Page 31 of The Charm of You

And her words echo in my head long after they disappear into the crowd. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Clenching my jaw and losing my grip on my nerves, I stalk back toward Addie and the other two just in time for Owen Conrad’s arrival.

As an athlete and one of the more popular guys in high school, Owen and I couldn’t have been more different back then if we’d tried, but we’ve struck up a friendship of sorts since he moved back to town.

I wave over the girls for him to join me. As he skirts around them, he lifts his head to Addie. “Isn’t it past your bedtime, Lockhart? I’m surprised you’re out on a school night.”

“And I’m surprised you know how to tuck in your shirt,” she snarls. “You didn’t even have as much decency at our graduation.”

He furrows his brow, then snaps his fingers like a lightbulb flashed behind his eyes. “I figured my T-shirt with big tits on it was more appropriate. Besides, you couldn’t see anything, not with the ugly gown we had to wear.”

“You took off your gown and ruined our senior portrait,” Addie points out.

“I gave it character,” he says over his shoulder as he bumps my fist and asks, “What are we drinking tonight, Kyle?”

I open my mouth to answer, but Addie loops her arm through mine and hauls me away. The woman is much stronger than she looks, and right now, she looks ready to lay into me like I’m a punching bag.

She corners me by the bathrooms and hisses, “What the hell is Owen doing here? Did you invite him?”

“Most of the town is here tonight. Why wouldn’t he be here too?” I glance over her shoulder at the group we left behind. They’re drinking and laughing while karaoke singers continue to line up. Cole’s going to have to cut it off soon, or we’ll be here all night.

“Are you listening to me?” she asks, pulling my attention back to her. “How can you be friends with Owen? His affinity for crass and immature behavior is obscene, and yet, you’re friends with him. You’re better than that—and him.”

“He’s not the same guy he was in high school,” I reason. “He’s changed. I mean, the fact that he and I are friends now should tell you just how much he’s changed, because I certainly haven’t.”

“Got that right,” she grumbles.

“Excuse me?”

“He totally flaked the other night when it was his turn to chaperone the sophomores while they built their float. I had to rush over there to let them into the warehouse, and thirty minutes later, I realized I wasn’t wearing a bra.”

“I’m sure the sophomores didn’t complain.” I snort.

One side of her lip lifts into a scowl. “What am I thinking? You and Owen are the exact same. Of course you’re friends.”

I pull her arm to keep her from stomping off and possibly ripping into Owen, effectively embarrassing them both. “I’m sure he had to miss the float thing because something important came up. He’s cool. Give him a chance.”

Slowly, she untwists the corners of her lips, and the sly grin replacing her frown is unsettling.

“What?” I drop my hand from her arm and recoil. This can’t be good.

“I’ll give him a chance…”

“That’s all I ask.”

“If you give Caroline a chance.”

“Not this again.” I pinch the bridge of my nose and blow out a rough exhale.

“If you insist I give the buffoon a chance, then the least you could do is return the favor, especially since Caroline actually deserves it.”

“She—I don’t—” I release another frustrated breath and clip, “Fine. We’ll do it your way.”

She sidesteps a couple exiting the bathroom and sidles next to me, where we have a panoramic view of the whole Tap.

It’s when I realize Caroline is dancing… with another guy.

Instinctively, I lean onto the balls of my feet for a better look. As the pair spins, I catch the face of the guy—Richie.

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