Page 2 of Born Wild
He says it as if it’s that simple.
“What?” I pretend to not understand who he means.
“You hear she and Brooks broke up?”
Of course I did. The entire school was talking about it last week. Hell, I’m sure all of Wilder Valley is. “Yeah. So?”
“So, she’s single. You’re single.” He drags out the words.
I shake my head. “She doesn’t see me like that.”
“Maybe.” He rolls his eyes and gives a little shrug. “But you’ll never know if you don’t shoot your shot.”
I swallow hard. The reality is, I don’t know if I can handle the embarrassment of her rejection. Cassie’s always been kind and friendly, but she’s that way with everyone. It’s one of the things I admire about her most. But we’re on different levels. People like Cassie don’t end up with people like me.
“Well, if you don’t ask her, someone else will.” My brother lays the words down like a challenge before turning his back to open the driver’s side door. He catches my gaze briefly and grins before hopping in the truck. “You’ve got five minutes. Don’t be a chicken. But if you take too long, I’m leaving without you.”
I can’t help but smile back. This is stupid. She’s gonna say no. But my brother is right. If I don’t ask, someone else will.
I keep my eyes on the ground as I make my way to the end of the parking lot where Cassie is waving goodbye to her friends. I hang back, fear paralyzing my mind until she turns her head and our eyes meet. Her smile brightens and she takes a step towards me. “Hey, Tim.”
I can’t help but grin as my insides melt, a warm feeling expanding my chest. Because this is it—this moment is my chance. Not just to talk to Cassie, but to ask her about the bonfire. To strike up a conversation that’s more than a few words before I graduate.
Bob’s words ring in my ears.If you don’t ask her, someone else will.
“Hey, Cass. Do you—?” The low timbre of my voice cuts through the air and our eyes meet again. This time hers are wide with expectation. Maybe even a little surprise.
It takes everything to calm my racing heart and push the question past my lips. Silly as it might be, this feels like fate.
“Are you going to the bonfire tomorrow night?”
“Oh, I was going to.” Her brows knit with a frown. “I wanted to, but I’m leaving in the morning.”
“Leaving?” My stomach drops. We’re only a couple months apart in age, but she’s a year behind me in school. I can’t believe her parents would move the summer before her senior year.
“Not for good.” Her laughter is light. “I’m staying with my cousins in Montana for the summer.”
“Oh.”
She’s going to be gone all summer.
All damn summer.
I’ve missed my chance.
“Yeah, I’m sad about missing the bonfire. But after this year, I just really needed a change of scenery. Sometimes I forget there’s a whole big world outside of Wilder Valley. You know how it is. Being from a small town like ours, sometimes you just want to get out of here and have a fresh start.”
“Yeah,” I say like I get it, but I don’t really. I’ve never envisioned a life outside of this place. My dreams revolve around finding love with a good woman and raising a family together.
“I’m going to miss everyone though.” She bites her lower lip. “I’m even going to miss the town gossip.”
“That’s an easy problem to fix.”
“Yeah?”
“I mean, surely.” I paste on a friendly disposition when inside all the hopes I made up in my head are crumbling. “You have friends who’d gladly pass on the latest.”
“Yeah.” She shrugs. “But no one who’d tell me everything.”
