Page 11 of Sunrise Arrows

“Youknowhim?”

“Hunter, this is Briar,” I introduce. “Briar, this is Hunter—Archer’s evil twin.”

“No,” she denies.

“Uh-huh.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re doing here, Tinsley, but I thought I made myself clear the last time; there’snothingfor you here. You’re not wanted.”

For a moment, I’m nineteen again and every accomplishment I’ve made since then doesn’t matter. Past and present blur together and all I can feel is the same constriction in my throat and the crush of my heart over his words.

What did you expect? That you’d come here and bat your pretty little eyes and he’d fall all over himself at the chance to have you again? He’s moved on. Forgotten all about you. So go write one of your silly little songs and do the same because you’re not wanted here.

On the inside of my elbow, I feel the sharp pinch of Briar’s manicured nails. The pain halts the torrent of emotion trying to break though and allows me to recenter myself.

“Well actually there is,” I reply with indifference, turning back to the counter. “Tiff, right?” I ask the girl. She nods her head, stars shining in her eyes. “Do y’all still make the strawberry shortcake frappé?”

“Yeah, we can, we can totally do that for you, Miss Jacobs. Whatever you want, we can make it.”

“Perfect,” I beam. “I’ll have one of those, large, and an iced Dirty Hippie Chai Latte, also large. Oh and please, call me Tinsley. Briar and I are going to be here for the next several weeks, so we may as well get on a first name basis since you’ll be supplying us with our daily caffeine fix.”

“Oh my God, that’s amazing. Tinsley Jacobs is stayinghere.In Berry Falls. Oh my God.”

With Briar paying, I turn back to Hunter with a self satisfied smile and ask, “So, how have you been, Hunter? I see you’re still as hateful as you always were.”

He ignores the coffee that’s set down right in front of him and closes the gap between us. Briar goes to intercede much like I did for her, but I put my hand up to call her off and let her know I’ve got this. Hunter may have had the upper hand for a moment, making me feel small and insignificant all over again, but I’m not the same girl he once knew and bullied out of seeing his brother again. In the nine years since we last saw each other, I’ve performed in front of sold out crowds in some of the world’s largest venues, headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, and reshaped the industry as one of the biggest musical names of all time.

I’ve become a goddamn icon known around the world. No one gets to bully me and make me feel unworthy. Especially not Hunter fucking Hayes.

“He’s happier without you, Tinsley. Stay the fuck away.”

“In case you’ve missed it, Hunter, it’s been ten years. So do like your brother and move on.”

“Here you are, Miss Jacobs—I mean, Tinsely,” Tiff excitedly interrupts, handing me our drinks.

“Thank you, Tiff.”

I slide my sunglasses onto my face and link arms with Briar, dismissing Hunter without so much as a backward glance.

“Damn, babe,” Briar admires. “I was worried about you at the start but you were like ice.”

“It’s like you said—I’m Tinsley fucking Jacobs.”

“Hell yeah, you are,” she proudly agrees, cheersing our plastic cups together.

“So, where to first? I’m thinking we do a little shopping while word spreads, then we tour the town some because with word out, Mikey and John won’t be able to call any of today a fluke when I’m proven right. And after all of that, word will definitely spread. Small Town Collect at your service.”

“Sounds perfect, though I still need to text them and give them an update about where you’re going.”

“Ugh, fine,” I playfully grumble.

At the door, I let her arm go and turn my back to push it open while she texts. Briar goes out ahead of me, eyes still trained on her phone, and as I turn around to follow her, I bump into someone, dropping my coffee on the ground.

“Oh my gosh,” I startle, squatting down to pick up the cup. “I am so sorry, I wasn’t… paying attention,” I finish, my words trailing off as I’m met with deep green eyes, full lips, and a sharp jawline covered in dark stubble.

“Archer?”

“Tinsley?”

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