Page 67 of Party Favors

Did he mean whether or not I trusted him? Because while I understood logically that I hadn’t known him long enough to make this kind of declaration, I would trust Max Colby with my life.

Or was there some deeper subtext here that I was completely oblivious to?

“Did you notice that the music changed like, two songs ago?” Vella asked, interrupting us. The band was playing another upbeat number and I’d been totally unaware, caught up in the spell Max was weaving.

The spell he continued to weave. Because even with the interruption, he didn’t release me.

“Excuse us girls a second,” she said to him. “I have to go to the bathroom and Everly’s coming with me.”

I tried to protest, but she clamped down on my wrist and wrenched me away from him, and with every step I took, my body protested at this drastic, unnecessary, and very unwanted change.

We got in line for the women’s bathroom and all I wanted to do was go back to Max.

“So I saw you two holding hands,” she said in a conversational tone that I knew was a cover for what she really wanted to say. “Isn’t that like, third base or something for your people?”

“We were dancing.” I didn’t mean to tell her anything beyond that, but I couldn’t help myself. “He did ask me if it would be okay to hold my hand later.”

She blinked at me a couple of times. “Is he a fictional hero from a Victorian novel?”

“I like that he’s old-fashioned,” I said defensively.

“I suppose it’s perfect for you and where you’re at. Or it may be an indication of what’s to come. And that sucks.”

We moved up a spot. “What does?”

“Max being bad at dancing. I don’t understand why it was so hard for him. It’s literally two steps.”

“He kept starting on the wrong foot and miscounting,” I responded.

“I’m just sorry for you because it means he’ll probably be uncoordinated when it comes to other physical activities.”

My mind went blank. “Like racquetball?” I immediately realized how stupid that sounded and what she had been implying.

“No, Everly, not like racquetball. Dancing is a vertical expression of a horizontal one.”

“I know what you meant,” I mumbled. “It’s not like I’m ever going to have to worry about that with him. He doesn’t want to date me. I don’t see it ever happening.”

“When you hang out with him, are your eyes closed? Because that is the only explanation possible for you not being able to see what’sgoing on. Even if you dismiss everything else, he paid for you tonight. That’s a date.”

“He also paid for you,” I reminded her. “So unless you’re ready for us to be sister-wives, neither one of us is dating him. He took me out to thank me for helping Sunny.”

“That is not a thing. People don’t do that.”

“Sure they do.”

Vella crossed her arms over her chest. “Name one time you’ve done it.”

“I—”

She was right. I couldn’t think of a single instance. I had brought people gifts or sent them thank-you notes or emails, but I had never taken someone dancing to thank them.

“This bicycle only needs two wheels,” she said as we reached the front of the line.

“You’re not a third wheel.”

“I am, and I’m taking off with Cowboy Troy. He said something about showing me a silver belt buckle he got for bareback riding. I’m not sure what any of that means, but I’m interested in finding out.” At my look, she added, “Don’t worry. I have my stun gun and pepper spray.”

“Is that his name? In case I need to call the police?”

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