Page 34 of If the Summer Lasted Forever
Not a date. Not a date. Not a date.
Landon, however, doesn’t seem uncomfortable. He effortlessly keeps up the conversation as he navigates down the winding mountain roads, taking turns as I direct him.
We pull onto Misty’s drive in about twenty minutes. Judging from the number of people outside, we arrived neither too early or too late. Every pair of eyes latches onto the Suburban as Landon parks.
Hoping Landon doesn’t notice, I take a deep, calming breath, preparing myself for the inquisition. I know these kids, grew up with most of them. They’ll see right through me.
I open my door, but Landon meets me before I hop out. Leaning close, he sets his hand on either side of my waist and quietly says, “It’s going to be fine.”
Our eyes meet, and I wonder if I should lean in and kiss him for the sake of appearances. The thought makes me warm, fluttery.
As if reading my mind, Landon’s eyes drop to my lips. I hold my breath, waiting…hoping.
After a moment, he swallows and shifts back, giving me space to think. He takes my hand the moment I close the door, and we amble toward our hawk-eyed spectators. They hastily continue their conversations, only shooting us sideways glances, pretending they weren’t gawking a moment ago.
Paige appears, and she pulls me into a greeting embrace. Softly, so only I will hear, she says, “Oh. My. Wow. What wasthat?”
“Too much?” I ask, breaking away as Jarrett introduces himself to Landon.
“Don’t even pretend that was a show,” she murmurs, smiling as she turns to the group that’s joined us. Tanner extends his arms, and she steps into them, practically purring.
Jarrett glances at them for only a moment before he looks back at Landon. He’s doing a decent job pretending it doesn’t bother him that his cousin is dating Paige, but I can tell from his tight expression, it does.
I glance around, noticing the music, and turn to Paige. “Where’s the movie?”
“Apparently Gia suggested we just do music this time. Misty actually went with it.” She widens her eyes, showing her incredulous shock.
“So…no kid movie?” I ask, starting to panic. Cartoon bunnies were the only thing keeping this faux date from feeling a little too appealing.
“No kid movie,” Paige confirms.
“Where’s Misty?”
“In the house. Her only rule is no alcohol or ‘being stupid,’ which I guess she figures covers a whole array of things.”
“Fun things,” Tanner says, nuzzling Paige’s neck.
She giggles, and I look away, slightly repulsed. I don’t know if I dislike Tanner, or if I just don’t like him with Paige.
Or maybe all these years, I’ve been rooting for Jarrett.
The two laugh about something, and then Tanner tugs my friend away, leaving us so they can mingle. I shake my head as they disappear and scan the party.
There’s only about thirty of us, ages ranging from about sixteen to twenty. There are only a few faces I don’t recognize. Besides the local kids, visiting cousins mill about—regulars who we see every year. Though the group is small, it’s still a good turnout for one of Misty’s parties. Word must have gotten around that Gia somehow managed to veto the movie.
The sun sinks behind the mountains, but the perimeter of tiki lights circling the front of the barn does a decent job of keeping the mosquitos and gnats away. Someone turns up the music, and people begin to dance, which seems odd.
Dancing is usually relegated to school functions with a neighboring high school in the next county, and it takes place in a stale-smelling gym, not surrounded by firelight under a blanket of stars.
Without the singing cartoon animals and princess-themed cookies, Misty’s acreage is proving to be a rather romantic setting.
“Come on,” Landon says, taking my hand.
I let him guide me into the small throng of people, hoping my discomfort doesn’t show. When he stops, I step into him and let my hands loop around his neck, school-dance style. Though it seems weird to dance in jeans and a T-shirt, it’s somehow better, more impromptu.
“I don’t suppose you went to many dances?” I ask him, hoping to fill the limited space between us with small talk.
“I managed to make several, actually.” He moves his hands from my sides and clasps them behind my back. The move nudges us closer, but in a sweet way, like an extended embrace. I want to bury my nose against his T-shirt, breathe in the clean scent of laundry detergent and the smell of his soap.
