After about twenty laps, they bring him in, go over his times, give him a few pointers, and then send him back out.

While he’s driving, I tell the coach about the classes Tommy made me take before he’d let me drive any of his cars. We start talking about the handling of high performance cars.

“You know,” he says. “The classes you took are even more advanced than what we’re doing today. You should go out and see if you can beat his time.”

“Really? That would be fun.”

When Aiden gets out of his car, the coach says, “What do you say we make this a little competition?”

“Sure,” Aiden says, still grinning.

“I bet you twenty bucks and the rest of those cupcakes that she can beat your fastest time.”

Aiden looks at the guy like he’s crazy, then turns to me. “Do you know how to drive a stick?”

“I think so,” I say, trying not to smile.

“Then I guess I’ll take that bet minus the cupcake I’m going to eat while I watch,” Aiden says.

They shake hands while I slide into a driving suit, shoes, and a helmet.

I hop in the car, buckle myself in, and take off.

I run the first few laps pretty slowly, wanting to get a feel for what the car can do. How it corners. The whine the motor makes when I need to upshift.

Then I work on the track for the next few laps. Which driving lines I should use.

Finally, I run five laps as fast as I can without risking losing control of the car.

Totaling her would probably ruin the whole birthday.

When I pull back into the garage, Aiden helps me out of the car with an amused look on his face. “How in the hell do you know how to drive like that?”

“I sorta took lessons.”

He gives me a long kiss. “You were totally in cahoots with him.”

“Ha. Maybe. How did I do?”

“You beat my best time.”

“Are you going back out there?”

“Heck yeah. I know I can beat you.” He puts his helmet on, then flicks up the visor so I can see him better. “Boots?”

“Yeah?”

“This has been the best birthday of my life.”

My face breaks into a smile. “I’m glad.”

As he goes back out on the track, I can’t help but hope that I’m still alive for his next one.

Before we drive back to school, I give him a present.

“You got me a present too? The track was really enough.”

“I bought a couple presents before I decided to do the track, so you’re stuck with them.”

He leans over the console and kisses me instead of opening it.

A good long, hard kiss.

And even during the kiss, I can tell he’s still grinning.

He rips the paper off. “Burberry. Nice.” He opens the sunglasses case and pulls out a pair of square, brushed gunmetal aviators. “These are badass,” he says as he puts them on and looks at himself in the rearview mirror. “Do I look like a race car driver?”

“You look hot,” I reply, totally loving how cute he looks in them. I knew with his bone structure that they’d look great.

On the ride home, he talks non-stop about how much fun he had. How fast the car went. How he can’t wait to tell everyone about it at dinner.

We have a great time at dinner. Jake and Annie, Katie and Bryce, Maggie and Logan, Peyton and Dallas are all here. Peyton got us a small private room, so we’re able to be a little loud. Do lots of silly birthday toasts. Eat amazing food. And hear all about Aiden’s day.

Peyton brings in a four-tier red velvet cake for dessert. We sing and then Aiden opens his presents, including the other two gifts from me: a pair of tan antiqued leather Prada High-Top sneakers and the deep green cashmere Burberry scarf that perfectly matches his eyes.

I had hoped we’d get a little time alone after, but we get back just before curfew and I have to settle for a sweet goodnight kiss.

I wash my face and get into bed.

Exhausted.

Vibrate.

Hottie God: I feel like a little kid, exhausted after his birthday party.

Me: Doesn’t help that we were partying last night and didn’t get much sleep.

Hottie God: True. You went way overboard on making my birthday special. The Prada sneakers are so cool. I look like a badass in my sunglasses and the scarf is so soft.

Me: And it matches your gorgeous green eyes. That gift was kinda for me.

Hottie God: You going to borrow it?

Me: No, I get to admire you in it.

Hottie God: I seriously had the best day ever. And your driving impressed the shit out of me.

Me: Well, thank you. And I’m glad :)

Hottie God: The jeans impressed the shit out of me too.

Me: Is that why you kept touching my butt?

Hottie God: I couldn’t help it.

Me: I still owe you 18 birthday dances.

Hottie God: We’ll do those at your loft this weekend. I can’t wait.

Me: I can’t wait for the dance competition to be over. I probably won’t see you until then anyway. You sister is making us practice until ten every night this week.

Hottie God: We have that French oral exam on Wednesday, and I have an away game Tuesday night. I’m going to fail.

Me: We’ll find some time to practice.

Hottie God: I’m loving our conversation but I just dropped my phone on my face because I fell asleep.

Me: LOL. Night, Aiden. <3 Happy birthday!!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH

The feel of fur.

6am

I’m up long before the ass crack of dawn. Peyton has decided that, since our dance routine is not yet perfect, we are basically going to be practicing every free moment until we get it right.

After we warm up and go through it as a group, she says, “Maggie, Keatyn, a moment.”

She pulls us into the locker room.

“Did we do something wrong?” Maggie asks her.

“No, you’re about the only ones who have the routine down. What would you think about breaking into small groups? We’ll each take a third of the team and work on a portion of the routine.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” I tell her.

“If we get them to do it well, does that mean we won’t have to practice tonight?” Maggie asks, her hands folded in prayer.

“Do you have a magic wand I don’t know about?” Peyton asks, teasing Maggie.

I have the magic wand my little sister gave me, I think, but I’m definitely not wasting a wish on a dance competition.

“All right, let’s get to it,” Peyton says.

At seven-fifteen, she finally lets us go. I get ready quickly so I can meet Aiden for breakfast.

