Page 37 of For Crosby

Her eyes narrowed. “When?”

“Stop fucking around. You know we danced at the bar.”

She shrugged. “I was wasted. It must’ve not been that memorable.”

I deep growl came out of me. Apparently, she was pissing me off more than I realized. “What’s it gonna take?”

She dug her hands into her hips. “What?”

“Us? This thing we keep doing. When are we getting past it?”

Her head tilted to the side. “Maybe when I meet the real you.”

I threw my hands out to my sides. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

She slammed the passenger door and circled the front of the car. “I told you. I never know what I’m getting with you. From the first time we met until the bar, you’ve got my head spinning.”

“So, you do remember the bar.”

She pulled open her driver’s side door with vigor. “Are you not even hearing me?”

“I hear you.”

“Until you’re normal for more than two minutes, we’re nothing to each other.” She slid into the driver’s seat and pulled the door closed.

“Merry fucking Christmas,” I said to her car as it pulled away from the sidewalk and disappeared from view.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Sabrina

Growing up in Florida, I’d never experienced fragrant pine covering homes and buildings. I’d never woken up to a dusting of snow on Christmas morning. I’d never even had a real Christmas tree. One day, I’d venture up north. One day, I’d escape the heat of Florida. For now, the illuminated palm trees lining the streets of my neighborhood would have to do.

“Watch it!” my best friend Trish shouted at the car that pulled out in front of us.

Her exaggerated impatience pulled my attention from the familiar streets of my childhood.

Trish had been my best friend since junior high. But we’d lost touch while I’d been in Alabama and she’d stayed home to attend community college. But once we got together in the same place, it was as if we’d never been apart. We still laughed at the same jokes. Still found the same guys hot. Still turned heads when we entered rooms.

“I wanna see you hook up with Steve tonight,” she said, her eyes jumping between the road and me in her passenger seat.

“Not gonna happen,” I assured her.

“Why not? You said you’re not seeing anyone at school.”

“I’m not, but it doesn’t mean I need a one-night-stand with my ex. He’s my ex for a reason.”

She laughed. “I bet he has an amazing tan. Can you even imagine going to college in Hawaii?”

I shook my head, though I could totally see Steve living the life there.

We entered the party and were greeted by so many familiar faces. We bee-lined it for the kitchen to grab a drink. Before I knew it, Trish and I were pulled in opposite directions. All the guys wanted to talk Bama football with me, as usual. They knew my bestie at school was dating the quarterback, so they figured I had insight into how the team would do if they made it to the championship game.

“Sabrina,” Trish called impatiently from the kitchen a little while later.

“One minute,” I said to her. I was deep in conversation with a girl from high school who was attending college in New Hampshire. Not only did I want to hear about her time there, I didn’t like being beckoned.

Trish rolled her eyes, and went back to mixing drinks at the kitchen island. I’d forgotten how possessive she was over me. She never liked me veering away from our group. But never one to follow anyone—or much less care what anyone thought, I always did my own thing.

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