Amber and Bethany smile at him as they step outside, but I can’t make my mouth work. As much as I fantasized about him coming, I didn’t think he’d ever be here at my house.
The girls are on the sidewalk before I realize he’s with two friends: Luke, the skinny guy with close-cropped hair from our English class, and a boy I’ve seen but haven’t met.
Luke steps forward. “Cally, right?”
My voice seems to have left with Amber, so I nod.
Luke hooks a thumb at the other boy. “This is Ian.”
Ian pushes his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes and smile. “Cool place.”
“And I believe you know Blake.”
Blake hasn’t taken his eyes off me since I opened the door and I’m having a hard time looking anywhere but his eyes. And his lips.
“Sooo...” Luke clears his throat. “We’ll just let ourselves inside.”
I move out of the way to let them pass and hear the door click shut behind me.
Blake moves forward until we’re practically toe to toe, eyes still on mine. A breeze swirls around us, blowing his hair in his face, and I wrap my arms around myself. The cold air on my neck brings me back to Thanksgiving and the memories of us together make it hard to see straight. I shiver.
“You cold?” His voice is low and soft and I feel myself leaning toward him before I realize I’m doing it.
I shake my head.
He smiles that lopsided smile and my heart somersaults. “You gonna say anything?”
My voice comes out thick. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
He breaks eye contact, looking at the ground between us. “That’s what I’ve been thinking for the past month.”
I stagger back a step. I didn’t expect him to acknowledge things so quickly. “Then why...” The hurt from the past month rushes back and I press my hand against my throat, unable to get the words out.
His gaze follows my hand, lingering on my neck. I brush a finger over my skin, imagining it’s his lips.
“I know I owe you an explanation. I just...” He shakes his head, sending his hair over his eyes. “Can you forgive me?”
I don’t want to give in too easily but something about this boy makes me want to screw the rules and jump into his arms. “That depends.”
He watches me, not saying anything, and I scramble to think of a condition. Sophia’s voice echoes in the back of my head. “This hot and cold thing’s gotta stop.” Although technically it’s been all hot, then all cold. “I won’t let you hurt me again.” Which is a lie. Just talking to him now has the potential to crush me if things go back to our new normal on Monday.
He pales. “Again?”
“Did you forget that you suddenly lost my number?”
He looks down again. “I’m sorry.”
Laughter from inside carries through the door and I’m pulled out of my Blake-induced haze. “I don’t want to get into all that right now, but—”
He reaches forward and grabs my hand. His skin is warm despite the cold air and heat races up my arm, jolting me in the heart.
I’m screwed.
“I promise I’ll explain. But for now,” he smiles that lopsided grin, “it’s really good to talk to you.”
Dear lord, I’m beyond screwed.
“Should we go inside?”
I lift a shoulder and smile. “I guess.”
He opens the door and I drop his hand. As much as I’ve dreamed of the day that Blake and I are an actual couple, I don’t want to be the center of rumors this soon in my new school.
We find Luke and Ian in the living room with everyone else. “You get lost?” Luke asks, winking at Blake.
“She was showing me the landscaping.”
Reece chokes on his soda. “I bet she was.”
Heat flames my cheeks and I search the room for a distraction, any distraction. Evan’s studying Blake like he’s gauging unexpected competition, while Mike smiles and gives me a thumbs-up. My gaze stops on Brianna, who’s sitting on Austin’s lap. I’d begun to think she was too good for high school boys, but from the way his hand’s trailing up and down her back, I’d say I was wrong.
Brianna narrows her eyes at me.
What did I do now? Whatever’s got her pissed off can wait. I smile at Blake. “Drinks are in the kitchen.”
He and Ian wander off and Luke nudges me. “Nice to see that you can actually talk.”
Just when I thought I couldn’t blush any more. “I was surprised to see him—you guys. But I’m glad you came.”
The slip didn’t get past him. “I figured. I had to convince him to come.”
“What?” My stomach drops. Blake doesn’t want to be here? Then what the hell was that outside?
Luke leans closer so the others can’t hear. “He knows he’s been an ass but he’s so stubborn he’d rather be miserable than try to fix it.”
“Oh.” Jesus, Cally. Calm down.
“Lucky for you, he’s friends with me.”
I study him, rewriting the slacker impression I’d formed in English class. “So he told you?”
He nods. “You were all he talked about after Thanksgiving.”
And just like that butterflies whip through me, releasing the doubt and anger from the past month.
“What are you two whispering about?”
Even his voice makes me weak in the knees.
Luke’s smoother than me. “Skiing. Cally was telling me about her sick flips.”
I tilt my head, mouth open. Since I haven’t told him anything about myself, he must have heard it from Blake.
Blake smiles, eyes on mine. “They are pretty spectacular.”
I shake my head to clear the dancing hearts. “You’re not so bad yourself. On the slopes, I mean.”
Luke punches him in the arm. “Ooh, burn.”
Blake pushes him back and I step away before I become a casualty of their boy-wrestling. Brianna’s still giving me the evil eye but I’m too happy to give her resting bitch-face much thought.
