The fire crackled in the distance, its glow casting flickering shadows across the wide-open field, but all I could hear was the steady thrum of my heartbeat.

We were on the far edge of some friend of Colt's property, where the land opened up into a wide, sweeping field bordered by a thick line of trees. The firelight created a warm circle of light, but beyond its reach, the world dissolved into darkness, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the low hum of voices from the small group gathered around the bonfire. Trucks and old cars were parked haphazardly in the grass, their headlights off but still radiating warmth from the drive.

I wrapped my arms around myself, more out of habit than actual cold, trying to shake off the unease that clung to me. The memories of the last few weeks lingered, shadowing my thoughts and making it hard to focus on anything else. It was strange being here, surrounded by people who seemed so at ease, when everything inside me still felt so unsettled.

"You sure about this?" I asked.

Colt's hand rested against the small of my back, his touch steady and reassuring. He turned to me, his blue eyes softer than usual. "We need this, Lemon. A little break from everything. Besides," he added with a half-smile, "you could use some fun."

Fun. The word felt foreign on my tongue, like something I hadn't tasted in years. But Colt's gaze held a sincerity that made it hard to refuse. So, despite the unease settling in my chest, I nodded, letting him lead me toward the fire.

As we approached, I could see Caleb and Sean already deep in conversation, their laughter carrying through the night air. We stepped into the circle of light cast by the fire, and the warmth of the flames brushed against my skin, easing some of the tension in my shoulders. Caleb spotted us first, raising a beer in greeting as a wide grin spread across his face.

"Well, look who decided to join the party," Caleb called out, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of the others.

Sean turned, his expression softening as he saw us. "Glad you could make it," he said, his tone genuine.

I managed a small smile, nodding in acknowledgment, but my eyes were already scanning the faces around the fire, searching for some kind of comfort in the familiar. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and pine, the scent of the night mingling with the faint trace of beer and something cooking on a grill nearby.

"Want something to drink?" Colt asked, leaning in close so I could hear him over the chatter.

I hesitated, glancing toward the coolers and makeshift bar set up on the tailgate of someone's truck. It wasn't that I didn't want a drink, but the idea of stepping into that crowd, of mingling with people who seemed so at ease, felt overwhelming. "Maybe in a bit," I replied, my voice quiet.

Colt nodded, his hand lingering on my back for a moment before he moved away, heading toward Caleb and Sean. I watched him go, feeling a pang of uncertainty. Colt had a way of blending in, of making himself at home no matter where he was. I envied that about him, how he could just slip into any scene without hesitation.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to follow, but I only made it a few steps before something—or rather someone—caught my attention.

"Lemon?"

The voice was unmistakable, and my stomach tightened as I turned to see Rem standing just a few feet away, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Rem." His name came out more as a breath than a word, and I had to fight the urge to take a step back. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Rem's smile widened, though there was a hint of something else there—hesitation, maybe, or curiosity. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and he had that same easy confidence I remembered.

"I could say the same thing about you," he replied, his tone light but probing. He took a step closer, his eyes scanning my face like he was searching for something familiar. "I didn't think you were the bonfire type."

I forced a small smile, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm not, really. Colt dragged me out here. Said we needed a break."

"Colt, huh?" Rem's smile faltered slightly, and I saw the flicker of something else in his eyes—something that made my heart beat just a little faster. "Yeah, I heard you two were... well, spending time together."

There was a pause, one of those heavy, awkward silences where neither of us seemed to know what to say. His smile faltered slightly, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the memories of what once was rushing back like a flood.

"I tried reaching out," he said, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. "I didn't hear back."

"I've been meaning to text you back," I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. It wasn't a complete lie, just... not the whole truth. I had seen his messages, the ones I'd left unanswered, and part of me had wanted to respond. But every time, something had stopped me—a mix of guilt, confusion, and the simple fact that I didn't know what to say.

Rem chuckled, though the sound was tinged with something sadder. "I figured you were busy. Ranch life, right?"

Ranch life. It was such an easy excuse, the kind of thing people assumed was always pulling you in a hundred different directions. But the truth was, I hadn't been too busy. I'd just been... avoiding. Avoiding this, avoiding him, avoiding the tangled mess of emotions that came with looking into his eyes and remembering all the ways we'd tried and failed.

"So, how've you been?" Rem asked, his tone casual, but there was an undercurrent of something deeper, something that made the question heavier than it seemed.

I took a deep breath, shrugging slightly as I glanced back toward where Colt had gone, trying to ground myself. "I've been... okay. Busy, like you said. Just trying to keep the ranch running."

Rem took another step closer, his eyes searching mine. "You look good, Lemon. Happy, even. Is that because of Colt?"

The question caught me off guard, and I wasn't sure how to answer. Was I happy? Colt had a way of making things better, of pulling me out of my head and making me forget, if only for a little while. But there was always that lingering doubt, that feeling that no matter how much I tried to move forward, something was still holding me back.

