I step close and he pulls me into his arms.
“Are you trying to make sure I can’t stay away from you tonight?”
“Not really. That’s just a bonus.”
His words remind me that we’re supposed to be just friends, at least for tonight.
“Can I rip this off of you tonight?” he asks. “Please say yes.”
“If we’re good and don’t get caught, yes.”
“Now you’re challenging me. And I don’t know if I can do this one.”
“Just for tonight,” I remind him. “Then everyone’ll know.”
“Fine,” he says. “You’re driving, though.”
“What? Scared ofthe traffic?”
“Not at all. I just wanna be able to stare at you.”
A surprised laugh escapes me as I grab my purse and pull him out the door.
The Nortons always went overboard on parties, but this was even more so. I knew Quinn would have a lot of people at their house, but this wasbusy.
“Are you sure Rob isn’t turning this into a surprise wedding? I swear this is how many people were attending yours.”
I glare. “Don’t even put that energy out there. It might come true.”
Thankfully, when we walk into their ostentatious home, it’s clear that this is a birthday party. On the right is a massive photo booth with a sign congratulating Quinn on turning thirty.
“You know, when I hit the big three-oh, I don’t wanna call a lot of attention to it.” Nate’s eyes roam slowly. “And I’m also pretty sure they reused decorations.”
I gasp. “Andrea Norton reusing things? Say it isn’t so.”
He shrugs. “I’ve seen a lot of this before.”
I go to elbow him, but he catches me and tugs me closer. I’m about to lean into him when I realize where we’re at, and I spring away.
He frowns and the realization dawns on him. “Shit,” he says. “I didn’t even think.”
“Me either.” I rub the back of my neck. “This might be harder than I thought.”
Nate doesn’t get to say anything because Quinn is running to me. She’s wearing bright pink and a literal tiara. I wonder if Andrea bought it from an actual princess.
“Maisie!” she yells. “God, it’s so good to see you!”
I get a tight hug from her before she pulls back to look at me. “You’re so tan! And your hair!”
I fiddle with it. “Yeah. I’m trying something new.”
“You should do this more often.”
She looks at Nate and me. “So, everything went well?”
He and I share a glance.
Play it cool,I silently beg.
