Page 38 of Better Than the Movies
If I’d referenced a certain boy in a way that was easily misconstrued, well, that wasn’tmyfault, was it? I gave a shrug and said, “I don’t know. I mean, he’s gorgeous and fun sometimes, y’know?”
“Well, yeah, of course I know—everyone loves Wes. I just thoughtyouhated him.”
Was that a thing? Did everyone love Wes? I mean, it’d seemed likethe attendees of the keg party adored him, but it hadn’t occurred to me that it went beyond his social circle. I lived next door to him and we went to the same school. Was it possible he was loved universally without my ever knowing?
I said, “Oh, I do. But hating him is fun sometimes. So.”
That made her laugh and open the door. “I don’t get it, and we’re going to have to talk tomorrow about this new look of yours, but I just wanted to make sure you weren’t misleading our boy Wesley.”
When we got back to the front door, Helena was making Wes laugh as she shared her take on the dating reality show that had had its finale the night before.
“I mean, the woman actually said the words ‘I want a man who will put flower petals on my bed every single night if he thinks it makes me happy.’ If that isn’t a red flag, I don’t know what is.”
“Because who would ever want that, right?” Wes gave Helena one of his best smiles. “Someone has to clean that stuff up.”
“Thank you, Wes.” Helena threw up her arm in appreciation of his commiseration. “And wouldn’t you have to dust the petals off the bed before boarding, anyway? I mean, nobody needs flower petals sticking to their parts, am I right?”
Wes said, “I know I don’t.”
Joss lost it, and Wes was laughing; I mean, itwaspretty funny. But Helena was purposely missing the point of the romantic statement. Yeah, it maybe was a little cheesy, but there was something to be said for making the grand gesture.
My mom would have understood.
“You ready to go, Buxbaum?” Wes turned his attention to me, and my face grew hot as his eyes did a trail over my hair and outfit. Ihatedthe way my complexion always showed the world what I was feeling, and I desperately wished there was a way to turn down the heat on my cheeks.
Alas, no such luck.
“You definitelylookready for some hoops,” he said with an eyebrow raised, “but I’m still not sure you can pull it off.”
“My vote is no.” Jocelyn leaned in and lowered her voice. “Care to make a wager, Bennett?”
“You guys are hilarious. Ha, ha, ha—Liz knows nothing about sports.” I opened the front door. “Now, I’m going to go watch the team sprain some ankles. You coming or not, Wes?”
“It’sbreaksome ankles.” He gave Jocelyn and Helena a skeptical look that made them both chuckle as he said, “And I’m right behind you.”
Helena said, “Don’t forget that your dad and I are going to the movies tonight and won’t be back until late.”
“Okay.” I pulled the door closed behind us, stressing about whatever the hell Joss was thinking now, and said to Wes, “God, you need to chill with the charm, okay?”
His eyebrows went up. “Excuse me?”
“I had to let Joss think I might like you, so cool it. Those two are your target audience; they totally go for your boy-of-mischief vibe.” I gave him knock-it-off eyes and pointed at him as we approached his car. “So for the love of God turn it down, or they are going to be all over me toactuallydate you.”
He opened the door for me and leaned his arms on the top of the window while I got in. “That would be the worst, right?”
“The absolute worst.” He slammed the door, and I buckled my seat belt as he walked around the car. He got in and started the engine, and I couldn’t help but notice that he smelled really, really good. I couldn’t stop inhaling.
“Is that soap or deodorant?”
His big hand landed on the shifter, and his eyebrows crinkled when he looked over at me. “Pardon?”
“You smell really good, but it isn’t your usual scent.”
He didn’t put the car in drive but instead just looked at me. “My usual scent?”
“Don’t act like I’m weird. Your normal cologne is kind of, like, piney, but tonight you smell more… I don’t know… spicy.” The image of him shirtless and putting on deodorant popped into my head, and I cleared my throat, sending it away.
His voice was deep and kind of rumbly as he gave a throaty chuckle. “Holy shit, Liz Buxbaum knows my scent.”
