Page 49 of Stealing for Keeps
“I’d be lost without her. Especially this year.”
“She’s a good friend to you,” he states. “I bet she’d say the same about you.”
“I don’t know about that. Although I do get roped into helping her with her many extracurricular duties, like making all those signs for the start of the school year.”
“Oh, I remember,” he says. “That was the day you dumped glitter over my head and I showed up late to practice looking like I had spent the night at a rave. Evenpeople around school who don’t know the story are calling me Disco.”
“You ran into me,” I point out, fighting a laugh. “It’s not my fault that Rowan’s nickname for you has spread like wildfire.”
One corner of his mouth kicks up. “Worth it. I met you, and here we are dancing.”
“And dodging your fan club,” I add. I feel the need to remind him we’re only doing this because he needed an out. “You should just put them out of their misery and date one of them already.”
“Nah.” He shakes his head.
“Not interested in having a girlfriend?”
He bobs his head side to side. “The right girl…maybe. But I’m not interested in any of them.”
The song is winding down to the final notes, and immediately after, a more upbeat song starts. I remove my hands and step back. His fingers graze along my stomach as I pull away.
“Thanks for the dance. You’re not so bad.”
“I think that was all thanks to you, but I appreciate it anyway.” He lifts his hat from his head and runs his fingers through his dark hair. “Do you want to maybe go get some air? I’m underdressed and not skilled enough to be in here.”
I open my mouth to taunt him, but I had planned to agree. I want to keep talking to him. Being near him is fun and exciting. But I see Vaughn out of the corner of my eye. He looks like he just got here. He’s scanning the gym and nods when he sees Rowan and some other teammates.
“We probably shouldn’t,” I say.
Austin turns and follows my gaze.
“If he sees us together, he might get the wrong idea.”
“Right.” He nods, but there’s a hint of disappointment in his tone.
“You look good.” I reach up and take off his hat, then muss his flattened hair. He lets me, watching on amused. “Better.”
I hand him his hat, and then we stand there, neither seeming to want to move.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you later?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he says as I back away slowly. “Thanks for the dance.”
Chapter Fifteen
Austin
The schools are bigger and nicer in Frost Lake than my old ones back in Arizona, the dances more elaborate, the funding for sports much more substantial. The houses are larger, vehicles nicer, and the girls hotter, but I’m glad that one thing seems to be universal: teenage parties mean booze and loud music, and the promise of hooking up.
Rowan rode over with me, but he’s already found the center of the party and is thriving in it. I walk through the living room to the dining room and kitchen area. There’s a game of flip cup happening on a long, wooden table with a big-ass chandelier hanging over it. Others are gathered around the island with drinks in hand, talking and laughing.
I spot Sophie and her friends and take a sharp turn into another room. She’s a cool girl, but she seems to think we’re going to be something more than friends, and I just don’t see that happening when there is a cute blond I can’t get out of my head.
A cute blond who’s standing in the corner with Lacey and another girl I recognize as a cheerleader.
I catch Claire’s eye as I enter the room. She smiles and cocks one brow in a teasing, flirty way. Something shifted between us the past week. We’ve become friends…at least when we’re alone. I made a truce with Vaughn, and I don’t plan to break it, but remembering why is getting more difficult the more time I spend with her.
Instead of going over to her like my feet want, I wink at her and keep walking. I circle back through the party, and I find that my teammates are gathered in the living room, Rowan included.
