Swiping loose tendrils of hair away from my face, I shook my head at Emma. “Let’s get out of here,” I shout-whispered.
“I want to stay and see if Aaron makes it.” Her large blue eyes were open wide. “He was the one who told me about the party. He even asked me on Friday if I’d be here.”
Friend code meant that if Emma stayed, I stayed.
“Fine. I’m going outside. I can’t breathe in here.”
Emma reached for my hand. “Don’t leave, Vee.”
“I won’t. You either.”
She nodded as I turned in the direction of the front door. A quick assessment let me know that I couldn’t forge a possible path through the crowd of bodies.Instead, I headed toward the glass doors off the living room, in the other direction.
The door was open, mixing the outside heat with a sad attempt at air conditioning. Looking beyond the windows, I saw that since we’d arrived, the sun had made its descent. The sky wasn’t quite night, but also, no longer day. One light on the side of the house illuminated the cement patio. Stepping out, I took a deep breath, trying to fill my lungs with fresher air.
A group of guys sitting around a resin table turned in my direction. “Hey, sweetheart,” one in a blue UK shirt said, his words slightly slurred.
“Hey.” I sidestepped the table, heading out into what was supposed to be a back lawn.
“If you’re looking for a place to sit?”
I turned to see that the blue shirt had pushed himself back, offering me his lap. “No thanks.”
My response got laughs and comments from blue shirt’s friends.
“If you change your mind?—”
“There you are, Abby,” a deep voice called from the dimness beyond the bubble of light. “I was afraid you’d left.” The holder of the voice materialized—tall, muscular, with short dark hair, a sharp, chiseled jaw, and eyes whose color I couldn’t define. He came to my side and spoke to the table. “Tell me which one of you assholes was making a play for my girl, and I’ll kick your ass.”
Everyone else at the table laughed and pointed to blue shirt.
Blue shirt stood, albeit wobbly. “Seriously, Fin. I didn’t know.”
The mysterious Fin turned, looking down at me. “It’s up to you. Do I kick Sean’s ass?”
I took a moment to consider my answer. “I think you should let him off this time.”
Fin pointed at Sean. “You heard the lady. She saved your ass this time. She won’t be around to do it the next time.”
Sean lifted his hands in surrender and retook his seat.
Fin and I turned away from the table and began to walk through the backyard. “Abby?” I asked.
His cheeks rose. “Abby or Emma. I swear every girl in every class has one of those names. Sorry, are you Emma?”
“That’s my roommate.” I worked to conceal my smile. “Two strikes. One more and you’re out.”
We’d come to a side street. Across the street was a park. The sign read Burley Park. I lifted my face to the summer breeze, taking in the fresh air.
Fin stopped and offered me his hand. “I don’t want to be out, so I’ll try this. Hi, I’m Fin Graham.”
I laid my hand in his, a spark of sensation coming to life within me. “Hi, Fin Graham. I’m Maeve Hubbard.”
We released one another’s hands.
“Maeve.” He hummed my name. “I should have known you were too unique to be an Abby or an Emma.”
“Most people just call me Vee.”
