Page 21 of Losing the Rhythm

“Then what’s the problem? Let them tell their stories. Screw them all.”

Paxon snickered. “Screw them.” He glanced over at Calvin to make sure he still wasn’t paying attention to us.

He wasn’t.

I grabbed Paxon’s hand and squeezed it. “Screw them.”

That got us both laughing.

“I’ll be more careful,” he finally said. “Just hearing them say that stuff about you. It was icky.”

Paxon leaned in close until his forehead pressed against mine. I stilled, staring right into his eyes. He stared back and for a moment, his gaze even dipped down to my lips. Swirls of anticipation spun around my stomach, feeling a little aware of him. The feel of him so close, his scent, the evenness of his breathing.

I wanted to kiss Paxon, and my awareness of him was telling me that he wanted to kiss me too.

A loud scratchy note caused us both to jump back.

I blinked, feeling dazed. Redness crept across Paxon’s cheek, and he grabbed his pen, turning back to his work without saying anything. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“Paxon—” I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but Calvin interrupted.

“Cadie, I need help.”

“Okay,” I called out, swallowing the words I wanted to say to Paxon, but also glad I didn’t get to say them. Seth had talked to me a while back about his feelings for me. And hinted that the others felt the same.

But they were my friends. Did we have to shift in that direction?

“Senior year,” I said in a low voice as I crawled to my feet. “Let’s just make it through. And let me help your brother so he can grow to become a world-famous musician who’ll put us all to shame.”

That got Paxon laughing again as he went back to focusing on his homework, his face still a bit red.

The next hour was peaceful and easy. Simple. I helped Calvin. Paxon did his homework.

And I could forget.

“How about we call it,” Paxon finally said, packing his bag up. “I have to get mini-me home soon. Dad wants us to have dinner together since he’s getting off early.”

“Dad will be home?” That seemed to get Calvin perking up in excitement.

Paxon laughed. “Yeah, he’s bringing home dinner. But we still have a little bit of time.”

“How about some hot chocolate before you guys go?” I asked, not really sure where that question came from, I just didn’t want them to leave quite yet. Because then it’d be just me, and it’d be too quiet until Seth got back from work. He’d already texted that he was going to be a little later than expected. Guess something happened at work.

Calvin’s eyes practically bugged out at the suggestion.

“Sure,” Paxon said.

“Let’s go then.”

It wasn’t long until we were in Seth’s kitchen, putting together cups of hot chocolate and laughing as Calvin went on about school and the fun he had been having with his friends. It was a fun change of pace as we goofed around.

Paxon pulled out the whipped cream from the fridge and sprayed a bunch in his mouth.

“Hey! I want some.”

Paxon chuckled as he did the same for his little brother. By the time he stopped, Calvin’s mouth was completely full, and some of the whipped cream leaked out.

“Want some?” Paxon held up the bottle for me.

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