“I volunteered. But I’m heading over to Belder’s party once this thing’s over.” He nodded. Looked over his shoulder. And felt his face fill with another dose of heat. “You can come with me if you want, after you drop your little sister home.”
Oh no.Was that end of the school year desperation he heard in his voice? His friends had often talked about becoming bolder on yearbook day. Asking girls out they’d never dared approach, knowing they wouldn’t see them all summer otherwise. He hadn’t related. If Jace wanted to ask a girl out, he asked her out—the end. Exceptthisparticular girl. One of the only girls in school he wasn’t confident would say yes, even if shehadflirted with Jace in foods class.
“Me? Go toBelder’sparty?” She smirked. “Does that sound like something I’d do?”
Dang. His entire face felt like a freshly lit match. He cracked an imitation of his cocky grin and leaned against the doorframe. “Sure. Why not?”
Amy studied his face, as if she were really searching for an answer to that question as well. “Isort ofgot to know you in foods class this year. And you know what I wondered?”
Jace gulped, his pulse rising in hot, pulsing beats as he waited for her to finish the thought.
“I’ve always wondered why you and Logan hang out with guys like him.”
Jace recalled hearing Belder brag about dating Amy clear back in junior high. Matt Lever was quick to shut him up, saying Amy dumped him, and quick. “What happened between you two?” Jace asked.
His heart thumped out of beat as he waited for her response. Was he crossing a line by being so bold?
“He only wanted one thing.” The words came out like she’d snipped them with a sharp pair of shears.
Yeah, that sounded like Belder.Jace nodded, his face flushing with warm irritation at his jerk of a friend. “We’re notalllike that,” he said, hoping she’d believe him. It was true; Jace was nothing like Connor.
“I know,” she said softly. “That’s always been the mystery behind you.”
Whoa. There was a mystery behind him where Amy was concerned? “What has?”
“The fact that you can even stand to be friends with the likes of Connor Belder and his crew. I don’t get it.”
He shrugged. “Some of them have pretty crappy home lives. I guess I can see past what they put out there. Besides, just because we hang out with them, doesn’t mean we act like them too, you know? If you come tonight, you’ll find out for yourself.”
Jace pulled away from the wall, took a step closer while holding her gaze.C’mon, Amy. You know we have chemistry. Read between the lines—I’m asking you out. In sort of a wimp way, but still.
Amy’s feet stayed pasted in place, her expression soft and kind, that sweet scent of her like a drug. His heart pounded so hard he feared it might be visible outside his shirt.
“Hey, now,” came some kid’s voice from the couch. “The make-out room is downstairs.”
“Yeah,” came a different voice. “The Burns Brothers are getting it on with the Nelson girls tonight!”
Jace shot a glare at the beefy kid on the couch. He was tempted to chuck the bottle right at his head.
“Make-out room?” Amy mumbled as she pushed past him. “Sounds like a great party.” She stormed ahead of him, cutting through the crowd in the kitchen and toward the basement stairs like she owned the place. Jace hurried to catch up with her, following closely down the stairwell and into the dimly-lit basement. Couples and singles rested on couches, lounged in bean bags, and sat on the massive rug too. Things didn’t look as… innocent down here. Maybe it was the hush that fell over the group. Or the shifty eyes and tight postures. Whispers came next.
Jace flipped on a light and marched over to the wet bar where he dumped the stupid drink down the drain. “Where’s Kassy?”
“It’s not even midnight yet,” Leo said, shooting to a stand.
Jace’s gaze shot to the girl he was sitting next to. Leo was probably waiting for his turn in the wine cellar. Heck, he thought as he scanned the room further. All of them probably were.
“I know it’s not midnight,” Amy said, “but Kassy has to go.”
“They’re in the wine cellar,” Dillon Greenwood said, coming to a stand.
They? Jace didn’t have to ask who she was with; he already knew. Without another word he marched to the wine cellar and pushed open the door. A quick tug of the swinging pull chain and the bulb sparked to life with a hollow pop.
Beige corks in dark-glass bottles poked from the neatly-filled compartments lining the walls of the small space.
Somehow knowing Amy had followed him in, Jace glanced over his shoulder. “Maybe they’re down here.” He stepped in just enough to see that the couple wasn’t there at all. “Or not.”
The cellar door slammed shut.
