“Wait,” he says, leaning over to peek at the screen. “Who are you calling? I thought I was the wingman in this plan.”
I shake my head. “First I have to call the one person who’ll know how to help.”
Phoebe.
Chapter 38
Harper
“I’m here to whisk you away.”
Whisk me away?
We are at a dance—there will be no whisking!
And!
Easton cannot stroll over to me all casual-like and pretend that everything is okay, that nothing happened, that he does not have a date tonight.He has explaining to do and will not easily be forgiven.
“You want to whisk me away?” I ask. “I just got here.”
Still. My eyes widen with shock. Easton Westermann stands before me, hands jammed in his pockets, looking as handsome as I’ve ever seen him in his navy blue tux.So handsome.In fact, I can’t take my eyes off his shoulders; the cut of the jacket emphasizes how broad they are and makes my heart ache.
I’ve felt those shoulders. Have run my hands all over them…
My gaze dips to his tie—pink, with tiny white daisies embroidered on it. It’s a fantastic choice, playful and unexpected.
It matches my dress.
The realization sends a ripple of heat through my body, a smug satisfaction that I can’t suppress. My lips curve in a victorious smile as my eyes flick over the tie again. It doesn’t match Maddie’s light blue dress. Not even a little.
It feels like the choice of color was meant for me—not for her, not for anyone else. Me. And that thought feels as wonderful as it is surprising, and fills me with butterflies.
I cross my arms, fighting the heat crawling up my neck. “Did Maddie bail on you already, or are you just making your rounds?”
His smirk falters, but only slightly.
“We parted ways.”
“Parted ways?” My eyebrows lift, though this is not new information. I’ve spotted her several times near the DJ booth, flirting and taking selfies, Easton nowhere nearby. “What does that mean?”
I want to hear him say it.
He steps closer, raising his voice so I can hear him above the thrum of music and laughter. “After Maddie realized I wanted to be here with you, she told me to find you and…you know. Tell you how I feel and stuff.”
Tell you how I feel and stuff? The words hit me like a gust of wind, knocking me off kilter.
“Maddie told you to find me?” My voice is laced with disbelief. That sounds so unlike her. Unkind. Bratty. Selfish—that’s the Maddie I’m familiar with.
“I might have driven here with her, but we were talking in the car and I told her…”
He clears his throat.
My heartbeat skips.
Be still, my heart! Is this the moment?
Is Easton about to confess he likes me?
