Page 98 of Stealing for Keeps
“True.” He links his pinkie finger with mine and squeezes. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
My face warms, and the urge to kiss him is so strong.
“Are there a lot of bags?” he asks.
“What do you think?”
“You know it’s only one night.”
“You’ll be thanking us when you’re hungry later.”
Together, Austin and I get all the grocery bags and take them inside. The boys are all gathered in the kitchen, and as soon as we set the groceries down, they’re digging in and ripping open chip bags.
“Told you,” I say to Austin.
* * *
The day is spent mostly outside. The boys kick a soccer ball around in the grass and alternate trying to push one another into the lake in between. The girls sit on the deck talking, watching them, and occasionally getting involved in the plot to throw people into the lake madness.
As it starts to get dark, more people arrive at the lake house. Some of the football guys couldn’t make it until after practice, same for the hockey team. Suddenly the yard and the deck are filled with people. The music is turned up, and coolers are set up everywhere.
“Bet you’re glad I grabbed us a bed about now,” Lacey says as she quickly pulls her feet in to avoid being trampled by two guys wrestling.
We’re sitting on a towel in the yard. Austin is still playing soccer. They’re mostly just messing around, I think. They stopped playing for real hours ago, but it’s like they just can’t help themselves. There’s a ball, so they’ve got to kick it.
“So, Claire…” Rachel leans over from the other side of Lacey. She has a wicked glint in her eye and a smile that tells me she has something juicy to say. “What’s the deal with Austin?”
My heart rate picks up. “What do you mean?”
“Does he like anyone?”
“How would I know?” My voice is tight as I try to play it off as coolly as possible.
“You two are friends,” Rachel says, leaning farther so I can see the excitement in her eyes as she tries to get the dirt. “Don’t hold out on us. Has he mentioned anything to you? Is he talking to anyone?”
“I heard that he’s into that girl from the hockey cheer team, Jenn something or other.”
The four of us all glance over where Jenn is standing. She and a couple of her friends came with guys from the hockey team. We’re still watching as Austin jogs by them with the ball and Jenn glances up and stares at him with a smile on her lips.
“No.” Lacey shakes her head. “We were sitting with him at the hockey game when the guys asked him, and he said they’re just friends.”
“Are we sure he’s into girls, because he’s friends with her and friends with Claire…” Rachel waves her hand toward me. “They’re, like, the hottest girls at Frost Lake.”
I feel the blush creeping up my neck.
“Disco!” Lacey yells for him.
He stops jogging and looks over at us. My best friend waves him over.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, feeling a slight panic.
She gives me an “it’s no big thing” smile right before Austin comes to a stop in front of us.
“What’s up?” he asks. He’s turned his hat backward, and he’s a little out of breath.
“Sit. Answer some questions for us.”
