Page 45 of Puck You
My mouth fell open in a brief moment of surprise.Now that Sebastian and I weren’t directly opposing one another, I didn’t know how to interpret his moves.Had he really come here to rescue me, or was this part of some plan to scramble my head?We were no longer at war, but there was still the bet to think about.
“Don’t overthink it,” he said, as if reading my mind.“This just so happens to be my favorite table at the union, and I need to finish some work on a project before I get to class.”
I let my gaze sweep over the straight line of his jaw and those striking eyes.All of this would be much easier if he weren’t so nice to look at.Usually, when I disliked someone, it made them uglier in my mind.But for some reason, that didn’t apply to Sebastian.
“What, never seen a guy before?”
“Not one with such an abnormally large head.”
Sebastian smiled, a real, genuine smile that brought a subtlesoftness entirely at odds with the sharp lines of his face.“You can thank me later for rescuing you.But if you don’t leave soon, you’ll probably be late for class.”
I glanced at the time on my phone and noticed that he was right.My next class was in less than fifteen minutes.
“I don’t need rescuing,” I said as I stood up from the table and slung my backpack over my shoulder.“You should know that by now.”
“Sure, but I do enjoy the idea of you being indebted to me.”
I rolled my eyes.“Don’t get used to it.”
Chapter 12
Sebastian
Grace was at my birthday.Grace Gillman—hockey star extraordinaire, women’s activist, and hater of all things me—was currently standing in the front hallway of my favorite place in the world.She was the last person I’d expected to be here.When I’d told Caroline that she had a fat chance of convincing Grace to come, she’d only chuckled and said they were on the way.
“Who is that?”I asked Caroline as she leaned back against the kitchen counter beside me.
“Her best friend, Sam.I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but it was the only way I could convince her to come.”
Usually I’d be annoyed that someone had been invited without my permission, especially because I was particular about who was welcome at the lake.But tonight, I wasn’t bothered.The only thing I could think about was the long-legged girl who’d taken up permanent residence inside my head.
“As long as she doesn’t steal anything or throw up on my mother’s favorite rug.”
Caroline smirked at me like she knew something I didn’t.But before I could pry, Bryce walked into the kitchen with Kent, Grace, and Grace’s friend Sam trailing behind him.Sam was eyeing the back of Bryce as if she’d like to climb him.Next to each other, the difference in their size was almost laughable.She barely came past his elbow.The group stopped in a half circle before us, and Grace stepped forward, her cheeks flushed.She was wearing a crop top that displayed several inches of midriff, a pair of jeans hanging dangerously low on her hips.
“Happy birthday,” she said softly.
“You came after all.Does this mean we’refinallyfriends now?”
Grace was struggling to hold back a smile.“I’ll agree to acquaintances.Anything else might be moving a little too fast?”
I shrugged.“You’re the one at my birthday party.”
“Okay, then we’re one steppastacquaintances but not fully in the realm of friendship.Fracquaintances.”As soon as at the words left Grace’s mouth, Sam let out a snort of laughter.Grace elbowed her in the side, face flushing even brighter.
“I think frenemies might fit you two better,” suggested Bryce.The sound of his voice pierced the tension between Grace and me, and she seemed to sag in relief.
“This is my best friend, Sam,” Grace said, pushing the tiny redhead to the front of the group.“She’s met everyone else by now.”
“Saved the best for last?”
“I’ll let you believe that, at least for tonight,” Grace said.
My lips twitched with the threat of a smile, but I forced it down.I couldn’t let myself be pulled any further into her gravitational force.I needed to get through tonight without doing anything impulsive.There could be no flirting disguised as fighting, no intentional ruffling of feathers.If I could stay in control for the next twelve hours, seeing Grace at practice once a week would be a breeze.
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“This is a truth circle,” Caroline said, smacking her hands against the hardwood, “where we ask scandalous questions or make people reveal their darkest secrets.If you really want to see how many hot dogs Landon can fit in his mouth, form your own dare circle.But please do it somewhere I don’t have to watch.”
