“I wonder where Baylor is?”

“She isn’t coming,” he says, taking a beer from Shane.

“Yeah, she is. I told her she is,” I say, and Shane laughs.

“You two are weird. I can’t decide if I think y’all are hot for each other or ready to murder each other,” he says and I shrug.

“Or both,” Jace says, and I roll my eyes.

“None of the above. We are a team; we should all be here together.”

“True, but she is a bitch, dude. No one likes her,” he says, and I know this. That’s why I had to get her here. Get some Jack in her, and she’ll be Baylor from the beach. I know it. And then everyone will love her. I just wish she’d let go a bit and enjoy life. She’s so obsessed with winning, it’s insane.

“Give her a chance. She’s just driven, that’s all,” I say before taking a pull of my beer. “She’s a good person.”

He looks at me like I’m crazy and asks, “How do you know?”

“Well, we—”

Before Jace can finish, I punch him in the arm as I say, “I just do.”

“Whatever, dude,” Shane laughs. “But you’re my cap, so I’ll take your word on it.”

“Not yet,” I remind him. “Find out Monday.”

“It’s in the bag, Jay. You know that,” he says, and I smile.

I like that they all think it’s mine. It actually cures my uneasiness about it all. Baylor can beat me, but I’ve been working my ass off to make sure that doesn’t happen. I nod as he walks away, and when I glance over at Jace, he’s glaring at me as he rubs his arm. “You’ve got to quit hitting me, man.”

“Keep your mouth shut then.”

“Whatever.”

And then he’s gone.

His arm is forgotten because he found some girl to fuss over him. I wouldn’t expect anything else; he’s a cute little shit. Looking out at the party, I lean back against the sink while I nurse my beer. From where I am standing, I can see every entrance, so I’ll know when she gets here. I haven’t been able to shake the image of those short shorts all day. She is so determined and so fucking stubborn. It was insane and pathetic watching her trudge up and down that hill today. She was obviously dying, but she wasn’t going to let anyone else know that. She was resilient and beautiful and didn’t quit. She ran the whole time. Yes, she was slower than a herd of turtles through peanut butter, but she ran and I was bursting with pride.

As much as I wanted to wrap my arms around her and kiss her once we got back to the top with Shane and Justin, I also wanted to scream at her. As soon as we reached the top, she started puking, along with Justin and Shane. Shaking my head, I could only watch and pass out more water. If she weren’t so fucking stubborn, she wouldn’t have pushed herself, but I’m noticing that she is dead set on beating me.

Not sure how she is going to take it when I get my position on Monday.

Might have to sleep with one eye open.

As the night goes on, I don’t move from my spot, and I find myself looking at my phone every ten minutes or so, checking the time. I don’t know where she is, and a part of me thinks she’s bailed. She may be hell-bent on beating me, but she is also hell-bent on not getting to know anyone and keeping everyone behind the wall that she’s built around herself. I don’t understand it, and I want to know why she does that. I want to know everything. She intrigues me but also drives me wild.

That’s why I have to know her. That’s why I keep pushing and hoping that maybe she’ll open up a bit. I pray I didn’t glue that door shut with what I said. I just really need her to forgive me and for us to get along. It would be so much easier. But with Baylor, I don’t think there is any other way but hard. Which will make getting inside her head so much sweeter once I do it.

And I will.

When a text vibrates my phone, I look down to see that it’s from Jude.

Jude: How much you give Mom?

With my brow furrowed, I type back.

Me: Why?

Jude: I just got off the phone with Lucy because she didn’t have the money for it, and I thought she’d call me, but Lucy said she called you.

Me: Yeah, she did. No big deal.

Jude: It is. How much?

Me: Don’t worry about it.

When my phone starts to ring, I ignore the call and tuck it back in my pocket. I know that I should answer it, but I don’t think Jude should have to be the only one to carry the weight of this family on his back. I can help and I will. There were so many times I gave Mom money this summer and Jude never knew about it. He shouldn’t be the only one doing it. She has three other kids, and I want to help her. I have to help her. While it would be ideal for my dad to do what he needs to do, I know it won’t happen, so we kids will step up and be the support my mom needs. Lord knows she’s been the perfect mom to us, so it’s only fair that we support her the way she has us.

When the side door opens, I push away my thoughts of my family drama and watch as Baylor walks in. She’s holding a box, but that doesn’t hold my attention for long. It can’t. Not with the way she looks. Her hair is down in a wavy mess of curls, and she’s wearing more makeup than normal, like she had on the beach. And within seconds, I can hear the ocean waves. She does that to me, takes me back to that moment… Or maybe it’s the beer, but man, she is gorgeous.

Coming in, she looks around, and when she sees me, she bites into her lip and heat courses through my body immediately. I push off the sink as she comes toward me. But before I can reach for the box or even welcome her, Jace is stepping in front of me, taking the box.

“Hey, you came!”

She shrugs. “Yeah, decided to take your advice.”

What advice?

“Cool!” he says, pulling out the bottles upon bottles of Jack she’s brought. “Damn! You brought a lot! How did you buy this?”

Meeting his gaze, she smiles. “With money.”

“But you aren’t twenty-one,” I say then, both of them looking at me.

Looking away, she shrugs, “Actually, I am.”

“What?” I ask, confused, as everyone gathers around, popping bottles. “When was your birthday?”

“Today,” she answers, and I’m surprised by that. How did I not know that?

“Damn, Moore, couldn’t tell anyone?” Markus says before digging in the cabinet, I know, looking for shot glasses.