Page 79 of Follow My Voice
“I’m sorry, Klara! That wasn’t my intention. Diego just kinda tugged me along, and Kang was there, so I knew you’d at least be in good hands. Please forgive me.” Perla pouts and gives me puppy eyes.
“Stop that. Fine. I forgive you.” I laugh.
A knock on the door brings us back to reality.
“Hey, everything all right in there?” comes Diego’s concerned voice from the other side of the door.
“Ready to go?” I ask Perla.
She nods and I see Ellie adjusting her hair. I’d forgotten about my suspicion that she likes Diego. And, when we open the door, I realize I’d also forgotten about the tall guy who kissed me a few minutes ago. When I see him, his lips chapped, my cheeks immediately go red.
“Ready to go?” Diego asks, looking at me, Perla, and then at Ellie, whose eyes dart away to avoid his gaze.
Perla smiles in an attempt to ease the tension. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Suddenly, I have an idea. “Ellie?”
“Yes?”
“Do you need a ride home?”
“Oh, no, I’ll take an Uber, don’t worry.”
“No way, you can ride with us. Kang has to take Diego to pick up his car from the soccer field. I’m sure Diego can drive you home after.”
My redheaded friend looks at me quizzically.
“Yeah,” Kang says to Ellie. “You can ride with us.”
34Enjoy Me
THE RIDE BACKin Kang’s car turns out to be less awkward than I’d anticipated. Diego tells us about all the crazy shenanigans that went on at the party; it’s as if he knows that the moment silence falls between us, we might begin to feel awkward. Ellie continuously steals glances at Diego, and Perla laughs nonstop.
As for me, I ride up front, trying to avoid looking at Kang, because every time I do, all I can think about is his face so close to mine and the feel of his soft lips. My heart hasn’t been beating at a normal rate the entire car ride, but I’ve kept my cool.
I glance nervously at Kang and, at that very second, he looks over at me and our eyes meet. His lips curve upward and he winks at me before he looks back at the road in front of him. Something warm and electric settles in my core. I never realized positive emotions could cause so many physical reactions.
We drop Perla off at her house first since it’s on the way to the soccer field. Once in the parking lot, Kang stops and Diego gets out of the car, followed by Ellie. My matchmaking plan is working so far. I lower the window. “Get Ellie home safe,” I say to Diego witha wink—or, well, an attempt at a wink, because I’ve never been able to get it right.
He gives me a quizzical look. “What’s wrong with your eye?”
I clear my throat. “Good night,” I say, then add in a whisper so that only he can hear me, “Cangurito.”
“Klara!”
I roll up the window, letting out an evil laugh. As I straighten up in my seat, I feel Kang’s heavy gaze on me. “Did you know Diego before?” Kang asks, his voice neutral.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Something like that?” Kang raises an eyebrow.
“It’s a long story,” I reply, realizing that we’re now alone. The last time that happened, we ended up kissing.
I give Kang my address and he drives in silence, the smell of his cologne mingling with the scent of the air freshener tree hanging from the rearview mirror.
I take a deep breath and let out a long sigh.
“So, how was your first party?” Kang asks, stopping the car outside my house.
