He nods to the water. “Watch. The fireworks are about to go off.”
“Three, two, one! Happy New Year!”
It all happens at once. Disappointment rolls through my stomach as the crowd cheers, and fireworks explode over the water. I know they’re probably beautiful bursts of color, but I don’t see them. I’m watching Penn. Waiting, wishing I had the courage to take what I wanted like Ellie.
He tugs me into his chest. “Happy New Year, Barbie.” Then he places a light kiss on my forehead. It’s quick, but warmth spreads through me.
I try to hold in my sigh, but he feels it, and I swear he chuckles. He knows exactly what happened, and I can’t evenbe mad at him. He wanted to kiss me. He just needed some reassurance.
“Let’s go. If we wait much longer, we’ll never get out of here.” He grabs my hand, leading me to the parking lot. I stare down at his hand encasing mine. The tattoos on his knuckles spell out the word music, and I think about what Ellie said. I wonder if he’d play me as expertly as he plays the guitar.
Really?I internally scold myself. I couldn’t even ask for a simple kiss, but I’m thinking about his hands on my body.
When we reach his truck, he opens the passenger side door.
“Oh, I should call Ellie.” I pull out my phone but find a message from her telling me she and Travis took an Uber to his place. “Never mind.”
It’s only a short drive to my apartment. I’m bummed when Penn pulls up to the curb and doesn’t bother putting his truck in park. I undo my seat belt and reach for the door handle.
“I’m going to ask you out, Olivia, just so you know. Get out of that pretty little head of yours.”
I smile over my shoulder. “What if I say no?”
His grin is wide and cocky. “You won’t.” I raise my eyebrows, and he says, “But if you do, I’ll back off. I don’t play games.”
I nod, knowing he’s right, and hop out of the truck.
“You were amazing tonight!” I shut the door fast, not giving him a chance to respond, and speed-walk into my building.
19
OLIVIA
It’smy last week of freedom before classes resume, and I’ve done nothing but crochet and watch movies with Ellie. Which normally sounds like a dream, but my mind has been in a haze.
It’s been five days since the NYE show. Five long days since I last saw Penn, and he still hasn’t asked me out.
I’ve beaten myself up over not kissing him, worrying that I missed my chance. He’s still texting me, but there’s been no mention of a date. What is he waiting for?
My phone dings when Ellie and I are hours deep in aOne Tree Hillmarathon. I quickly reach for it, and she laughs at my desperation. I groan when I see it’s another text from Chad. He has no problem asking me out—every day, in fact. He asks me to meet him for dinner to talk, even though I ignore him at every turn.
Chad:
Babe can we please talk? Let’s get food at your favorite Italian place.
Olivia:
There’s nothing to talk about.
Chad:
Really?
Olivia:
Yes, really.
Chad:
