I glared at my friend and pretended to throw a football straight at his face.
Maya's friend walked to us right alongside her. This one was…Emily. Yeah, Elliott's sister.
"Dance with me, Finn?" Emily asked, holding out her hand.
Finn didn't hesitate, taking Emily's hand and heading into the pit of people.
"Hey," Maya said, looking up at me from under those long eyelashes of hers.
My body heated under her gaze. Uh-huh, she made that happen with only a look.
"Hey," I replied. The only thing that seemed to exist was me and her and whatever the spark was between us. That was a new sensation now, wasn't it?
"Want to sit?" I asked, stumbling over the last syllable.
She nodded, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. Just like that, the heat from before flared again.
I wasn't much for making lists, not really. But if I were, and I started a list of attributes I dug, the lip thing would be right at the top.
I sat. She sat.
Then she crossed her legs toward me and even though it was loud, I swear I could hear the sound of skin on skin as her thighs brushed. My blood thrummed hotter, and my stomach paused chewing on itself. It didn't have any blood anymore to feed that desire, not with all of it currently pooling elsewhere…
"They should serve actual food at these things," she said—shouted—over the bass.
"I'd take a pizza right about now," I agreed.
She laughed at that. "It should be a requirement at all events. Feed us."
"Your song was gorgeous," I said, meaning it.
She lifted her shoulder. Frowned. "Eh."
Now, that? That surprised me.
"I'm serious," I said. "You've got a gift."
"Well, thank you," she said, her cheeks getting pink.
I moved closer to her space, so we didn't have to shout. Maya smelled like cherries and a hint of vanilla. I'd always liked cherries.
Bass bumped, lights flashed, and the party continued around us. But when she leaned into my space, I didn't care about anything other than what she would say.
"It's weird, you know?" she said, lips right up against my ear.
I didn't know. Not at all.
She caught my vibe because she continued, "Watching people move on with their lives in such great ways. Like Jared getting married. Emily making partner at her firm. Angela planning her solo trip to Munich just because she wants to. Meanwhile, I'm walking in circles. Same ol', same ol'." She glanced down at her hands, then socked me in the stomach with her gaze. "I didn’t even get to meet theoneperson I came to see. She didn’t show up to the party, so now I have to stalk her at the wedding. You know what I mean?"
I didn't know. Not really. But?—
"My dad always said that nothing matters if you don't acknowledge the effort you put in. Maybe, just let yourself be happy you're here," I suggested. "You showed up."
She blushed and glanced to her hands in her lap.
I opened my mouth to say something else I hoped might be brilliant. Instead, Maya's gaze slid to someone else behind me. Before I could open my mouth, Maya said, "Well, shit."
Her focus went one hundred percent to whatever was behind me.
