."

Disappointment crushed what was left of my tattered heart. My team. My team chose Jace's loyalty over mine. "You're my cousin, Lily. My sister."

She said nothing—green eyes glistening.

"You should have told me," I finished, backing away.

"Nadine!"

I cut through the crowd. Not stopping.

A/N: Someone's getting a little overprotective. Maybe we'll see a little more of it in the next chapter 👀👀

Also, Jace is an a**

For those who have read this before, I can't wait for the next chapter!!!!