“Do you wantmeto change? Because that would be quicker. If you go in that room”—he glances down the hallway that leads to my bedroom—“we might never get out of here.” He crosseshis arms over his chest and his face is smug. “I bet you started getting ready right after dinner.”
Ihatethese freaking co-family dinners. “Stalker,” I mutter, because I hate how predictable I am even if he’s not. “Fine,” I say.
“Fine, you’re not going to change?”
“Fine, I won’t change… if you do.” I give him atake thatlook.
Asher rolls his eyes.
“You offered,” I point out, my voice innocent and sweet.
“I’ll meet you at the car in five,” he says over his shoulder as he walks out the door.
I’m sitting in Dad’s car, blasting the AC, when Asher comes out of his house. It’s dusk, almost dark, but I can still make him out in the light cast from the porch light. And suddenly, my clothes offer a whole new kind of problem. I mutter his name like a curse.
Asher
The entire drive is a struggle to keep my smile in check. Sidney’s face is a mask of simmering, barely concealed rage. Like maybe she’ll run us off the road just to take me out.
Because we match.
I didn’t plan to do it. Well, okay, I did. But not until I was in my room, looking at the pink shirt in my drawer. It was meant to be.
As we walk up to the house I can’t control myself any longer. “How much do you hate me right now?”
Sidney jabs her elbow into my side and her mouth twists into a scowl while mine breaks into a grin.
“Youaskedme to change,” I say, pushing the rolled-up sleeves of the shirt to above my elbow. “Demanded it, really.” My voice is laced with mock annoyance.
She grunts. Only Sidney could make a grunt sound dainty.
“I was just being helpful.”
“You’re never being helpful,” she counters, and when we get to the door she pauses, like she’s not sure what to do. Maybe she’s going to bolt.
“You’re overthinking this. It’s just a party. With people you’ll probably never see again.” I push the door open so she can go ahead of me. “And I was helpful just yesterday, when I picked up your tampons.”
Her head snaps toward me, her eyes narrowing into slits. Sidney’s going to punch me one of these days, I’m sure of it. I’m not entirely convinced I won’t have it coming. Good thing I have that box of tampons she refused to pay me back for, so I’ll be able to stop the bleeding. It’s also a good thing Mom isn’t the type to ask for a receipt and change, or I’d have some explaining to do. As it is, I just have a giant box of tampons under my bed.My summers are so freaking weird.
“You meanyourtampons?” she says as we step into a living room filled with people. This house isn’t like the rental houses right on the lake. It’s a normal house that people live in all year, with family pictures on the walls and furniture that matches. And it doesn’t smell like it’s closed up for six months out of the year as the Michigan winters blow through. But it doesn’t have the lake or the river. It’s on a side street in the country, outside of Riverton’s little downtown area.
We’re only two feet into the house before Kara is on us. “Wow,” she says, and I’m already regretting that I didn’t run on sight. “You guys look like a matching pair.”
Sidney puts her hands on her hips and makes a little strangled noise.
“Like prom dates or something,” Kara continues, giving my pink button-up a once-over from top to bottom.
I roll my eyes.
“Why are you so dressed up?” Kara looks from me to Sidney,a can of Diet Coke in her hand. She’s in a Riverton Football T-shirt that’s tied tight at her back, and a pair of worn jean shorts. She looks like she just threw clothes on, but she has about ten times more makeup on than Sidney.
“Am I?” Sidney says with a groan, running her hands down her skirt again. “I should have texted you.”
Kara’s voice is soft and soothing. “No, you look great.” She glances over at me with a smile. “You, too, Ash.”
“Thanks, Kara.” I give her a one-arm hug and walk toward the kitchen, looking back to see Sidney’s bewildered eyes fixed on me. She’s looking at me like I’m standing in the middle of the room naked, not like I just hugged someone I’ve known for five years. Someone whodoesgo to parties. “Getting drinks, you want anything?”
Kara pouts. “Not me. I have to get up ridiculously early tomorrow.”
