“I suppose those are the deductive reasoning skills that got you into Princeton, huh?” I reply, but my gaze follows Zach across the room to the foyer. I hand Sawyer my drink. “Sorry, but I—”
“No, go get him.”
I squeeze his shoulder as I pass. “You’re a good friend.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, yeah. I know I can’t compete with the way you two look at each other.”
My blood thrums loudly in my ears as I head in the direction Zach went, maneuvering through the crowd, scanning for him, ducking my head any time I make inadvertent eye contact with someone. I’m about to give up on finding him on the first floor when, finally, I catch a glimpse of his crossbow through an opening in the crowd.
I beeline toward him, driven by the need to fix this.
“Finley, hey,” Kennedy greets me. “I love your costume.”
Zach’s head jerks toward me, his eyes wide. Did he not think I’d follow him?
“Thank you,” I reply, motioning between Kennedy and Alexei. “I loveStranger Things.”
“This one had to be Steve since he has the best hair.” Kennedy grips Alexei’s arm and exaggeratedly rolls her eyes. “Speaking of,we should freshen up.”
Volk’s forehead creases. “What? My hair looks grea—”
“We’ll see y’all later,” Kennedy says in a mock-innocent tone, making her intentions clear.
“Upstairs. Five minutes,” I whisper to Zach, my gaze flitting to the ceiling.
I don’t give him a chance to respond and take off for the steps. Three minutes pass, and I wait for him to appear, hoping he'll gives me a chance to explain.
I heave a sigh of relief when he comes into view a couple of steps from the top.
“You came.”
“You asked.” He stares at the floor. “So is he the kind of guy you’re into?”
“Who?”
He meets my gaze. “You know who I mean. Sawyer Jennings, the guy hitting on you.”
My whole world stops.
“But why wouldn’t he?” Zach goes on, his chest heaving, distress radiating with every breath. “Why wouldn’t anyone take their shot with you? Finley, you’reso fucking beautiful. Tonight, obviously.”
His hand gestures to me lengthwise, his eyes roving over my body, his hungry stare caressing my skin.
“But also in the mornings when you come downstairs and you’re still yawning. And when you’re doing that ridiculous wolf turn on the balance beam, like it’s as easy as walking. You’re funny and driven and smart. Whowouldn’twant you?”
Heat pools low in my belly at his admission, the confirmation his feelings for me match mine for him. I reach for his forearm, wanting to slow him down, to encourage him to take a breath.
But Zach keeps going, “And Jennings… did he tell you that he’s working on his degree atPrincetonwhile playing in the NHL? He’s good too. I bet he’ll play top-line with me in a few seasons.And he’s nice and a good friend and every girl he meets wants him because he looks like a damn boy band poster come to life.”
I take a step forward. “Are you... jealous, Zach?”
He looks away but says nothing.
I take another step closer. “Because if you haven’t noticed, I’m not down there with him. I’m up here with you.”
“Why?” he asks, his dark eyes never leaving my face. I’m grateful because I want him to see how serious I am. Nothing happening between us is a joke or a throwaway action—not one damn thing since he walked into that stupid closet two years ago and found me on the floor.
“You know why.”
