I just stare at him. “Huh?”
“My grandma needed pills, but her insurance didn’t cover it and…” He shifts in his seat, avoiding my eyes. “And she couldn’t come up with the money. Brianne’s mom offered to help pay for them. And my grandma was so thankful she asked if there was anything she could do for them in return. And next thing I know, I’m bringing Brianne here.”
I’m quiet as I let the words swim around in my head. “So now she has a hold on you.”
He shakes his head again. “No, I’m pretty sure my grandma will come up with the money for next time. It’s just…a little tight now.” He glances at me, then away like he’s embarrassed. “I don’t ever want be tied to her.” He looks at me again. “I didn’t want to come here with her. I didn’t want to go at all. And I especially didn’t want you to see me with her and think I rejected you to go with her.”
That was exactly what I thought when I first saw them together. In my head, he seemed happy to be here, when really he was miserable.
“That excuse about having plans with your grandma…” I say.
“Wasn’t a lie. We planned to hang out after school, but we pushed it off for tomorrow.”
Quiet. The only sounds are the music and laughing dancers.
“I’m sorry I thought the worst of you,” I say after a little while.
“I don’t blame you.”
I push some invisible strands of hair out of my eyes. “But you should blame me. I mean, I don’t know you well, but I should have known you wouldn’t purposely hurt me likethat.”
“Why not? I’ve been rude to you since we met. I’m sorry. It’s just hard for me.”
“What is? To make friends?”
He doesn’t say anything and I once again can’t read the look on his face.
We sit in silence again. I scan the people, watching the many different couples dance. Brianne catches my eyes. She’s dancing with a guy a few years older than her, and her tense body is enough to tell me just how pissed she is that her date ditched her.
Ryan snaps his gaze from the wall to me. “Want to dance?”
“But you’re with Brianne.”
He shrugs. “I came with her, danced with her, ate with her and her family. I think my debt is paid off.” He slowly holds out his hand. “Dance?”
I take in his hand that looks so warm and inviting, and the thought of having his arms wrapped around me sends chills down my spine. But…why does he want to dance with me? And will I be able to survive being so close to him and not wanting to be more than friends?
“Artemis?”
I blink, catching him gazing at my face like he’s trying to solve a puzzle.
Am I thinking too much into this? It’s just a dance. Oh, gosh. Why are his eyes so intense as they gaze into mine? And why does my heart flutter like crazy?
My hand slides into his. “Okay. We can dance. Sure. But um…what’s Brianne going to say?” I angle my head toward her. She’s still dancing with that guy, but her eyes dart in our direction.
Ryan gets to his feet, dragging me up with him. “I don’t care. And I told you my debt is already paid.” He gently tugs me along to the center of the ballroom.
It’s like we’re walking in slow-motion. My heart doesn’t stop fluttering and chills continue to race up and down my spine. And darn it, his hand is so warm and soft, much softer than I remember. I don’t want him to let go. Ever.
Brianne flares her nostrils as we pass her. Ryan totally ignores her, and I try to do the same. But it’s hard to have the most popular girl at school glaring at me like she wants to send a dagger down my back.
Ryan twirls me around so my back faces Brianne. “Ignore her. I always do.” He wraps his hands around my waist, drawing me closer to him. He holds my gaze with suchferocity that I forget about Brianne and just focus on him.
Gone are my doubts about what goes on in his mind, what he wants from me, how cold he was to me in the past, and how he told me he doesn’t want to be my friend. All I can think about as I drape my arms around his neck is how amazing he smells and that we’re together, and so close…and how much I love the feeling of being in his strong, protective arms.
Chapter Seventeen
Ryan
