I look at him, and he comes to sit next to me. “If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to.”

I shake my head. “Casey is one of your best friends. I wouldn’t do that to you.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and brings me closer to him, which just makes my heart speed up. The smell of his musk makes me want to just put my head down on his shoulder. “I mean, unless you’ll go without me.”

“Nope,” he says, his thumb rubbing my arm. “Besides, what am I going to tell Ethan when he asks where you are?”

“That I’m at home watching Netflix.” I smile when he glares. “Fine.” I get up now. “Let’s go before I change my mind.” I hold out my hand, and he takes it, getting up.

He holds my hand as we walk out of the house. After locking the door behind him, he opens the truck door for me and smiles, grabbing my face. “Relax.” I sink into his touch. “If at any time you feel that you don’t want to be there, all you have to do is tell me, and we’ll leave.”

“Okay,” I whisper. He leans his head in, and I think he’s going to kiss me on my lips. I don’t move for fear he might back away, and when he comes closer, I hold my breath. I wait for it, but instead of kissing me on the lips, he kisses me right beside my lips. Then he steps away from the door and closes it. I watch him walk around the truck and then get in.

“Shit,” I say out loud. He looks over at me while he starts the truck. “I don’t have anything to bring.”

“It’s a barbecue,” he tells me. “You think Charlotte hasn’t been cooking up a storm all day.”

“I guess you’re right.” I shrug, and he pulls away from his house and I look out, trying not to have a panic attack. The drive goes a lot faster than I thought it would. I thought it wouldbe longer, or at least I hoped it would. We pull into the driveway, and I notice more cars than our usual get-togethers. There are about twenty trucks parked all different ways. We park right behind Jacob’s sheriff truck.

“How many people did he invite?” Beau says, turning and grabbing the door handle. He opens the door, and I follow him out. The sound of country music fills the air along with the sound of people talking.

Beau waits for me, grabbing my hand. “Don’t be nervous,” he says, and with my hand in his, we walk around the house toward the backyard. There are a couple of people who I recognize from the bar who also work for Casey.