Page 58 of Beyond The Break

No parties!!

I turn down the hall toward the meeting room and my eyes land on his extensive collection of wine. There’s no way he’ll notice if one bottle is missing. I grab the first sparkling wine Ican find and run back to the girls, waving the bottle at them as I enter the living room.

“Our hero!” Maliah swoons as she runs over and relieves me from the bottle.

I laugh. “I hope it’s good.”

“Only one way to find out.” She grabs wine glasses from the kitchen and brings them to the coffee table, filling our glasses for us.

Kairi opens a bag of white cheddar popcorn and pours it all into a large bowl as we each sit around the table.

“Okay, so while the boys are gone, we need some of the tea,” Maliah says, turning to face me.

“Yeah, what is going on between you and Fin?” Kairi eyes narrow.

I press my lips together, holding back a smile. “We’re just friends.”

Maliah groans and throws herself back against the couch. “Oh, come on! We’re not blind, Eliana. You two have been exchanging looks all week, and don't get me started on that T-shirt.”

“What kind of looks?”

Kairi’s frown deepens. “I don’t know… you definitely have thatI’m in love with himlook in your eyes.”

“I think you’re reading too many romance novels.” I snort.

“She is,” Maliah confirms, eyeing Kairi from the corner of her eye. “But she’s also not wrong.”

“I’m not falling in love with him.”

At least I don’t think I am.

I’ve never been in love before, so I don’t have anything to compare the feeling to. Plus, I just met the guy, surely falling in love doesn’t happen that quickly.

Maliah takes a sip of her drink before standing up, pulling me along with her. “Well, I’m sure we’ll find out eventually. Let’s bake some cookies.”

Kairi groans. “I suck at baking. You two can do that while I search for the movie.”

She grabs the remote from the coffee table and points it at the TV as she turns it on. Maliah drags me to the kitchen and starts grabbing the cookie ingredients from the pantry and fridge.

“I honestly love that there’s another girl in the house. Kairi never wants to bake with me.” Maliah pouts.

“That’s because you’re just so much better at it without me added to the mix,” Kairi calls out from the couch.

I giggle. “Well, I love baking so if you ever want a baking buddy let me know.”

We get to work mixing the ingredients and then laying out our cookie dough balls on a pan, tossing it into the oven before we join Kairi on the couch.

“How do we feel about a scary movie tonight?” Kairi asks, pointing at the TV.

Maliah pales, eyeing the screen. “Paranormal Possessions?”

“I love scary movies,” I admit.

“I’ll watch it on one condition,” Maliah says, passing us each a sheet mask pack. “Tonight turns into a slumber party because there’s no way I’m sleeping alone after watching this shit.”

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