Learn the “Thriller” dance!?
Go on a double date?
Stay up all night
Volunteer?
Travel internationally
Kiss someone under the stars?
Do something scary?
Go to the homecoming dance with a date?
Go ice-skating?
Have a photo shoot with friends?
Go skinny-dipping
Take a road trip with Dad
Leave my mark on Frost Lake High
Chapter Forty-two
Lacey
Vaughn and I stay at his house playing with Pip for so long that by the time we get to Boone’s house, the party has died down.
Claire and Austin are sitting around a fire pit with Rowan. Vaughn takes a seat in an open chair and pulls me down on his lap.
“Where’s your date?” I ask Rowan as Vaughn’s arms wrap around my waist. I love the way I fit so perfectly against him.
“Last I saw her she was making out with some sophomore football player.” He says it so casually, but there’s a hint of disappointment in his tone.
“I’m sorry.” It feels particularly cruel to me since he’s sitting around with two other couples.
“Don’t be. We’re just friends.” He pulls a flask from his pocket and takes a sip, then passes it to his left.
Claire eyes it for a beat, then takes a drink. It goes around the circle until it gets to me. The strong liquor burns and leaves a trail of warmth in my chest. Vaughn’s right handmoves to my thigh and his thumb absently traces a heart. Over and over again. My skin heats more than it did from whatever was in Rowan’s flask.
I don’t think he’s even aware he’s doing it.
“You wanna kick the ball around?” Austin motions with his head behind us to the side yard where the guys often play soccer at parties.
Rowan looks to Vaughn.
I start to get up to let him go, but Vaughn pulls me tighter against him. “Not tonight.”
All around the circle, our friends stare blankly at my date. I turn to look at him, just as surprised as everyone else.
“What?” One side of his mouth pulls up, flashing a grin that’s sexy and a little timid. “Don’t look at me like that. Even I’m not dumb enough to move when there’s a hot girl sitting in my lap.”
“He can be taught.” Rowan lifts the flask to him and then takes another drink.
So the five of us sit and talk until everyone who’s still at the party has gathered around us. It’s a lot of the soccer team and their dates, and a few seniors who are soaking up their last homecoming party.
