Page 87 of Unbidden

“And I promise that if or when I leave, I’ll talk it over with everyone. I won’t just disappear in the middle of the night.”

“That's all I ask.” V sighs, “Now, back to Reed. I don’t understand you two. It’s obvious that you’re both crazy about each other. Why don’t you just admit it and get together?”

“Ugh, it’s not that obvious. Some days I don’t even think he likes me. What if he’s just being polite because his siblings do?”

“That man doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do. He doesn’t have to go out of his way to walk you to class or kiss your cheek. He holds your hand every chance he gets. He likes you. A lot, if I had to guess.”

“Then why doesn’t he make a move? I’m dying over here,” I ask dramatically.

“Have you ever thought that after the number of times you told him not to touch you and the fact that he was a complete douche bonnet to you from the beginning, he wants to let you set the pace? He wants you to make the next move so he knows it’s your choice?”

I ponder her words. Is she right? Is he waiting on me?

“You think?”

“There’s only one way to find out. Get dressed, chica. Let’s go to a party.”

∞∞∞

Twenty minutes later, we pull up outside a mansion I haven’t been to. Cars line the driveway, but Victoria pulls right up front.

“This is Alex McDonald’s house. Ten minutes inside with you looking like that and Reed will come running.”

“How will he know we’re here?”

“Alex is on his lacrosse team. Besides, we’ll take a party selfie.”

After posting our selfie to social media, we make our way to the front door. It opens before we can knock.

“Welcome, ladies. Please come in.”

I smile kindly at the butler as we’re ushered into a large open room with a DJ and food set up to one side, a bar on the other.

“Let’s dance,” Victoria yells to me over the music.

I nod and let her lead me to the dance floor. At first, I feel stiff, but as Victoria continues to dance with me, I loosen up.

As a slow, sensual song comes on, Victoria pulls me close. We slow dance while saying sweet nothings to each other, trying to make the other laugh with how ridiculous our words are.

When the song ends, Victoria pulls me off to the side, advising me she’s going to grab a drink. A guy walks up to me as soon as she leaves.

“My name is Ryan. What’s yours?” he calls over the music.

I laugh. “Sage.”

He shakes my hand before stepping closer. “Alex is my cousin. I’m visiting from Minnesota. How do you know him?”

I shrug. “I don’t. My cousin does.”

His chest shakes with laughter. “Our cousins brought us together.”

I smile. “I guess they did.”

“Want to dance?” he asks.

A hand around my waist startles me.

“She’s taken, but thank you for keeping her company. You ready to go, baby?”

---