Love Fool (One Night Only Season 2: Hunter's Story)

Chapter Sixteen

Hours after the wind picked up and made staying in the lake even more uncomfortable, and long after Deni announced she was going back to her place with a promise to return just before eight o'clock to head to Adam's party, I still can't wrap my head around what happened this afternoon. Not the scene in my kitchen, not Adam showing up right after, not Deni accepting his party invitation for both of us, and not that my fate is to spend the night in her company with Trinity almost guaranteed to be somewhere nearby, assuming Deni is my girlfriend, on the same day Deni firmly placed me in the neighbor zone.

What a mess.

Technically speaking, I didn't tell Trin I have a girlfriend. Adam did that. I went along with his story because it was the easiest and most ego-preserving option I had at the time, but now what do I do? This whole day needs a do-over, or for time to be rewound back to this morning at Deni's camp, when I was confident that my crush was reciprocated. I would leave the entire situation at the exchanges we had there and choose ignorance over the dread in the pit in my stomach about the evening to come.

"You're in a mood," Paisley comments after dinner, as she helps me clear dishes from the table. "Aren't you looking forward to your date tonight?"

Is she serious right now? Some higher power had better shower me with the patience I don't have, because good grief.

"Going to Adam's party isn't a date," I inform her.

"Whatever you want to tell yourself."

"Were you or were you not present for the conversation we all had today about Deni and I being friends, or do I need to go over that again?"

Paisley doesn't answer while she stacks dishes in the dishwasher. For a few blissful and quiet seconds, it seems possible she'll let the subject drop. Then she shuts the dishwasher door and stares at me, hard.

"I still don't believe either of you." She smirks and flounces out of the room.

My sister's read on me is accurate, and it's another thing to be worried about. Are my feelings as obvious to Deni and anyone else who sees us together? As much as I want to push the idea away, my brain refuses to stop obsessing over how I should act around Deni tonight while I get ready for the party. It's still running what-ifs and scenarios when I step outside the camp to prevent another encounter with Paisley and to get some air before Deni arrives.

Ironically, it's seeing her at the top of my driveway that finally hushes the chatter in my mind. She has my undivided attention as she seems to nearly glide toward me with each step. There's something different about her appearance tonight. Maybe it's the subtle glow in her cheeks, or the way she's styled her hair, or how her eyes sparkle in the evening sun. Whatever it is, she's absolutely stunning.

"You look amazing." The words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them or consider how I could be digging myself into a deeper hole.

Relax. It's just a compliment. Friends can give compliments.

"Thanks," Deni replies.

God, even her voice sounds angelic. But something about her seems more reserved than I'm accustomed to. Did my compliment unsettle her? There's nothing in her expression to answer the question I haven't voiced, so I look away and start walking to the car.

"Are you ready for this?" I open the passenger door for her.

"I should probably ask you that."

"It's fine."

Well, not exactly. My heartbeat is already speeding up at an alarming rate. How will I spend the night next to her without giving my real feelings away?