Page 20 of Told You So
“Hey, Cami.”
“Shitty test this week, huh?”
I groan inwardly. “Yeah. It sucked.”
Cami lifts an indifferent shoulder, like a grade is only a grade. Maybe it is in her household.
“Anna knows how to throw a great party, huh?” She holds up her plastic cup. “I didn’t think I liked beer, but...” she shrugs.
Uncertain what else to do, I laugh. “Yeah, I know, right?”
Her smile grows. “Well, have fun.” Cami leads her date through the crowd and heads for the family room.
When I look at Nick again, he’s talking to Slimy Slinsky, one of the guys on the baseball team, and he didn’t get his nickname because of his oily skin. Slinsky’s cringe-worthy in a lot of ways, and it bothers me that Nick’s his friend, even though I know it shouldn’t. Nick’s one of the nice ones, or at least he used to be. I realize I don’t know him anymore—I never really did, actually. And he has a reputation now at school. He’s a jock and a flirt, and even though I know that’s a dangerous combination, I want Nick to still be good, too.
“There you are!” Anna Marie chirps as she hurries over to me.
“You look hot,” I say, taking in her short black dress.
She looks me up and down. “And you look...like yourself.” She sounds disappointed.
“Hey, I’m here, aren’t I?”
“True.” She hands me her cup. “But you’re late and you look like you need a drink. Here, chug the rest, it’s getting warm anyway.”
I glower and take her beer. “Gee, thanks.” I take a couple sips, realizing I’m not a beer person whatsoever, but I’d never complain. Licking my lips, I hand her cup back to her. “So, a warm beer, huh? That means you’re not drinking it fast enough. Do you have a fever?” I feign concern and rest the back of my hand against her forehead, only for her to bat it away.
“Ha. Ha,” she deadpans. “It’s hard work being the hostess of such a fabulous party.”
“Yeah, about that.” I glance around the room at all the flushed, smiling faces. “I noticed the whole baseball team is here.”
Anna’s brow furrows and then it seems to click and her eyes twinkle. “Oh! Yes, Nick.” The corner of her mouth draws up conspiratorially. “Of course I invited them. Why do you think all of these people are here?”
“Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Why, so you could bail?” Anna lifts a shoulder, practically beaming with pride. “It’s your first party, I wanted it to be special.”
I don’t pretend to understand Anna’s schemes all the time, even if she thinks they’re always in my best interest. “Whatever. You better not disappear on me all night.”
Anna waves my threat away. “Go get a drink, chat with some people, make some friends—you do know how to be at a party, right?” she jokes.
“Yes,” I sneer. “I might not get out much, but I don’t live under a rock.”
“Great, then I’ll catch up with you in a bit. I have to make sure my parents’ room is still locked. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She winks at me and makes her way through the crowd.
I notice Steve Hilman, a hotshot running back from our rival school in Benton, behind her in the hallway, and he winks at me. I immediately glance away. His sister was my math tutor over the summer, and he’d texted me a few times and told me he’d “formed an attachment” to me. It was a bunch of crap; he just wanted me to be another story to tell his teammates, all jocks usually do, and I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
When I turn back around, my gaze find Nick’s. He’s staring at me and my entire body freezes in place, even if my instinct is to turn around and disappear into the crowd. His eyes are set on me, and he steps past Slimy Slinsky. My heart pumps triple-time when I realize he’s walking over. I can’t tell if I’m excited or going to have a panic attack, until he reaches me. The moment he smiles, some of my unease fades away.
I peer around the den, at the books lining the walls and the antique bookends. I don’t know what I was thinking bringing Nick in here, away from everyone. I’ve never been good at filling silences, unless it’s with Jesse.
Nick settles back into the couch, completely ignoring the girls giggling across the room, to my relief.
“So,” he finally says, “what have you been up to? I mean, I feel like it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen you around. You avoid me at school and this is the first time I’ve seen you off campus...ever.”
“I don’t avoid you,” I lie. “But, yeah, I’ve been busy with life...and school.” Even if talking to Nick is unexpected, it’s not exactly unwanted. The more he talks, the easier it feels to keep the conversation moving. “What about you? You’re a big baseball star, I hear. MVP last year, even.”
Nick’s toothy grin fills his handsome face, and I feel lighter again. “How’d you know that?”
