Chapter 2: Sierra

"I'm so happy you're here." My best friend Daisy wraps me up in a warm hug the second I clear baggage claim.

I hug her back, my fingers almost clenching at the fabric of her tank top. God, I've missed her. Four years spent as roommates and best friends, and suddenly it's like she's been ripped from my life. Only now, back in her presence, am I able to find my footing. "You have no idea."

She pulls back, her nose wrinkling. "Is it that bad?"

I sigh, gesturing toward the airport exit as I roll my small suitcase behind me. "It's not bad. It's just…it's different. Being on my own without you is really like being on my own. The apartment is too quiet. You should have come to New York this summer like I begged you to a million times. How’re you adjusting?" 

Daisy fiddles with the ends of her hair as she glances at me from the corner of her eye. "You know I would have come if I could afford it.”

“Daisy, you don’t need –”

“Stop. I’m not going to mooch off of you. Or technically, James.” She raises her eyebrows at me, referencing my generous stepdad who still bankrolls my life. And hasn’t said a thing about my credit card bills this summer. “I still haven't found a job. No interviews. No prospects. Nothing. And until that happens, I’ll be right here in Ashby County."

"You will find a job, Dais. Trust me, you are crazy qualified for so many awesome positions. Any company would be lucky to have you. Anderson Marketing and PR -"

But Daisy holds up a hand and shakes her head before I can bring up my stepfather’s marketing company again. I’ve been offering to pass along her resume for weeks but she keeps shutting down the option.  

I bite my tongue. Whatever else I say will make me look like a spoiled little brat. Daisy and I graduated together in May, and while she's been actively job searching and seeking, reaching out to alumni and writing a bazillion cover letters, I've been circumventing my mom and stepdad's attempts to pull me into the family business. They own a public relations and marketing conglomerate based in London, with offices throughout the UK, slowly expanding into mainland Europe. A company all my brothers—blood, half, and step—work at. Plus, my cousins. A company promising me financial stability and security, and the kicker is I wouldn't even start at the bottom. Nope, I could work under one of my brothers, or two cousins for that matter, and within a year, be an associate. 

But I don't want it. I never have. But how the hell could I openly admit that to Daisy Kane, my hardworking, dedicated, determined, and stupidly driven best friend?

I can't, so I forgo the topic completely. "What are we doing tonight?"

She smiles, her whole face opening like sunshine blocking out a momentary storm cloud. "Raf's."

I snort, nodding in agreement. Raf's is seriously a dive, but it's a frequent hotspot in Daisy's tiny hometown. And while I'd never want it to be my hangout, there is something charming about it. Especially in comparison to the nightclubs in New York I danced at all summer. Sometimes, a girl just wants a piece of familiarity and small-town love. 

"It gets better." 

"What does?"

"Carter has a date tonight," Daisy practically squeals, clasping her hands together as we step through the airport doors, and the humidity hits me full on. 

"Your brother? A date?"

"I know. It's insane that he convinced someone to go out with him."

I snort, rolling my eyes. Carter Kane is smoking hot. All Daisy's brothers are. I'm sure there are girls a mile long lining up to even get a smile from Carter. No, the surprising thing is that Carter doesn't do dates. He does hookups. So, this girl, she must be special.

"Are we going to tease him relentlessly before he picks her up?" I guess, as that's exactly what I'd do to any of my brothers. 

"Even better."

I raise my eyebrows.

"We're going to crash his date!"

I lean my head back and laugh, throwing my arm around Daisy. God, I've really missed my best friend. How could I possibly move to the UK and leave my best girl behind? Why won’t she just come with me? It’s bad enough I’m in New York, and she’s in Georgia, but a two-hour flight definitely beats a time zone change.

* * *

"Brain freeze." I cringe, swallowing a massive gulp of my cherry Slurpee. 

Daisy snorts beside me, passing me a napkin from the cup holder of the white Jetta she's driving. 

