Page 52 of Facing the Line

Natalie squeals when Hadley flips the camera and shows her the water park. “I remember taking Jace to the splash pad there last summer! It’s so good to see you and everything. Hunter and I are so homesick for you.”

“Yeah?” Hadley’s fingers brush the screen. “I thought you guys would be too busy for that.”

Natalie shakes her head, her long brown curls bouncing. “It’s so weird being here and not knowing anyone yet. I like my job, and I have great coworkers, but it’s not the same.”

“It’s not just me,” Hadley whispers, but I’m the only one who hears her, because Natalie turns to see something outside of the frame.

“Guess who I’m talking to?” she calls, and Hunter appears, smiling wide.

“Baby Sister! Jonas!” Hunter’s voice is full of delight. Evan wanders up behind us and squeezes in the camera view, too. “Evan! What’s going on?”

“Nothing much, trying to stay cool in this heat, man,” Evan says, toweling off. “What’s up with you?”

“Just finished a workout with The Wolves.” Hunter tries to tamp down his grin but he can’t. I’m so excited for him, that all his dreams are coming true. It’s his highest goal to play hockey professionally and an injury last season can’t stop him. Pride rises in my chest.

“That’s awesome!” Evan does a goofy dance for him, making us all laugh.

“Have you asked them yet?” Hunter drops a kiss on Natalie’s head.

“Nope.” She gazes at him, eyes so full of love it almost hurts to watch. “I thought you’d want to.”

Hunter clears his throat. “Would you guys want to come to Chi-Town for the Fourth of July? The Wolves do a family weekend, and Hadley, we always spend it together. I’d love it if Joe and Ev could come, too.”

Hadley bounces in her lounge chair. “A million yesses!”

“That would be awesome!” Evan says, shaking his hair like a dog and scattering water droplets everywhere.

I shove him while Hadley turns to me. “Joe? You in?”

I know how much this means to her. I nod. “Sounds great. I bet we can stay with my family, if you guys don’t have the space in your new place.”

Hadley’s grin stretches from ear to ear. “I can’t wait!”

We say goodbye soon after. Evan flops onto his chair and puts his towel over his head. Hadley hands me my phone back, letting her fingers linger on mine in the exchange.

“Thanks for that, Joe. You always know what I need to cheer me up.”

“Hey, I can’t take credit for the Fourth of July invite.” I shrug, moving back to my own lounger.

“No, maybe not. But regardless?—”

“Irregardless—” Evan mutters, interrupting from under his towel.

“—I’m glad I have you around this summer.”

She smiles, and it’s like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. My heart thuds in my chest. I want to make her look like that all the time.

“It will be so fun to hang out with Hunter and Natalie together again,” she says, fiddling with the pile of hair on top of her head.

Sweat that has nothing to do with the humid weather breaks out all over my body. Having Hunter watch my every move for a weekend with Hadley? Hiding how attracted I am to her? No pressure there.

“So fun,” I echo, not freaking out. Not at all.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

HADLEY

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