Tumble (Dogwood Lane, #1)(22)

“What would be the fun in that? Ow!” Matt grimaces, his face turning red. Penn’s hefty forearm is clenched just below Matt’s chin. “Stop. It. You. Ow!”

Penn lets go. Matt staggers a few steps, his hands on his knees and his face beet red. Penn brushes his hands off.

“Made quick work of that.” He laughs. “Now I need a beer.”

“You’re buying me one now,” Matt tells him. He and Penn head to the table, waving for me to follow. Claire and I watch them go.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” she admits once the boys are out of earshot.

“I almost didn’t.”

“Why?”

“Well . . .” Quickly scanning the area, I shoot my gaze right over Dane. My heart strums in my chest. Standing near him is like a shot of adrenaline right to my veins. “A lot of reasons, I guess.”

“Although I can’t fathom what better things you had to do on a Friday night besides coming to Mucker’s and hanging out with us, I’m glad you made the right choice.”

The patio floods with our friends’ laughter, and I can’t help my grin. “Me too. What can it hurt, right?”

“Nothing, as long as you can manage not to combust. The way Dane is looking at you . . .” A sculpted brow shoots to the sky. “I’m just saying.” She holds her hands between us in defense before giggling and turning toward the table.

“Don’t make me regret this, Claire!”

My request is met with a full-bellied laugh.





CHAPTER EIGHT

NEELY

Sit by me.” Penn pulls out a chair. There are three open seats at the table, but this one just happens to be across from Dane. “I insist.”

I lower myself into the blue plastic seat. Across the table, between Dane and Claire, is Brittney Blevins. She was a year older than Matt, Penn, and me in school and is stunning. Time has been kind to her. Her long blonde hair shines in the hazy light. Seeing her beside Dane loops a knot in the back of my neck.

“Hi, Brittney,” I say as I get comfortable.

“How are you, Neely?”

“Good. Thanks. You?”

She brushes a lock of hair off her shoulder. “I’d be better if Patrick actually showed up tonight.”

“You need to forget him,” Claire tells her. “I know you like him, but he’s no good.”

“You can say that again,” Matt grumbles.

Brittney sighs. “I like him, all right? I know he’s unpredictable and won’t commit and gets jealous, but I do like him. I can’t help it.”

I hold up a hand. “Wait. Who is Patrick? Why doesn’t that ring a bell?”

“He’s that fool who ran his truck off the bluff and into Dogwood Lake,” Matt says, flipping a beer tab toward Dane.

“Oh.” I look at Matt. “Didn’t someone die in that accident?”

“That’s what they say,” he tells me.

Brittney rolls her eyes. “No one died. That was a stupid rumor.”

Dane leans forward, flicking the beer tab back toward Matt. The bracelet around his wrist looks bright against his tanned skin. “It wasn’t a stupid rumor. Bobby Jones went missing right around that time, and the last person who saw him was said to be Patrick.”

“That’s not what he says,” Brittney retorts.

“Of course he doesn’t,” Penn chimes in. “That’s gonna make him look even more suspicious.”

I drag my gaze away from Penn to the other side of the table. Claire is taking a sip of her drink, hiding a smile as she watches me. I don’t have to look at Dane to know he’s watching me too. The feel of his gaze has me shifting in my seat.

Clearing my throat, I sit back in my chair. “You know how it goes. Small towns are always full of silly stories and conspiracy theories. You can’t believe everything you hear.”

“I agree with that,” Penn says. “When Claire told me you and Dane were practically screwing in the middle of Dogwood Café—”

“Penn, I’m warning ya,” Dane says through clenched teeth.

My cheeks heat as Matt and Brittney laugh, and I punch Penn on the shoulder.

“What?” Penn asks. He stretches an arm over the back of my chair in a clear joust aimed at Dane. “Don’t lie to me, bud. I saw you right after that.”

“Stop it,” I tell him. “You’re such a pesterer.”

“That’s a nice way of saying it.” Dane’s words are crisp. “He has nothing better to do with his time than needle me.”

“Yes, I do. You just tell me my stories all sound the same.” He leans closer to me, the smirk on his face clearly for Dane’s benefit. “Maybe I’ll work on a new story for ya, Dane.”

“Penn, you’re pushing it.” I laugh, shoving him away.

The waitress stops by the table and drops off a few fresh beers for the crew. Claire orders the Rocket Razzle, a new Mucker’s invention, for me and a plate of fried pickles for the table.

As the group chatters back and forth, Dane and I exchange a soft smile.

“Are you dating anyone?” Brittney asks, pulling my attention away from Dane.

“Who? Me?” I ask.