Ashton hands the gift-wrapped present to Nova.“Happy Birthday,” he says and smiles at her.
Her eyes crinkle as she takes the present and holds it up to her ear, gently shaking it.“It’s not a puppy.”
Ashton laughs and throws his head back.“Definitely not a pet.”
“Are you going to open it, or keep us all in suspense?”I ask.
Nova glances at me peculiarly and then shakes her head, dismissing whatever thought that traverses through her head.She doesn’t say anything, just rips the birthday wrapping paper off the box and reveals a brown box.
She raises an inquisitive eyebrow and opens the box, pulling out an eyeshadow palette and perfume.“Oh my gosh.It’s gorgeous!”She squeals with delight and then opens the perfume from its box, unwrapping the contents to smell the bottle.“Thank you, Ashton!”Her excitement is overflowing with glee.
“You bought her makeup,” I say, unsure what to make of the gift he gave her.
“I love it!”Nova says excitedly.
“I didn’t know you wear makeup.”I stare at her, surprised.
“There’s a lot you don’t know,” Nova says and shrugs.“You’re always with yourfake girlfriend.”
“We’re always studying together,” Harper says.She carefully pulls the marshmallow from the stick and takes a bite, her eyes closing in perfect bliss.
She looks sexy as hell.
It takes everything in my power not to waltz over and capture her mouth with mine, kissing her, tasting her, devouring that marshmallow along with her.
Fuck.
When did I fall so damn hard for Harper McKenna?
“You’re staring,” Harper mumbles, the marshmallow in her mouth as she catches my gaze on her.
Nine
Harper
“When do I get to open my present from you?”Nova asks, her gaze fierce as she waits for Luca to hand over his present.
I get the distinct impression that he didn’t bring her a gift, which seems quite unlike Luca.Maybe he left it at home and is embarrassed not to have it with him?
“Later,” he says with a smirk.
Nova groans and rolls her eyes.A typical teenager move.“Whatever.You weren’t even invited to my birthday party.It was supposed to be girls only.Remember.”
“I think it’s nice that Luca and Ashton decided to join us,” I quip, trying to ease the mounting tension.I don’t point out that her friends bailed last minute, and otherwise, it would have been just the two of us if the boys hadn’t decided to drive up and stay over for the night.
Plus, the bonfire was a nice suggestion.
I stretch from the lawn chair, needing to move around.My legs are getting achy, and my butt is sore and a tad numb from sitting for so long.It might also be the cold getting to me.I’m not a fan of winter.
I keep my hands buried in the sweatshirt I’m wearing.It smells distinctly of Luca, and I try not to take a huge whiff, or he’ll probably notice and chide me for being weird.
It smells like him, though, and I hate to admit I like it, a lot.
“Are you okay?”Luca asks, glancing up at me as I tower above him, shuffling my feet.
He’s sitting in the lawn chair, enjoying the warmth of the fire.
“Yeah, I just, I need to use the bathroom.Do you think they’ll care if I wander inside?I mean, if they’re planning a surprise for Nova, she’s the one they want to keep out of the house.”
