Page 26 of Spring Break with a Bass Player
“Saige, hey, come in,” Vienna says, opening the door wider as she eyes the bag in my hand. “Is everything all right?”
“Of course.”
“Aren’t you a terrible liar,” she muses, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the kitchen. “Wine, coffee, or something stronger?”
“Wine.”
“Can’t be too bad then,” she says, taking a couple of glasses from the cabinet and setting them on the island as I drop onto a stool.
“Are you okay?” Wells asks me as he comes into the kitchen and sets his glass on the counter.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you? Because it looks like you’re having an existential crisis in my kitchen.”
I frown because there’sno wayI’m that transparent.
When I don’t respond, they share a look and I don’t like it one bit.
“Obviously, it’s about Bridger,” Vienna supplies and Wells nods.
“Definitely,” he agrees, like the two of them didn’t fight their attraction when she was only supposed to be his nanny.
“I like him,” I admit, resigned and also relieved to finally say the words out loud. “But I’m not sure I trust myself to like him.”
“Not everyone is going to be like Keith,” he says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Softening his tone, he adds, “It was a long time ago and from what I can tell, Bridger is nothing like him.”
“Who’s Keith?” Vienna stage-whispers to Wells without looking at him.
“Her ex from college that was a major asshole and thought he was some rock god. Cheated on her and treated her like shit.”
“He goestragicallymissing if he ever steps foot in Love Beach, got it.”
I snort, because I know she’s notexactlykidding, and it’s easier to focus on her outrage on my behalf than the fact that I let myself be wrapped up in something so toxic.
“There was a party at Bridger’s house, and I went,” I start before gulping down half the wine in my glass. “I wanted to make Bridger jealous so I flirted with someone else.” I keep my eyes downcast because it was childish and I’m not proud of it.
“What happened?” Vienna asks gently.
“Bridger left and went outside to sit by the pool. I followed him and he told me he was done chasing me. I told him I didn’twant it to be over, so I’ve been trying to show him that I seehimand not just my past when I look at him.”
“Okay, so what happened tonight?” Wells asks.
“He likes the Illinois Blues so I got us tickets to the game.”
“And?” Vienna prompts with the slight raise of her eyebrows.
“And we were on the kiss cam and he kissed me and it was amazing. There was this incredible tension between us and so when the game was over we ducked into an alcove and made out. It got…heated…and I made a comment that resulted in him sayingI should’ve known you’d be wild.”
“What’d you say?” Vienna urges, leaning forward with interest.
“Nothing I need to hear,” Wells huffs and she snickers. “You’re allowed to like what you like, Saige. If he can’t handle that then he’s not for you.”
“I don’t think that’s the problem,” Vienna murmurs as my body sags.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t be that person anymore. Yeah, I was young but I was reckless and Iliked it.God, I liked it so much—the music and the parties…”
“And you’re allowed to like that as an adult,” Vienna says firmly.
