*Lauren*

The grass crunched under my heels as I stormed down the hill, the remnants of the heated exchange with Lucas still burning in my chest. My mind was churning with words unsaid and feelings unsorted.

"Whoa, easy there," Shelby's voice cut through my inner storm as I nearly collided with her at the base of the hill. "Lauren?" she called out, her gray eyes immediately narrowing with concern as she caught sight of my disheveled appearance.

"Shelby," I breathed out, ...