"Colt... he's been good to me," I said carefully, avoiding Rem's eyes as I spoke. "But it's complicated, you know?"

Rem nodded slowly, his gaze softening. "Yeah, I get that. Life has a way of getting complicated when you least expect it."

Rem's eyes held mine for a moment longer, and I could see the thoughts turning over in his mind, the questions he wasn't asking but I could feel all the same. The air between us felt thick, like something unspoken was hanging there, waiting to be addressed.

"Lemon," he began, his voice dropping to something softer, more intimate, "I never wanted things to end up like this. You know that, right?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar ache in my chest at his words.

"I know, Rem," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But we can't go back. Things have changed."

He nodded, but I could see the regret in his eyes, the longing for something that we both knew was gone. "Doesn't mean I don't think about it, though. About you."

His words hit me harder than I expected. I looked away, focusing on the flickering flames of the bonfire in the distance. "It's not that simple," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "You know it's not."

"I know," he said, stepping closer, his voice low and earnest. "But I want you to be happy, Lemon. And if Colt's the one who does that for you, then... I guess I have to be okay with that."

I turned back to him, surprised by the raw honesty in his voice. Rem had always been good at hiding his feelings, at keeping things light even when they weren't. But this? This was different.

"I don't know if I'm happy," I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. "I'm just... trying to figure things out. One day at a time."

Rem reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. "You deserve more than just getting by, Lemon. You deserve to be happy, really happy."

The tenderness in his voice was almost too much to bear, and I felt a lump form in my throat. "I don't even know what that looks like anymore," I whispered, more to myself than to him.

He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against my cheek. "Then maybe it's time you found out."

For a moment, I was lost in the closeness of him, in the familiar comfort of someone who had once known me better than anyone. But then reality came crashing back in, and I took a step back, putting distance between us.

"I should go," I said, my voice wavering as I tried to steady myself. "I need to find Colt."

Rem hesitated, a flash of something—disappointment, maybe—crossing his face before he nodded. "Yeah, you should."

I turned away from Rem, the lingering warmth of his breath still ghosting over my cheek. The fire crackled in the distance, its light casting flickering shadows on the ground. I could feel the weight of his gaze on my back as I moved through the crowd, trying to shake off the confusion that his words had stirred up inside me.

The bonfire was in full swing now, the air thick with the scent of smoke and the sound of laughter. People were everywhere—leaning against trucks, clustered in groups around the fire, dancing to the low hum of country music that played from a nearby speaker.

I needed a drink, something to calm my nerves and give me a moment to collect my thoughts. Spotting the tailgate with coolers and bottles, I made my way over, weaving through the clusters of people who were deep in conversation or swaying gently to the country music drifting through the air.

The drink I grabbed was cold, the condensation slick on my fingers as I twisted off the cap. I took a sip, the taste of cheap beer familiar and comforting in its own way. The firelight reflected off the bottle as I held it, watching the golden liquid slosh slightly with my movements.

I started to make my way around the bonfire, eyes searching for Colt's tall figure among the crowd. Here and there, I exchanged polite nods and smiles with people I recognized, but my focus was elsewhere. The music, the laughter, the smell of smoke and pine—it all felt distant, like I was moving through a scene that didn't quite belong to me.

As I wandered past the edge of the gathering, the firelight dimming as I moved farther from the center, I realized I still hadn't seen Colt. A small pang of concern nudged at me, but I pushed it aside, convincing myself he was probably just off talking to Sean or Caleb, maybe catching up with some old friends.

I continued sipping my drink, the warmth of the alcohol slowly spreading through my veins, loosening some of the tension in my shoulders. But as I passed a group of people I didn't recognize, their voices dropped to hushed whispers as I walked by, and I felt the uneasy prickle of eyes on my back.

"Where'd he go?" I heard someone ask, though I couldn't catch the reply.

That feeling of unease started to grow, the doubt I'd tried to ignore creeping back in. I picked up my pace, glancing over my shoulder as if expecting Colt to appear out of nowhere. But he didn't.

I caught sight of Caleb near the fire, his guitar slung over his shoulder, talking animatedly to a girl who was laughing at something he said. I approached him, hoping he might know where Colt had gone.

"Hey, Caleb," I called out, trying to keep my voice casual as I approached.

He turned, his easy smile widening when he saw me. "Lemon! Having a good time?"

"Yeah, it's great," I replied, forcing a smile. "Have you seen Colt? I thought he was with you."

Caleb shook his head, his expression turning thoughtful. "Nah, haven't seen him for a bit. Last I checked, he was headed over that way." He gestured vaguely toward the woods, where the darkness swallowed the path leading away from the bonfire.

A flicker of worry sparked in my chest, but I kept it hidden. "Thanks, I'll go find him."

I could still feel Caleb's eyes on my back, and I forced myself to walk casually, as if I were just heading off for a breath of fresh air, nothing more.