Page 63 of The Promises We Were Never Meant To Keep

I slide from the passenger side of Holt’s truck, moving to take a better look at Ricky’s handiwork.

He throws his arm around my shoulders and waves his free hand to the spread of blankets and pillows.

“Welcome to mi casa,” he says grandly. When Holt appears beside us, he taunts, “If you weren’t with the idiot, you could be with me. You’re missing out, you know. We could have this thing rocking all night long.”

Holt flicks Ricky’s arm from around my shoulder, pulling me close. His grin is stretched wide, though, when he flashes it at me as though to say, ‘who is the actual idiot?’

Ricky sighs. “Guess I’m gonna have to find myself another taker.”

“Ew.” I scrunch my nose, but I can’t help the laugh that follows when utter devastation paints Ricky’s expression.

“Yo,” Elijah calls from the campsite. “That fool tryina steal your girl?”

“Nothing to try,” Holt calls back. “She’ll always be mine.”

Warmth spreads in my belly, but I laugh again. Giving Holt a gentle push toward his truck, I say, “Let’s get unpacked.”

Holt grabs the tent from the box of the truck and walks into the clearing. His eyes scan the space before he starts for a nook in the trees that would be perfect for his tent. He starts to pull pieces from the bag, and I’m ready to help when Elijah and Micha stroll over.

“We’ll help,” Elijah says.

“You guys know my Dad owns an outdoor gear shop, right? I’m fully capable of setting up a tent.”

All three guys ignore me, but I don’t miss the little grin Holt flashes me.

Andy and Shy move close. In full ear shot of everyone, Andy says, “I’m ditching you guys.”

“What?” My eyes swing to her.

“I’m going to stay with Micha in his tent.”

“Oh. Okay, cool.”

Shy nudges me with her elbow. “You can stay with Holt.”

I swear the sun gets hotter. Holt stands and pulls his shirt off, tucking it in the back pocket of his jeans as usual. Micha and Elijah follow suit and we’re suddenly looking at a lot of muscles.

I swallow hard then clear my throat. “I can’t leave you alone.”

“I won’t be alone,” Shy says confidently. I swear, I see Elijah tense.

Andy sees it too, because she taunts loudly, “Are you going to take Ricky up on his offer to—” Andy air quotes. “Rock his van?”

Elijah’s dark eyes land on Shy over his shoulder and the extra heat I felt moments ago gets even hotter, because the look he gives her is one of warning. And it’s extra hot.

“No.” Shy twirls blonde hair around her finger, but her eyes are fixed on Elijah. “I’ll get Elijah to make some room for me in his tent.”

I’m not mistaking when I see Elijah’s shoulders fall in relief. He’s mostly a pretty quiet guy, but I’ve been noticing something brewing between him and Shy for a while now, so this isn’t surprising to me. And he did punch Kevin when he broke Shy’s heart by kissing Jenna.

Although the guys have all gotten over it, and Kevin is friends with almost everyone again, Shy hasn’t forgiven Jenna. I don’t think she ever will. In her mind, a friend doesn’t do what Jenna did. I agree, hands down. It’s not like she’s forgiven Kevin, either. Like I said, Shy could teach a masterclass in holding a grudge.

“What? Nobody loves Ricky?” We turn to find Ricky with his arms spread wide. There’s a wounded expression painted on his face, but his eyes are laughing. Although he would have happily taken any one of us for a rock-session in his mom’s van, he’s totally cool with being alone.

I actually think Ricky prefers it. He’s handsome in a shaggy kind of way, so he can get a girl. He just doesn’t keep them. He’s a go-with-the-flow guy. The never serious guy. The one who is most likely to flip-flop jobs, perfectly happy in his life lacking any and all ambition.

We love him anyway. He’s Ricky. And although he’s lacking ambition, he’s got a massive heart. If someone needed it, he’d be the first to give you the shirt right off his back. He’s that kind of guy.

As a mini herd, we all crown Ricky for a girly group hug that he one thousand percent soaks up.