Page 44 of Make Me Swoon

“Um, a party,” Flynn says but I can tell that that’s not the whole story.

We arrive at the Falls Market and the conversation ends as we all climb out and head inside. Madelyn and Flynn head toward the nail polish display up front, Iris heads toward the snack aisle, and I follow after Sutton to where the hair dye is.

My phone buzzes and I pull it out to see a new text from Hudson.

Hudson:How is girl’s night going?

Lyla: Good. We’re at the Market now.

Hudson: Stocking up on more snacks? I can make more takeout for you if you’re still hungry.

Lyla: Actually we’re getting hair dye and nail polish.

Hudson: Are you going to go purple again?

Lyla: Maybe. Would you rather I did purple or pink?

Hudson: I’m a fan of the purple but whatever you want, I’ll love.

My heart skipsa beat at the word love, but I shake it off.

Lyla:Purple it is then.

Hudson: Want to come over to my place after girl’s night is done?

Lyla: Will you be done at Prim + Proper by then? I think we’ll be winding down around nine or ten.

Hudson: I don’t think I’ll be done until eleven or midnight. We need to deep clean tonight. But I can give you a key. I had a spare one made for you.

I’m notsure how to take that revelation either.

Hudson:Swing by Prim tonight when you’re done and I’ll give it to you and meet you at home.

I bite my lip,debating if I should say yes or just head back to my apartment for the night.

Hudson:Don’t make me beg, Lyla.

Lyla: Alright, I’ll see you around nine-thirty. You can’t be mad if I get purple dye all over your pillows.

Hudson: I wouldn’t dream of it.

I tuckmy phone away, grabbing a box of lavender hair dye from the shelf.

“Are you going with pink again?” I ask Sutton when I notice her eyeing the blue.

“I think so. I don’t know that I could rock the blue.”

“I think you could,” I tell her but she shakes her head, grabbing the pink one.

“I like my cotton candy hair,” she says with a smile.

We head up front to join Iris, Madelyn, and Flynn at the checkout counter. Madelyn has about ten different colors in her hands and Flynn grabs his wallet as she dumps them on the counter.

Iris already has a bag of white cheddar popcorn open and is popping a few kernels into her mouth.

And that’s when Arlo steps into line behind her.

I watch as she almost chokes on the popcorn, her face turning bright red. I set my hair dye on the counter, peeking out the corner of my eye as they shift nervously, still not saying a word to each other.

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