Page 28 of If You Say So

Seven

Blake

Present day

I haven’t talkedto Nate in three days.

The last time I went this long without speaking to him was after we kissed for the first time. We panicked and ignored each other until we just couldn’t stay away any longer.

We lasted exactly three days.

I glance at myself in the mirror for the last time before I head downstairs to join in the drunken festivities. My black hair is an artful mess and my gray shirt makes my eyes pop, so I guess that’ll have to do.

It’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone.

The noise assaults my ears the moment I step outside my bedroom, and I cringe.

I hate loud, and I really hate parties.

Elliott is lucky I adore her and owe her one because I “ate all the nacho cheese sauce”. I mean, can you blame me? That shit is delicious.

“Headache, from all the noise and alcohol—I have a feeling it’ll hit in about an hour and I can sneak away to hide in the bedroom all night.”

I turn toward the voice and wish I hadn’t looked.

Nate looks hot…like,reallyhot.

He’s wearing a baseball-style tee with black sleeves and a dark green center. The top two buttons are undone, and I itch to trace my tongue along the muscles of his chest. It’s been too fucking long.

His auburn locks are messy in anI just got out of bedlook, but I know he spent at least ten minutes arranging it.

The thing that’s threatening to bring me to my knees?His smell.The familiar oak with just a hint of ginger slams into me, and I want to bury my face in the crook of his neck.

“We should think of a signal,” he goes on, pulling his bedroom door closed and trotting down the hall my way. “Maybe I’ll yawn and stretch.” He snaps his fingers, grinning. “A code word! That’s it. How about…pineapple? No one says that in normal conversation.”

I can’t take my eyes off him, can’t stop the smile that begins to play at my lips. I can’t stop my stupid attraction to him, can’t help opening my mouth and pretending everything is normal, just as he is doing.

“Pineapple works.”

We walk down the hallway side by side, and I don’t miss the sharp inhale he takes as his arm brushes against mine. I’m certain he doesn’t miss the falter in my step, the way I inch to the left to avoid all contact, because if I keep touching him, I’ll want to kiss him, and if I kiss him, we’re screwed.

I want to touch Nate.

I want to touch Natebad.

I push the thoughts from my head as he leads us down the stairs and into the noisy kitchen where a group of college students are crowded together around the kitchen table.

“Nate! Blake! Finally!” Elliott greets. Her cheeks are flushed and the wine in her cup almost sloshes out. She’s sitting on Carsen’s knee and he’s staring at her with this sort ofhelp melook on his face. We learned recently that Elliott Mathers cannot hold her alcohol. It only takes about three small glasses of wine to get her trashed.

I raise a brow at Carsen, silently asking how many she’s had so far, and he holds a finger up, indicating that she’s had one.

“Only one?” Nate whispers. “It’s going to be alongnight.”

“I was wondering if I was going to have to come up and get you two,” she says. “Grab a drink. We’re playing Monopoly.”

I shake my head. “No way. That game ruins friendships. There’s no way I’m playing it with my closest friends.”

“Ruins friendships? Does not,” she argues. “We’re playing.”

---