“Yeah, lots of fun.” I also look at Ryan, who’s once again watching the other kids.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” Jenna says, tugging me along. “See you later, boys!” She pulls me all the way to the other end of the gym and shuts the door to the girls’ room. Sighing in pleasure, she shuts her eyes. “I’m seriously in heaven.”
I turn to the mirror to check on my makeup. It’s still holding strong, but like I expected, my hair has come loose. “You’ve been to dances with Jason before.”
Her eyes open. “I know, but it feels like something changed between us. And I mean in a good way. Maybe because our three-year-anniversary is coming up. I feel like we’re already married.” She sighs again.
A pang of jealousy stabs my stomach. I should be happy for my brother and best friend. I want only the best for them. So why am I jealous? Because I have yet to meet a guy who’ll sweep me off my feet?
Ryan’s beautiful blue eyes flash before my face and my heart skips a beat.
“Now that we’re alone, tell me how it’s really going with Ryan,” she says. “I mean, I saw you guys dancing and it was sooo hot.”
I lean against the sink. “He ran off. We were having a moment—I think—and he just shut down.” I force a smile. “But we’re having fun.”
She gets a dreamy look on her face. “Isn’t tonight everything we imagined and so much more?”
“Yeah,” I say, not sure I agree with her. Iamhaving fun, but I can’t help worrying that something is wrong with Ryan. There’s a reason he’s so distant and refuses to letloose and have a good time. But what can it be?
“We’d better get back before our boyfriends start dancing with each other.” Jenna giggles.
I freeze. Boyfriend?
I blink the thought away and follow her back to the gym.
Chapter Seven
Ryan
I stare after Artemis as she and Jenna leave to the bathroom. Jason stands beside me, pouring himself a cup of punch and swallowing it down.
He tosses the cup in the garbage before facing me. “Thanks for giving my sister an amazing night.”
I wouldn’t exactly call it that, but I’m trying my best, even if it might not seem like it. I saw how disappointed she was when I walked away from our dance. “Artemis is nice and fun. I don’t know why no one asked her.” I think back to how she danced, having a good time and not caring what anyone thought of her. It’s been a month since I had fun. I miss it like crazy, but I don’t think it’s right for me to be happy when I just lost my parents. Heck, I don’t know I evercanbe happy again.
“Yeah, she’s the family goofball,” Jason says with a laugh. “And we love her.”
I reach into my pocket, then remember I left it at home. “I’m going to return the money to you,” I tell him. “Your sister’s a great person and I don’t feel right getting paid to take her to the dance.” And if I want to be honest with myself, I kind of don’t regret coming here.
He nods. “Okay. I feel bad for paying you, too. But she really wanted to go to the dance with you.”
I still don’t know why, but I’m not going to ask.
We stand in silence, me watching the dancing kids and Jason searching for his girlfriend and sister. I wonder if Artemis is talking to her best friend about me.
No, why should I care? We’re together because of this dance. We can’t go further than that.Ican’t go further than that.
“You’re a good person,” he says after a few minutes. “I wasn’t sure at first, honestly. But I’m glad Art went to the dance with you and not some other guy.” He smiles again.
I’m not a good person. If I were, my parents would be alive right now.
“Jason!” Jenna squeals, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheek. “I’m back. Let’s dance.” He lets her yank him to the dancing crowd.
Artemis gives me a small, shy smile. “I hope my brother didn’t tell you embarrassing stories about me when we were little. He gets a kick out of it.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s like a family joke, picking on the youngest.”
“No, no embarrassing stories.”
“Okay. Phew.”
