Page 69 of From Now On

Aidan’s expression brightens even more when I use his last name. He holds out a fist for me to tap, then pounds my back twice.

We exchange a grin before I walk down the porch stairs and in the direction of campus. Most of the upperclassmen live in the houses on the periphery of campus, like the place I just left.

I pass a few giggling groups of students headed off campus. No one else appears to be going to the student center. But Clayton was right, when I walk in the lower level, it’s packed with freshmen who opted for the school-sponsored version of a welcome party. Crowded enough that I can’t spot Clayton, which is surprising. Guy’s on the basketball team and well over six feet.

I slide my phone out of my pocket to shoot him a quick text letting him know I’m here, then veer in the direction of the buffet tables lining one wall to get some food. It’s pretty picked over atthis point—the event started two hours ago—but I grab a bag of potato chips. There’s a colorful display of Jell-O cups that I move toward next.

My mom is a terrible cook. She can’t be trusted to boil water without evaporating most of it. Since my dad, brother, and I are hardly culinary geniuses ourselves, we learned to make specific snack requests to supplement meals and keep from starving. My dad always requested jerky, Sean was obsessed with Cheez-Its, and I asked for Jell-O. Not the most filling choice, but I love the taste of it.

“That’s brave.”

I glance past the Jell-O tower at the end of the table. There’s a girl leaning against the wall, right next to a poster advertising the club fair tomorrow afternoon.

Pink rushes into her cheeks when she realizes I’m looking at her.

“Brave?” I echo.

“Just—I’ve been standing here for like fifty minutes, and no one’s taken one of those. So yeah, you seem brave.”

I smile. “It seems safer than the cheese plate. Who knows how long that’s been sitting out.”

“Yeah, that hasn’t been super popular either. The Oreos went fastest.” She nods at a large plate that’s empty aside from a few black crumbs.

“I love Jell-O,” I inform her.

The girl’s nose wrinkles, crinkling her freckles. “I’ve never tried it. I’m not sure which is less appealing—the neon color or the way it…jiggles.”

I laugh. Her honesty is refreshing. She’s the first person I’ve met at Holt who doesn’t seem to be putting on any sort of act seeking approval.

“It tastes good.”

She sucks in a deep breath, like she’s preparing for some Herculean task. “Okay. I’ll try it.”

“Yeah?”

“Uh-huh.” She shoves away from the wall and takes a couple of steps closer. Her forehead furrows as she scans the three flavor options.

While she deliberates, I study her. She’s really pretty, which I’ve never thought about a girl before. Usually they’re categorized ascuteorhotin my head. But this girl—I should ask for her name—ispretty.

She’s on the petite side. At six-two, I’m roughly a foot taller than her, although her hair—loose and a little wild—makes up some of the difference. She’s tan from the summer, her bare arms several shades darker than her white T-shirt. The Beatles’ logo is on the front. There’s another strip of skin visible between her shirt’s hem and the waistband of her jean shorts that my gaze keeps getting drawn to. She also has an amazing rack.

She selects lime, glancing over a split second after I’ve averted my eyes from her boobs.

I set the strawberry I picked down so I can hold out a hand. “I’m Hunter.”

She smiles, swapping the cup to her left palm so she can shake mine. “Hey. I’m Eve.”

I’m already second-guessing the formal handshake—she’s not a professor or a coach—but it’s too late to drop my hand now.

There’s a weird lurch in my stomach—like missing a step descending stairs—when her smaller fingers fold around mine. There’s a blue stain on her pointer finger. Paint?

My hold lingers longer than is polite or necessary. “Eve, huh? Too bad Jell-O doesn’t have an apple flavor.”

Eve rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “Clever, Hunter. I didn’t ask if you liked guns.”

I’m smiling too. “I don’t. I’m a pacifist.”

“Really?”

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