Page 14 of Wish You Were Mine
4
OWEN
“You guys wanna getin the hot tub now?” I asked Bash and Miles when people started going outside in their swimsuits.
It was a little after eleven and the party had been fun so far, lots of familiar faces that I’d seen at Ky’s other parties, as well as some fun new ones.
I’d only shared that brief moment with Lucy in the kitchen—just enough time to fix her a drink and wonder how things had gone with her boyfriend after she’d left The Garden. But once we sat down at the table, Miles had taken over with his entertaining stories, and then Ky came in to rally everyone for the “Minute to Win It” games his backup dancers had organized.
But Lucy seemed fine and friendly, and since her boyfriend wasn’t here, I figured that was a good sign.
“I’m getting in,” Miles said. “Yesterday’s practice destroyed me, so the jets would actually feel amazing.”
“I’m game,” Bash said. “Getting out of the water will suck, though, since it’s like eight degrees out there.”
“Yeah, it will.” It had been a while since I’d been in a hot tub. Right after college, when Ian and I had lived in his family’s pool house, it was a regular thing—either with girls we’d bring home or just the two of us kicking back and talking about life, the universe, whatever.
But two years ago, Ian and I had finally decided it was time to stop taking advantage of his parents’ hospitality. So we moved out—Ian into the massive mansion he had built on the land his dad sold him (because as the son of a billionaire, my best friend was loaded.) And I found an apartment near Eden Falls University, which worked out perfectly when I was wrapping up my PhD, teaching chemistry at the local prep school, and working weekends at The Garden.
Yeah…the last few years had been intense, so it was about time that I wound down in a hot tub.
Not that I really imagined there would be much “winding down” tonight since everyone was pretty ramped up and in a fun partying mood.
But hey, hot tub parties in the snow with your friends were always a good time.
We grabbed our swimsuits from the backpacks we’d left near the door and took turns changing in one of the bathrooms upstairs.
While Miles was in the bathroom, Bash and I hung out in Ky’s room, chatting as we waited. “Did you figure out who you’re kissing at midnight yet?” Bash asked with a smirk before inspecting his reflection in the mirror.
“What?” I asked, caught off guard by his question.
“Your midnight kiss. You know, for New Year’s?” He grinned, running his fingers through his dark hair and smoothing it back. “You can’t tell me you’re gonna break the tradition tonight.”
“I guess I wasn’t thinking about it,” I said. “Ian was alwaysthe one in charge of that challenge.” The one where he made each guy in our friend group pick a different girl at whatever New Year’s Eve party we happened to be crashing that year to woo and then kiss when the clock struck twelve.
“Well, since he’s all happy and engaged, I guess we’ll have to continue it without him,” Bash said. He turned to look at me. “So…who will it be? One of the dancers? Or possibly Nora’s cute friend I caught you flirting with earlier?”
“You talking about Lucy?”
“Yeah, Lucy. She seems nice. Kind of has a surprising spunky side.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised since I hadn’t seen that side of her yet.
Bash nodded. “We were on the same team during the games tonight and she seemed fun.”
Interesting.
Which, I would guess, was probably true. I’d just happened to meet her on what was probably a bad night.
“But she’s cute,” Bash said. “You should kiss her.”
“She might have a boyfriend, though…” I said, taking off my watch and tossing it into my backpack.
“Oh…” Bash said. “I guess that’s not surprising since girls like her are never single.”
I nodded. “I mean, I’m not a hundred percent sure. When I met them at The Garden last week, Nora tried to get me to give Lucy my number…but then she left with a guy shortly after that, so…”
“So I guess you better figure that out before you kiss her.” Bash chuckled.