"I like your ride," I comment, wiping up the Slurpee drops falling from my mouth. 

She shrugs. "Den's fixing cars up these days, so it's a loaner."

"It's a sweet loaner." 

"Says the girl who drives a Benz."

I roll my eyes. "It was meant to bribe me, not help me out. And I don’t even have it anymore since I’m in the city."

She laughs. "Sierra, take the job."

I look out the window, noting the lush green of the passing trees and shrubbery. It would be so easy to say yes, to just take the job. But it’s not what I want. I want to pursue my art, I always have. I’m not going to give up on my passion, on my dream, for a job in a field I’m not interested in. 

"How much longer is Jax home?" I ask instead, referencing Daisy's brother who is getting ready to move to Texas with his girlfriend. Out of all of the Kanes, Jax is the one I know the least, in terms of time spent in his company, but Denver's the toughest one to figure out. I may not have spent a lot of time with Jax, but he's easygoing and open, whereas Denver's always been a murky shadow in the background. He's tough to read, impossible to make smile, and sometimes I think he can't stand me. 

"This is his last weekend."

"No way!"

"I know." Daisy turns to me, taking her eyes off the road to give me puppy eyes. "I'm going to miss him like crazy. It’s been so great having him around for the whole summer and getting to spend so much time with him. But I'm happy for him and Evie. Plus, now we have an excuse to visit San Antonio." 

"There is that," I agree. 

"Want to grab a late lunch in Savannah? Raf's won't pick up 'til tenish, and we don’t have any other plans."

"And we can't annoy Carter all day if we’re crashing his date tonight.” 

"True. Lunch?"

"Done." I smile at my bestie as she makes a left and heads toward downtown Savannah. 

Sometimes, the best things are just being with the people who get you.

Now, that is a real luxury. 

* * *

It's early evening when Daisy and I enter the Kane home. The living room is empty, and I leave my suitcase by the stairs, flopping onto the couch with Daisy dropping down beside me. She kicks her feet up on the coffee table and toes off her sandals, letting them fall to the floor. 

I love being at the Kanes. It’s warm and comfortable and reminds me a lot of how Lach and I grew up, especially in the first years after Mom left Dad, before she met James. Lach and I relied on each other for everything and spent most of our afternoons hanging on the living room couch, waiting for friends to come over, playing video games or watching movies. 

I glance at Daisy as she scrolls through messages and emails on her phone, the frown between her eyebrows deepening. She gives a heavy sigh, and I want to hug her. I’ve offered several times to put her in contact with Lachlan or my cousin Finn but she refused, saying she doesn’t want to leave the US. Given her resigned expression and the dejection that weighs on her shoulders, I’ll offer again in a few weeks. If she doesn’t have any job bites by then, she may be open to other options. 

"Job hunt?" I ask softly.

"More like job fail." 

"You're going to find a job you love, Daisy. A few months one way or the other won't make much of a difference."

She mumbles under her breath, and I don't press her since it sounds like "easy for you to say." 

"Let's go out and have some serious fun tonight. Me and you. Like old times." I raise my eyebrows at her as she turns to look at me. 

"Want to start the party early?" She tilts her head toward the kitchen and what I presume is waiting alcohol. 

"As if I'd ever say no to that."

She giggles and dashes into the kitchen, returning with a bottle of wine and two glasses. The bottle is already opened, and she pulls out the cork and pours two glasses, handing me one. 

"To being unemployed." She raises a glass in my direction.

"But still hot," I counter.

She snorts and we clink glasses. I take a tentative sip of the wine and feel my nose wrinkle, mirroring Daisy's expression. "What is this?"

She shrugs. "Never trust my brothers to buy wine. Ever. It’s probably something Den cooks with."

"Whatever." I take another sip. "It's not bad after you get used to the taste."

Footsteps sound on the staircase, and Carter's frame comes into view. 

"Ow-oo, ow-oo!" Daisy catcalls him, whistling obnoxiously.

