Page 16 of The Hearts We've Broken
We moved a couple paces back from the fire, and the night air instantly provided cool relief.
“What would I do without you two?” Nico’s arm was still around my shoulders, but he wrapped his other one around Liv, pulling her close.
Liv giggled. “Well, for one, you’d probably be passed out somewhere.”
“You’d come save me, though, wouldn’t you, Livvybug?” He didn’t wait for an answer before he took his arm off me, using his finger to boop her nose. “You would. I know you would. You’re always saving me.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I also didn’t know how reliable Nico’s storytelling was at the moment.
Liv rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flared pink as she whispered, “Probably.”
Natalie came back shortly after with two drinks.
“What’s this?” Nico tilted his head at the solo cup Natalie offered him.
“It’s something new. You’ll like it. Go on,” Natalie urged.
He took the cup from her and downed it in a couple gulps, letting out a loud burp at the end. Nodding vigorously, he smiled lazily. “You’re right, that was good!”
Liv yanked on the arm of a guy who looked to be a taller, male version of her. They had matching green eyes and the same blond hair. “Juniper, this is Tommy. He’s my older brother.”
“Hi.” I raised my hand in a polite wave, pursing my lips in a soft smile.
“June just moved here from Goldfinch! She graduated from SGU in the winter,” Liv explained, her hands moving in wild gestures. “Tommy graduated a couple years ago, so I thought you two would get along. You should go talk!” She pushed her brother toward me.
Tommy let out an awkward laugh at Liv’s attempt at matchmaking. “Sorry for my sister’s inability to be subtle. Do you want a drink?”
“Yeah, now that Nat’s back, I think she and Liv can handle Nico.” I laughed. “We’ll be back, guys.”
Liv and Natalie nodded and Nico sort of waved as westepped away from the bonfire. We walked side by side toward a few coolers, and Tommy handed me a seltzer that I pointed out.
“So, do you live here?” I asked him.
“No, I’m just visiting for the weekend. I don’t know how much Liv has told you about herself”—he laughed—“but we grew up in a tiny town here in Montana. You’ve probably never heard of it. Reverie?”
I shook my head. “Nope, can’t say I’ve heard of that one.”
“You’ll have to come visit with Liv. In the fall they put on this big festival and the town population basically doubles. It’s like the Bucking Horse Sale level popularity, but with cozier vibes.”
“I’ve heard a lot about this Bucking Horse Sale thing.”
He laughed. “It’s a big deal around here. It’s one of those ‘the ones who get it, get it’ type of things.”
“I guess I’ll take your word for it then.”
We lost track of time and talked a while longer—or rather, Tommy talked—then walked back to the bonfire to find Liv and Nico. He was interesting, but a nagging feeling in my chest kept me from getting too involved in the conversation. I’d made a deal—didn’t matter that it was a deal with the devil himself—and I was going to stick to it for the sake of my own agenda.
“I’d love to get to know you better. Maybe in a setting that’s not so crowded with college kids.” Tommy chuckled.
Before I could turn him down, a hand dropped onto my shoulder.
“There you are. I was wondering where you’d gone off to.”
Speak of the devil.
I spun around, coming face to face with Mikey. Helooked good, in a baseball cap and a Henley with the top button undone. His facial hair had grown to a five o’clock shadow since the night we met in the bar, and his mustache was neatly combed.
“Oh, I—” Tommy stuttered. “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, Juniper. I’m sorry. Liv didn’t mention…” His voice trailed off as he realized who I was with.
