Hastily, I rose, heat burning my cheeks to cinders.
Mom looked down her nose and gave a slight shake of her head, her eyes telling me once again I’d disappointed her.
“Hi, there,” Lana said as she stared at the boy standing between my parents.
The first thing I noticed about him was his height. For a sixteen-year-old guy, he was taller than most Seniors. He even stood a couple of inches higher than my dad.
I moved my gaze to his face, recognizing it from the photo dad had taken when he’d went to the funeral.
The high cheekbones seemed sharper and his straight hair a little longer, but his cerulean eyes were breathtaking, contrasting with his dark, midnight-colored hair. He stared at my face for a few seconds with indifference, then his gaze rose to the top of my head.
Feeling self-conscious, I resisted an urge to run my fingers against the bow.
He narrowed his eyes as he stared, and I could’ve sworn a tiny sneer of contempt pulled at his upper lip.
God, why didn’t I fight Mom? I hadn’t wanted to wear it in the first place, but she’d said I needed to make a good impression.As usual, I’d backed down.
“Girls, this is Paxton.” Dad’s voice seemed to break the spell in the room. “Paxton.” He motioned toward us as he placed his car keys in the metal bowl sitting on the entry table. “That little one who’s so eagerly trying to get your attention is Lana, and Terri is her bigger sister. I’m sure they’d love to show you to your room.”
“Come on, Paxton.” Lana stepped closer to the boy and gripped his hand in hers. “Your room is in-between mine and Terri’s.” She began pulling him toward the staircase.
I turned my attention to my feet, clad in pink leather sandals chosen to match my dress.
Heat still filled my cheeks at the thought of Paxton catching a glimpse of my panties as I’d laid there on the floor with my dress practically wrapped around my waist.
He must think I’m the dumbest, clumsiest girl he’s ever seen.
Lana’s little voice chattered behind me, regaling him with the latest cartoon she’d watched.
“Well?” Mom asked, jerking her chin toward the second floor. “Go up there and make that child feel at home. And for the love of God, act like a lady.” She set her purse on the table next to Dad’s keys. “Charles, I’m absolutely beat. That airport was dreadful. I’ve never seen so many ragged, dirty people in one place.” Turning, she gave a little shiver. “I need to lie down. I feel a migraine coming on.”
Moira, waiting quietly at the threshold of the living room, gave a polite cough.
“Ah, there you are.” Mom pulled a pin from her hair, letting her curls fall to her back. “Make sure the children have everything they need for their first day of school tomorrow. And please,” she whispered, leaning toward Moira, “don’t let that boy wear those disgusting clothes. We’ll be the laughingstock of the town if…”
Not wanting to hear any more of what she had to say, I sprinted toward the stairs and trailed behind Paxton’s tall frame and Lana’s short form. Still clinging to his fingers, she swung their hands with each word as she tried to tell him her entire life story.
I glanced at his jeans.
What’s Mom talking about? His clothes look fine to me.
They looked more than fine. I liked that he wore dark denim with frayed holes, unlike the guys at school who always seemed so put together it felt like they weren’t really students at all, but young businessmen pretending to be kids.
His T-shirt, black and faded, hugged his lean frame and his wrists were covered in leather bracelets.
As he and Lana came to the top of the stairs, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder. Those cold, detached eyes met mine.
For a second, it felt like the ceiling became the floor and I’d tumble into the air, so I gripped the railing tighter.
He already hates me, just like everyone at school, and I haven’t even said a word to him yet.
Despair clawed inside my chest. I drew my shoulders inward and hugged my stomach, wishing I could roll into a little ball and bounce down the stairs, away from everyone and everything.
He frowned, then gave in to Lana’s tugging grasp, following her along the hallway to the right, which led to our rooms. My parent’s bedroom and offices lay on the left.
I stepped onto the landing and stopped, not wanting to be anywhere near him, afraid I’d see that look of contempt, or derision, or…whatever it was.
“Terri,” Lana hollered, stopping in the bright hall. At the end, a large window let in natural light and bathed them both in a back glow. “Come on.” She moved her hand in acome heregesture.
