Page 50 of Chasing Stars
“You’re going to be wearing my lipstick,” I say against his mouth.
“Good. Then everyone will know you’re mine,” he mutters.
My heart flutters. He could have saideveryone will know you’re with me.Instead, he saidyou’re mine. I scold myself for feeling hopeful that I could be his. We get Pete settled with his dog bed and food bowls and then we’re ready to go.
“Why don’t we Uber?” Miles suggests. The party is closer to downtown than my house is, and it would probably be better not to drive, so I agree. Fifteen minutes later, we’re turning ontoPerry Street. Miles points out a house with a twelve-foot skeleton in the yard. “That’s where I grew up.”
I giggle. “Do your parents still live there?”
“Sure do. Bone Daddy was what I was helping my mom with the other night.” He gestures to the large, creepy skeleton.
I bark out a laugh. “Bone Daddy?”
Miles holds up his hands. “Hey, I didn’t name him. My mom did.”
“That makes it even funnier.” I giggle.
We pass Ellie’s house, and less than a minute later, we reach Liam and Sophie’s. The house is decked out in Halloween decor—orange and purple lights, creepy lawn ornaments, and music blaring. Miles thanks the driver and we slide out. “Buddy Holly” by Weezer is blasting, and Liam and Sophie are on the porch greeting their guests. Liam is dressed as Buddy Holly and Sophie is dressed as Mary Tyler Moore. If the song wasn’t playing, I may not have gotten it, but I’ll admit, I’m impressed.
“Hey guys!” Sophie greets us cheerfully. “Danny & Sandy! How cute!” Her enthusiasm is contagious as she reaches out to hug me.
“Who are you guys supposed to be?” Miles asks, tilting his head, examining them.
“Duh, they’re Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore. From the Weezer song that’s playing literally right now.” I swat Miles’s arm with a grin.
“Ohh, I get it,” Miles says, walking past them to go inside. “Totally don’t get it,” he mutters in my ear, and laughter escapes me.
“Drinks are in the fridge,” Liam calls after him.
It doesn’t take long before the party is in full swing. Sophie, the gem that she is, takes me under her wing, bringing me around and introducing me to the locals as Miles’s girl. I’m relieved to see another familiar face, Melanie, as all the ladiesgather in a group. I eye Miles across the room. He’s standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, talking to Danny and some of the other guys. Our eyes lock, and he mouths, “Are you okay?” My heart swells. I actuallyamokay. I can see why Miles loves these people so much.
“So, can we assume that’s what you are?” Stephanie, one of the women standing nearby asks. She’s dressed as the jelly half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I get distracted, watching Miles. I shake my head, coming back to the present. “Sorry. What did you ask me?” I grimace in embarrassment.
“Ohh, see? She’s so distracted by him,” Kristen, Danny’s wife, swoons. She’s dressed as the loofah to his soap.
“Miles’s girlfriend. Is that what you are?” Stephanie repeats herself.
“Oh… Uh…” I’m caught off guard. “I don’t really know.” I shrug.
“Leave her alone, Steph,” Sophie interrupts. “It’s new, right, Jenna?”
“Sonew,” I agree, nodding my head.
“All I know is, I totally expected Miles to show up alone, dressed as a Ninja Turtle or something. I did not picture him showing up with a total hottie on his arm—one he can’t stop staring at.” Kristen gestures toward Miles, and we all look just in time to catch him watching us.
His cheeks turn a shade of pink, and he quickly looks away, caught in the act.
“Oh my God! See?” Stephanie squeals, clapping her hands. “He’s obsessed with you!”
Melanie rolls her eyes. “What Steph means is, it’s been a really long time since we’ve seen Miles look so happy.”
Happy. Miles is happy with me. And his friends notice.Something in my chest shifts.
“Yeah. Sophie, you didn’t know his ex-wife, Erin, but she really did a number on the poor guy,” Kristen weighs in.
“That’s all water under the bridge now,” Sophie says, linking her arm through mine. Then I remember—Sophie knows what it’s like to be the new girl in town. She’s trying to make me feel comfortable.
