As I chug down the liquid, my eyes once again scan around. He’s not here. None of his friends are, either. Why does it sting? I don’t want it to, but it feels as though he rejected me. Like he slapped me across the face. I feel like a loser for feeling this way because I know I’m blowing this out of proportion. He doesn’t have to come if he doesn’t want to. It won’t make us any less friends.
But it does hurt, and the fact that it hurts causes me even more confusion. I guess I still have those kinds of feelings for him. Maybe I always will.
Tossing my cup into the garbage bin, I tell myself to forget about him and focus on having fun with my friends. Why am I torturing myself by being so hung up on the past? I have a great life with my best friends and I love being here at Harrington Bay. That’s the only thing that should matter.
As I turn to head back to them, I smack right into a hard chest. When I slowly lift my gaze, I realize that the head attached to the body belongs to Kylen.
“Kylen?” I stumble back and stare at him. Where did he come from? It’s like he popped out of thin air.
“Heh, sorry,” he says with a sheepish laugh as he runs his hand through his hair. “I was standing behind you trying to think of a witty thing to say. But my brain went flat. You turned around before I could step away. Did I hurt you?”
It feels like my heart has just soared to the sky. Why does it make me feel so good that he came?
“I’m not hurt,” I assure him. “I mean, no one told you to have like the hardest chest in the world, but…” My voice trails off as my eyes widen. Did I really say that out loud?
He chuckles. “Beck and I have been trying this new workout before bed. I guess it’s working?”
“I guess.” My cheeks flame. Why are we talking about his muscular chest? “Are he and the others here?”
“Yep. Clearing out the food table.” He points his thumb to the refreshment table, where the three boys are stuffing their faces with all the goodies. “Don’t mind them. It’s their first time at a rich high school party.”
“It’s okay. No one’s paying attention to them anyway.”
He grins as he watches them. “True.”
We’re both quiet.
“So…” He stashes his hands into his pockets as he bounces on the balls of his feet. “I see your friends are dancing. Why aren’t you there, too?”
“I was. I just got tired and needed a drink.”
“Ah, I see.”
We’re both quiet again.
Before I can stop myself, I blurt, “I didn’t ask you to the party as a date or anything. I just thought we could hang out.”
His face fills with surprise, as though that’s the last thing he thought would come out of my mouth. My face and neck heat up. Oh, gosh. Why did I say that? It’s obvious he didn’t consider the possibility that this was a date. Can the floor please devour me?
He gives me a sweet smile. “No worries. I came here with the sole intention of hanging out with you. As a friend.”
“Oh…okay. Yeah. Duh.”
He looks at where my friends are dancing. “Are you up for more dancing? They look like they’re having a lot of fun.”
“Carly and Ryder always choreograph the best moves. Come.” I slide my hand into his and lead him to the dance floor. It’s not until we take a few steps that I realize that I’mholdinghis hand. We have held hands before, but this is the first time since camp that I’ve initiated it. I’m tempted to let go, but maybe that will make it worse.
Oh gosh, it feels so good to hold it.
“Kylen!” Carly says when we join them. “So happy you’re here. Can you dance? The moves aren’t so hard.”
“That’s what you think,” Sophie mutters.
Kylen catches on pretty quickly. He’s actually a really good dancer. I kind of already know that because of camp, but even I’m blown away by his moves. He’s definitely gotten better after a year and a half.
“Nice!” Addie says.
Jasper, Leo, and Beck eventually join us, too, though Leo is preoccupied with staring at Lilah. The poor guy still has it bad for her. But he manages to have fun with us, too.
