“Can I have one? I think you owe me for the nut shot.”
With a sigh, I shift the box, and he opens the lid. “All dark chocolate.”
“My favorite.”
“These look expensive. This guy must like you.”
I try not to frown. I really, seriously do. He picks up one that I’m positive is chocolate-covered caramel—my freaking favorite—and pops it in his mouth, and for a moment, I watch him chew before I force myself away.
I cover the box and bring it back into my chest. “I’m gonna head in. It was good to see you, Aston.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“It’s what people say, though you didn’t say it.”
He holds up a hand as he licks a bit of chocolate and caramel from his lips. “But I was thinking it. I promise.”
I roll my eyes at his charming smile just as I feel another buzz in my purse. “My friends are wondering where I am.”
“Mine too, likely.”
“I’ll see you around.”
“As long as you don’t run into me.”
I wince. “Sorry again about that.”
“No, you’re not.”
A slow smile spreads across my face, and I wink at him. “Not entirely. Welcome back to Boston. Try not to kiss any random women in the middle of a blackout tonight. You never know who they might turn out to be.”
Now it’s his turn to frown. “My kissing random women days are behind me.”
“Somehow I doubt it.” His phone rings in his pocket. “I’ll let you get that.”
“Yeah. You should go, and so should I.”
There’s something in the way he says that. Something that catches and sticks. Something that makes me think he almost doesn’t want me to go. Except I know that can’t be the case. Not with Aston Hughes.
3
SKYLAR
Irace inside, glancing around as I bypass the hostess and head for the back. Braelyn throws her hand up in the air when she spots me, waving me down manically and making me laugh. I’m the last to arrive as Hayes, Roman, Quinn, Crew, and Forest are already here with her. These people are not only my lifelong best friends, my ride or die, but are more or less my family. Especially Roman and Forest, who are actually my cousins.
“Hey!” I exclaim. “Sorry I’m late.” I pull down on the brim of Crew’s Rebels hat as I give him a hug. “Look at you. Already falling into team mode. Or is that so you can keep a low profile while out in public?” Crew is a tight end in the NFL and had been living in LA along with Forest, but both moved back last month for different reasons. Crew came after a trade deal with the Boston Rebels was made. A team where Quinn and Crew’s dad is the coach, and their brother, Mason, is the quarterback. Since both Forest and Crew moved back, it feels complete for all of us.
“Both,” he tells me. “Though in here, Roman is the celebrity, not me.”
Roman flips him off, but it’s true, so he can’t deny it.
“How cute. You brought us chocolates…” Quinn trails off with a small laugh when I set them down on the large table. “That look like they’ve been run over,” she finishes.
“That’s because I stepped on the box when I found them outside my door tonight.”
Everyone falls silent as they stare at me.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist. They’re from my parents, not Darth Sidious.” I smart.
