Page 55 of Sunshine

“But,” he sighs. “I’m willing to stay together as long as you promise you’re okay with my main focus being on football. It won’t always be like this, but right now I need to do this for myself.”

I’m hesitant, knowing how hard I took the breakup in the first place. It aches somewhere deep in my gutthat he’d have the audacity to break up with me if he wasn’t going to follow through with it—and to frame it like that? I’ve already long accepted that football is his first love. I don’t like knowing my place in his heart is so easily disposable as he tries to make himself feel better.

Maybe he didn’t realize the strength of his feelings for me. It’s what I tell myself, at least.

Things go backto normal relatively quickly, as if the whole ordeal never happened at all. Jason brings flowers to school that he plucks from his mother’s garden, and he tries to take me cruising in his Mustang when he has time to spare after practice. The entire town readies itself for another football season, and the first few weeks of games go off without a hitch. Since Noah King graduated, Jason is uncontested as the starting quarterback of the season, and he looksdamn goodon the field.

For as much as Jason focuses on football, I throw myself into cheer. My flying skills have sharpened in the last year and Coach West has me working on more complex inversions. Life feels good in all aspects—except for when it comes to Wells.

After our first lesson last year, Wells has given me regular lessons in riding, grooming, and feeding the horses on the Bennetts’ ranch. I don’t think either of us planned on him teaching me so much but I’ve become insatiable in my love for the animals and really enjoy learning about all his family is doing to foster rehabilitation for their rescues. It’s also obvious they need the help—other than the Bennetts themselves, there’s only a handful of employees that support the entireoperation—so I’ve spent a lot of my Saturdays helping where I can.

But after Connor’s party, Wells has become . . . moodier. I try not to take it personally, but I would almost understand if it was only directed at me. I mean, it took Wells a long time to warm up to me in the first place, and after my little whiskey stint, I can understand why he’d be turned off about having me around. But his sour attitude isn’t only directed at me—it’s affecting his relationship with Jason, too.

“I just don’t understand what his fucking problem is,” Jason huffs out one Thursday night at Mustang’s Pizza, tossing the wrapper of his straw in the middle of the table.

Jason’s social life is more than limited, but he’s been making an effort when it comes to both Wells and me. Yet Wells keeps putting Jason off, saying he’s too busy with work at the ranch to hang out.

“Are you sure there’s a problem?” I ask. “Maybe he reallyisjust busy.”

Jason shakes his head. “Nah, he’s been busy with the ranch our whole lives and it’s never stopped us from hanging out. It’s why we usually spend so much time there, so he can multitask. Something’s off.” He blows out a breath and scrubs a hand over his face, and it twists something inside of me to see him so cut up about it.

Yet another thing for him to be anxious about.

I have no idea if Jason knows what happened at Connor’s party, but the thought of there being distance because of me makes me nervous. Like football, Wells is another non-negotiable to Jason’s happiness, and if I’m somehow responsible for ruining that, I can only imagine how Jason would handle it.

“You know, it’s been a while since he’s given me a ridinglesson. Maybe I can try to schedule the next one, and you could ride with us? Make a day of it?”

Jason considers. “I’m not good on a horse . . . not like he is, anyway.”

I scoff. “I don’t think anyone is as good as Wells. Or any of the Bennetts, for that matter.”

Jason smiles, and I feel a warmth uncurling within me. “I mean, yeah. If he’s down, so am I.”

“Okay.” I smile back, picking up the slice of pizza in front of me. If anything, it gives me an excuse to face Wells head-on and see if there really is an issue between us.

I wouldn’t blame him for being upset about my behavior at that party, but I hope he’d understand the state of mind I was in after his best friend broke up with me.

On Friday morning, I spot Wells at his locker after first period.

“Hey,” I say as I sidle up behind him.

He turns, a mask of disinterest on his face. “Layla.”

I falter only slightly, then ask, “Do you have plans on Saturday?”

He shoves a black notebook into his locker and pulls out a binder. “Yep.”

“Besides ranch work,” I amend.

He sighs. “Why?”

I take a deep breath. “Because Jason is worried that you’re avoiding him, and I can’t help but think it’s because of me. I don’t want that on my conscience.”

Finally, he turns around fully, leaning his back against his still-open locker as his eyes sweep over my cheer uniform. It’s game day, and all the cheerleaders are dressed out for it. “How noble of you.”

“Look,” I try. “I’m sorry for what happened at the party. I was emotional about the breakup and I wasn’t exactly putting my best foot forward—but it’s no excuse for ruining your night. You shouldn’t have had to deal with me like that. But don’t leave Jay hanging.”

His eyes narrow. But he doesn’t say anything.

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