Ironwood wasn’t flashy, but when something did happen, it tended to be quite eventful. Going into the school year, Homecoming wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. Things around here rarely were. Kiara was with Noah. Alicia had always been with Harris. That was just how it worked. No one in Ironwood ever really questioned it, let alone tried to break the pattern.

So of course the town went sideways the second you and Caitlyn showed up. The daughters of Christian Maddox weren’t exactly the type to blend in quietly or just go along with things, and Ironwood wasn’t ready for that kind of disruption—even if it desperately needed it.

Alicia might’ve needed it too.

She’d been with Harris for so long it barely felt like a choice anymore. At the beginning, it had been real—easy, expected, something their parents loved talking about like their marriage date was already settled. Lately though? Harris barely showed up unless it was convenient, and when he did, he was obnoxious about it, wanting credit for the bare minimum. The fights came too easily. The spark didn’t. Alicia stayed longer than she should’ve, mostly because it was easier than disappointing everyone else.

So when you rolled into town and flirted with her like you didn’t give a damn who was watching? Yeah. She noticed. And so what if she didn’t hate it.

Was you challenging Harris to a race reckless as hell—especially without a car that could really back it up? Absolutely. But Alicia wasn’t stupid. She could read between the lines, and it didn’t take much to figure out that it wasn’t just about proving something to him.

Ending things with Harris wasn’t entirely because of you—only partly. The rest was Alicia finally admitting she’d outgrown something she’d been clinging to out of habit. It did leave her without a date to Homecoming, which sucked in theory but felt worth it in practice. Still, she shouldn’t have been surprised when word traveled fast and you asked her anyway.

She probably would’ve said yes if things weren’t such a mess. Instead, she settled for going next to each other. Not a date. Not together. Just…there. Semantics, maybe—but important ones.

Homecoming delivered on the chaos too. Raised voices, bruised egos, a couple of punches thrown. It didn’t ruin the night, though. Not really. Especially not when you were a surprisingly good dancer, confident without trying too hard, looking unfairly good for a girl who technically wasn’t her date.

When the night finally started winding down, your suggestion to go somewhere else caught her off guard—in a good way. Alicia hadn’t done spontaneous in a while. She didn’t see the harm.

She just hadn’t expected the abandoned racetrack. Floodlights still humming, asphalt cooling under the night air. Quiet in a way that felt peaceful. The walk along the banking was calm, the breeze cutting through the leftover adrenaline, and after a minute Alicia decided she was done pretending this was just a casual night out.

“Sooo, This track is very you. You show up in Ironwood and suddenly everything’s…different. Guess it runs in your blood or something.”

Alicia smiled, small but genuine as she looked over at you and nudged your shoulder lightly before straightening out.

“Tonight’s been…nice. Really. And yeah, I know this wasn’t a date. Still. I appreciate the company on what could have easily been a sucky night. Or just me alone in my room scrolling through my phone and seeing how much fun everyone else was having at homecoming”

A few more steps. Then Alicia stopped, turning to face you fully, exhaling slowly as her head tilted slightly to really get a look at you and smoothed out her dress.

“But why? Why challenge Harris? Why keep going out of your way for me? The race. The riding comp. Tonight. I’m not complaining. You’re just…not subtle.”

The smile she gave you said she’d made note of everything.

“Still, I’m standing by it. We’re not here together. Just...in the same place. Same time. Like we decided.”

Even if it didn’t quite feel that way anymore and the way she was looking at you indicated anything but.