I laughed again and unlocked the door. “Yes. Very. Smooth moves.”
Hayes folded himself into the front seat. “You’re so annoying.”
I beamed at him. “Thank you.” If I could keep him dancing and rolling his eyes instead of stewing in guilt, I’d happily play the clown.
Hayes rubbed his palms across his pant legs.
“Where to?” I asked.
Hayes directed me out of town in the direction of the junkyard where he assumed his truck might be. It was a short drive, but I hummed along to the radio. When curiosity got the best of me, I glanced at my brother. “Why me?”
He hummed something that sounded likehuh?
“Why did you callme?” I clarified. I wasn’t sure what answer I was fishing for. Maybe something like,Because I missed you. Because you’re my favorite.Definitely not what actually came out of his mouth.
My big brother eyed me as though he was choosing his words carefully. “You’re the only one without a job.”
My face twisted. “Damn. Okay. Thanks, bro.” I tried not to let his words hurt me, but it stung anyway. Ididhave a job. Sure, I didn’t have any modeling prospects on the current horizon, but that was because I wasn’t looking for them. I could have something lined up tomorrow if I wanted to.
Probably.
Maybe.
Fuck.
“Sorry. I’m just in a mood,” Hayes said.
I glanced at his rigid posture. “I can see that.”
Hayes ignored my poking. We pulled into the tow lot and sure enough, his truck was there. Before he climbed out, he looked at me. “Thanks for the ride. See you at dinner?”
I pressed my lips together. “Yep.”
Mom had informed me that morning that she and Dad wanted everyone over for dinner “now that the family was all home.” A tiny pang of guilt poked my ribs at the thought that my absence had meant no family dinners for them either.
If only they knew it had been because I couldn’t bring myself to lie to them about my relationship with Greg.
Once I saw Hayes was fine to pick up his truck, I swung the car around and headed back toward town to do a little shopping before dinner. Picking up a few things for Mom felt like the least I could do to help out. If I couldn’t contribute rent or a clear life plan, I could at least show up with groceries and pretty flowers.
I took my time in the little grocery store, wandering the aisles and adding a few snacks into the cart in addition to the things Mom needed. The front display had gorgeous flowers you could bundle to make your own bouquet. I started plucking stems to create something pretty to bring to my mom. I hummed as I worked, arranging the flowers in a beautiful arrangement. Myhands knew what to do without thinking—balance the colors, vary the textures, tuck in a sprig of greenery here, a pop of something unexpected there. It was the same quiet thrill I got on set, making something ordinary look like magic.
Movement caught my eye, and I looked down the aisle to see Wes Vaughn. His back was to me, but there was no mistaking him. The sweatshirt he wore did nothing to hide his broad shoulders and muscular build. Even in a grocery store under terrible fluorescent lighting, he looked like he’d been cut from some rugged, broody-hero catalog.
It was deeply unfair.
I took one last look at the bouquet, and once I was satisfied, I wrapped it in paper and placed it in my cart. Then I wheeled off in Wes’s direction. Every sensible cell in my body screamedDon’t do it. The rest of me—apparently in charge—steered straight toward him anyway.
As I got closer, I could spot the hitch in his gait. There was something about him that drew me in. I wanted to talk to him, but he was giving off seriousdon’t fucking talk to mevibes.
Undeterred, I sidled my cart next to his. He paused, and I could feel his eyes on me. I ignored him and reached high on the top shelf for something. I pretended to struggle, and when he made no move to help me, I turned his way.
“Hey.” I smiled at him.
Wes looked confused. “Hi, Clara.”
I batted my lashes. “Can you help me grab that? I can’t quite reach it.”
His eyes were skeptical, but he moved in so close I could smell the spice of his bodywash on his skin. Heat prickled up my spine. I didn’t move as he leaned in and stretched to reach the box on the top shelf. The world shrank down to the clean, warm scent of him and the way his arm brushed mine as he reached. I was suddenly acutely aware of every inch of my own body.