In the café, he and Riley are the only ones sitting at our table. I can see they’re having an intense conversation.

I’m pretty sure I know what it’s about.

I grab some breakfast and join them.

“So, Riley,” I say, “based on the grin that’s plastered on your face, I’m assuming last night went well?”

His grin gets even bigger. “I want to shout it from the rooftops.”

“You gonna break out in song, too?” Aiden teases.

“So you asked her to Winter Formal, and she said yes?”

“She definitely said yes. And the next thing I know, she’s naked on the furry rug. Talk about a sight to behold. And the feel of the fur against your skin.” He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Heaven. Seriously.”

“Soooo?”

“Are you trying to get me to spill the details of my sex life?”

“No, I’m just wondering if you have a sex life?”

Aiden and I both laugh.

“Yes, I have a sex life now. A very hot one.”

Aiden slaps him on the back, like a proud father.

“So, what about you two?” Riley shakes his finger at me and Aiden.

Aiden and I share a glance, then he says, “We want it to be special.”

“I’d highly recommend you visit the furry rug.”

“I already have something planned,” Aiden says.

I look at him, surprised. “You do?”

He gives my hand a squeeze. “Yeah, I do.”

“Hmm, on that note, I’m gonna leave you lovebirds alone.” Riley picks up his tray and leaves.

“Do you actually have something planned or did you just say that to get him off the subject?”

“I actually have something planned.”

“Winter Formal?” I guess.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?”

He grins at me. “Yeah. And I’m not saying anything else. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“How do you even know I want to?” I tease.

He smirks at me, running his hand up my thigh and his lips across my cheek. “Your body talks to me.”

Damn his godly powers.

“Oh, it does, does it? What’s it telling you now?” I lean away from him.

He follows me, putting his lips on my neck. “That when my lips touch your neck it makes you wet.”

“It does not!” I lean farther away from his lips.

I think I’m fairly convincing in my lie, until his eyes catch me in their tractor beams.

I know without a doubt that he can read the desire in them.

The bell rings, saving me from further conversation about the current state of my lady parts.

Or not.

When we’re outside my history class, he gives me the kind of kiss that makes me want to do him right here in the hall.

He doesn’t say anything when he lets me go.

He doesn’t have to.

I’ll hide behind you.

English

I’m starting to think Cupid is shooting his arrows a little early. When I sit down in English, Dallas looks at me with hearts in his eyes and mutters a single word.

“Kassidy.”

“The cheerleader?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “More like the hottest newly-single cheerleader. And the best part about her breakup is she’s not weepy and sad. She’s pissed.”

“Have you hung out with her?”

“Yeah, last night after curfew. While Riley and Ariela were getting it on at Stockton’s, we were getting it on. Guess where.” He breaks out laughing.

“Ohmigawd! You didn’t!?”

He laughs again. “Oh, but I did.”

“Riley’s going to be horrified.”

Our teacher starts talking but Dallas whispers, “You better not tell him.”

“I won’t have to. You won’t be able to keep your mouth shut about it.”

“Ha. I’ll spring it on him at the right time. I’ll hide behind you when I do, though. I don’t wanna end up like Aiden.”

“Chicken shit.” I laugh.

“So, I’m going to ask her to Winter Formal. How should I do it?”

“Ha! Maybe you should buy her a furry rug.”

Dallas’ eyes get huge. “You, my friend, are fucking brilliant.”

“I wasn’t being serious.”

“I am. I think she’d love it! She kept talking about how soft it was. Plus, only we would know what it means. She’s got a good sense of humor. I think she’d get a kick out of it.”

“And if you give it to her in front of Riley, you’re gonna get a kick out of it, too.”

Flowers, and romance.

Ceramics

Aiden walks me to ceramics class.

“Is your bowl finished?”

“Yes, but you can’t see it.”

“Why?”

“I decided to give it to you.”

His face brightens. “Really?”

I nod. “I have to touch it up today. I wanted to have it in time for your birthday but I missed class because of all the French stuff.”

He corners me at the end of the hall, his chest pressing against mine.

“That bowl is special,” he says.

“That’s why I want you to have it. Something to remember me by.”

Shit.

I didn’t mean to say that.

“Remember you by?”

“Uh, remember us.”

“There’s no way I’ll ever forget you.”

I want to say, I hope not. I want to tell him all about the stuff that went down with Vincent—how scared I was standing up to him. I want to tell him that he’s a big part of why I’m doing it. “I hope not.”

He gives me a single perfect kiss.

“Gonna be kind of hard to forget you considering I’ll be with you. Our ten year plan includes college, marriage, and at least a couple of those four kids we’re destined to have.”

I smile and roll my eyes at him. “You really think that palm reading stuff is true?”

He laughs, deep and sexy. “Maybe. I like my plan the best.”

The bell rings, so he gives me one more kiss and rushes off late for class.

I’m barely in my seat when Jake says, “All right. Winter Formal. Me and Annie. Think glitter, flowers, and romance. What can I do?”

“I still can’t believe you guys did it,” I whisper.

He whispers back, “Last night too.”

“Oh my gosh. Did everyone do it last night but me?”

Bryce breaks into a grin of his own.

Jake says to him, “You too?”

Although Bryce doesn’t answer the question, his face is one big smile.

“So, when are you and Aiden?” Jake asks.

“When we want to.”

“So, you don’t want him?”

“Yes, I do. It’s just complicated.”

“I know you did it fast with Dawson. Why is it complicated with Aiden?”