He gives her the middle finger, and I laugh, suddenly missing the easy camaraderie I have with my own brothers. I've barely seen them this summer. Daisy and I walk toward the bottom of the staircase to give Carter hell. 

"Sierra Grace." He turns to me, smiling.

"Hi, Carter." I breathe him in. "You even smell good. A shower and cologne? This must be one lucky lady." 

"Shut it." He waves me away, and the familiarity I have with him warms my heart. It's nice to feel like I belong somewhere every once in a while, especially since my entire family is currently in the UK, and I'm here, alone. 

Daisy stares at Carter with wide, shiny eyes. A bubble of laughter falls from her mouth.

"What are you staring at?" he asks her curiously.

"This is the best."

"What is?" A flash of annoyance crosses Carter's face, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning. He really likes this woman. And Daisy is dying to give him hell for it. 

"You. Actually getting bent out of a shape over a girl. Who would have thought we'd see the day?"

"Not me," a low voice says, and my shoulders tense as goosebumps break out over my skin.

Denver Kane. 

I'd recognize his voice anywhere, and the sound of it crashes over me like a cresting wave. I could literally drown in Denver, and he wouldn't have a clue. His eyes cut to me, unnerving me and keeping me rooted with the intensity flaring around his irises, darkening his eyes to black. 

"Hey, Denver," I manage to say, lifting my hand in a wave. I hope my voice isn't wavering. 

He nods at me, businesslike, and then looks to his sister and brother, completely dismissing me. Like usual. My cheeks blaze at his rejection, but I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve pined for Denver since I met him during my sophomore year of college. Unnerved by how ridiculously hot he was, I was also drawn to his quiet intensity. The entire time I stayed with Daisy, I barely heard him speak but his eyes, his black eyes saw everything, even me. Although I never had a conversation with him, I knew, just knew, that if he spoke to me, it would be easy between us, natural. Instead, he remained a mystery. 

Denver exudes confidence, an unapologetic boldness that shifts the entire dynamic of a room the moment he enters. His presence could fill a solar system and here I am, one tiny moon, desperate to be sucked into his orbit. I’ve attempted for years to get to know him better, or at least be friendly, but he’s shut me down each time. 

That doesn’t mean I’ve moved on though. Nope, my stupid, desperate heart still beats faster at the sight of Denver. 

"Have fun tonight," he tells Carter before turning around and walking back into the kitchen, the swinging door swaying in his wake. 

"Weird," Carter murmurs.

"I know, right?" Daisy agrees, staring at the space where Denver disappeared moments before. 

I take a small step back, studying my hands. Denver can't stand me. I don't know why exactly, but he glares at me like he's angry I'm in his space, frustrated he even has to waste a breath greeting me. A burn blazes through my veins, and I take a fortifying breath. 

“Seriously, is something up with you and my brother?” Daisy asks me, her eyebrows arching. 

A blush burns up my neck, bleeding into my cheeks in embarrassment. “I don’t think he likes me much.” I admit. Flicking my wrist dismissively, I change the subject. "It doesn’t matter. So, you're taking her to Raf's?" I direct my question toward Carter and Daisy's laughter escapes, picking back up with her teasing. 

"I'm leaving." Carter raises his hands in surrender. "Whatever you girls get into tonight, be safe."

I look at Daisy, and she rolls her eyes and we both laugh, knowing that we're getting into his date tonight. 

"See you later." Carter pushes through the front door, and we wait until we hear the door close behind him.

"He has no idea, does he?" I ask Daisy.

She shakes her head. "None whatsoever. I never thought I'd see the day Carter would actually fall for someone." 

I walk back to the coffee table and down half the contents of my wine glass. A breath of relief escapes me, grateful that it's Carter and not Denver. The relief is quickly followed by a pang of longing, of knowing. One day Denver Kane will fall in love, and my heart will break. He'll just never know it. No one will.