I head to the kitchen to get myself a drink and chat with two girls I recognize from history, but my gaze keeps returning to the living room. I can’t see Blake, but I know he’s there, looking way too delicious for his own good. Hopefully Brianna doesn’t scare him away before I get more time with him.
A prick of jealousy makes me flush at the thought of him talking to another girl, even Brianna. I roll my eyes and the girl I’m talking to tilts her head. “Sorry, not you. I’m being stupid in my head.”
She looks even more puzzled.
“I’m gonna check on people in the living room.”
“Okay, see ya.”
In the living room, Austin and Brianna have snuggled closer and she looks the closest to relaxed that I’ve ever seen. Kenzie, Reece, and another boy are crammed on the couch with them. Mike and Evan are still in opposite chairs, but the longing on her face is so clear they may as well be the only people in the room—except he’s oblivious.
She looks my way as I approach her. “Having fun?”
My gaze lands on Blake, who’s leaning against the wall listening to a very animated Luke tell what—based on his arm gestures—can only be a snowboarding story. I sink onto the armrest, taking in the people around me—my friends, a little voice tells me—and smile. “I am.”
She pokes my side and laughs. “It’s about time.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. You always seem tense, like you’re waiting for something bad to happen.”
I nod in Bri’s direction. “Can you blame me?”
She snorts. “No. I guess I don’t ever fully relax around her either.”
A balled up napkin lands in my lap. I look up and meet Kenzie’s glare.
“What are you two whispering about?”
I don’t miss a beat. “I was just saying what an honor it is to have you here.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m sure.”
I nudge Mike and she coughs into her hand, stifling a laugh.
Kenzie straightens, her eyes narrowing into a look I’ve seen on Brianna’s face. I guess when Bri’s busy, Kenzie steps up as head bitch. Her smile becomes a sneer and she points at Blake and his friends. “If you’re so honored, what are they doing here?”
I glance at Blake, who meets my eyes, but it doesn’t look like he heard her. “Uhh... talking?”
She leans forward. “No. Why are they here? I know Bri told you to stay away from him.”
“Are you—” I look from Mike to Kenzie to Blake. “Are you serious?”
Kenzie stares at me, lips pursed in an expression she MUST practice in front of a mirror. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”
Much to my delight, Brianna looks up from whatever Austin was whispering in her ear and aims her glare at me.
Anger pushes me to my feet. “You know what? I’m beginning to regret inviting YOU tonight.” Kenzie’s mouth falls open and my voice rises. I glare at Brianna. “First you chase away the nicest girl I’ve met since moving here—” I glance at Mike and she shrugs. “And now you’re telling me I can only be friends with your pre-approved list of boys?”
I’ve definitely got Blake’s attention now. Luke has stopped talking and literally every eyeball in the room is focused on me. I take a deep breath.
Slope Rule #7: Go big or go home.
“I think you should leave.”
Brianna launches to her feet and I take a step back, straightening my shoulders. I hadn’t planned on saying that but I’m not backing down now. I’ve faced much worse than her in the starting gates.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but you just ruined your life. I was trying to be nice and—”
“This is nice? I hate to see how you treat people you don’t like.” Except I already have.
She points a finger at me. “You’re finished.”
My stomach twists but I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”
Brianna steps over Austin’s legs and stalks past me, Kenzie close on her heels. She passes Mike, then turns to look at her when she doesn’t stand. “What are you waiting for?”
Mike hesitates. Could this be the moment she finally breaks free from Brianna? She catches my eye for a moment, then drags her gaze to Brianna, who looks ready to yank Mike out of here by her hair. She closes her eyes for a moment, then stands. “I’ll text you later,” she says as she walks by. “Good luck with Blake.”
My cheeks flush. I’d been so focused on Brianna that I forgot he’s standing five feet away.
Austin and Reece trail after the girls, but Evan pauses next to me. “I’ll stay if you want me to.”
I smirk. “Aren’t you worried about Bri’s wrath?”
“She doesn’t control me.”
My brows shoot up. “Dissension in the ranks?”
“No. I think for myself.” He lifts a finger and touches my cheek. I’m dying to turn around to see if Blake’s watching. Instead I move my head enough that he drops his hand.
“You should probably go.”
His smile falters for a moment. He glances over my shoulder, then back at me. “See you tomorrow?”
Tomorrow? Oh, skiing. Right. “Sure.”
He smiles and nods over my shoulder. “See you Blake. Luke.”
He walks away and I turn around.
Blake’s watching me with an amused expression on his face. “That was almost better than watching you ski.”
I press my hands to my belly to calm the mix of emotions churning my stomach. I hate confrontation, but I hate getting pushed around even more.
His eyes follow my hands and his smile fades. “You okay?”
The front door slams and I jump, but no one else seems to react. In fact, no one seems to care that Brianna and her minions have left. Drama at a party is expected and an early exit from the queen bitch doesn’t mean the party is over.
I smile at Blake. “I am now.”