I already know it would be amazing. Maybe even better than last time because I want it so badly. My heart picks up speed as I stare into her bright blue eyes. I could so easily take advantage of this situation.
But I know I can’t.
A little voice inside me argues.It’s no big deal. It’s tradition. Everyone expects it. She wouldn’t think anything of it.
My lips tingle in anticipation. Just one kiss. That’s all.
I mentally shake my head. I can’t kiss Cricket. Not while she’s so enamored with River. It wouldn’t be right. No matter how great it would feel, it wouldn’t be real.
“Yeah,” I say. “We’d better move on.”
It’s hard for me to read Cricket’s expression. It almost seems like she’s a little disappointed, but that can’t be right.
I stare at her. She smiles and nods, the disappointed look vanishing. “Yep,” she laughs. “We can’t get caught under that.” She shoves me out from under the archway.
I keep walking with her through the rest of the display, but I can’t think about anything else now. That kiss we shared was everything, and I feel so stupid for not seeing it before. How completely, utterly blind I’ve been to what was right in front of me this whole time.
Cricket. My best friend, Cricket, who knows my favorite soda is Cherry Coke and remembers that Christmas is hard for me. Cricket, who laughs at all my jokes, reads every song I write, and makes me feel like I’m the most interesting person in the world when she looks at me.
Cricket, who I let slip away from me because I was too much of an idiot to see that I was already in love with her.
CHAPTER 26
Cricket Jenkins
Friday, December 4
As we step outsidethe Bellagio, River appears, like he’s been waiting for us to come out. “Hey, how was it?”
“It was cool. Want us to go back in with you?” I ask, pointing.
He shakes his head. “No, it’s okay. I grabbed us tickets for the High Roller observation wheel. We should head over there.” River holds out tickets, and we each grab one.
“Okay. Cool. Is it far?” I’ve never been to Vegas before, and I’m not even sure where we are.
“Just a few blocks. See?” He points to the huge Ferris wheel, all lit up.
“I’ve always wanted to go on that,” Micah says.
River grins. “It’s fun. We filmed here once, and the whole cast went on it. You can see everything for miles.”
As we walk, River slides his arm around me and whispers, “How’s it going?”
“How’s what going?” I whisper back.
“My plan to get you two together.”
I trip over my own feet, and River has to practically pick me up.
Micah turns around. “Are you guys okay?”
River pulls me closer to his side. “Fine. We’re good.”
Micah turns back around and grunts like he’s upset about something.
I totally should have guessed what River was doing. He did tell me he wanted to make Micah jealous. I just don’t see that it’s working well. Although Micah kind of looked like he wanted to kiss me back under the mistletoe.
“Is it working?” he prods.
