Page 22 of First Impressions of You

I laugh. “Sorry,” I say. “I thought I heard you offering to drive me home.”

“I did,” he confirms, the words smooth, patient, as if he were talking to a child. I straighten up, irritated by the condescending tone of his voice.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because contrary to what you believe,” he says, fishing his car key from the front pocket of his jeans, “I’m not a terrible human being. Let’s go.”

He turns and starts walking away, never looking back to check that I’m following. But I do. For reasons that are beyond me, I let him drive me home from the bar.

Chapter 06

The ride I got from Winter after Olivia’s birthday becomes a secret I decide to hide even from myself. If I pretend hard enough that it didn’t happen, I can make myself believe it.

I don’t tell anyone about it. And I certainly don’t talk to him about it. Winter doesn’t show up at the park again, at least nowhere I can see him, so it’s easy to keep myself from thinking of him.

Again, if I lie hard enough to myself, maybe I’ll believe it.

Who am I trying to fool? The reality is that more often than I care to admit, I remember Winter standing in front of me, tilting my chin up and asking if I’m okay. I can basically feel the press of his finger on my skin every time I close my eyes.

When I get a text from Graham, I wait for the butterflies to take flight in my stomach, but… nothing happens. Not a single flap of a wing.

Still, I agree to go out with him someday, in the hopes that something comes out of it. If nothing else, just for the sake of getting Winter out of my head.

The only thing that is truly effective in distracting me from the unwanted thoughts of my possible costar, though, is Julia’s constant giddiness.

She can’t stop talking about Cam. Everything is a reason to bring him up. It’s ridiculous and cute at the same time. I’ve never seen her like this, but I’m living for it.

I haven’t asked, but I don’t think they’ve even kissed yet.

Every time she mentions Cam, I feel a tug inside my chest. I’m happy for her. I genuinely am. But I can’t remember ever feeling this way about someone, and I can’t help but wonder if I ever will.

I can’t avoid comparing her reactions to Cam’s texts to mine when I get one from Graham. I get none of that tingly feeling that spreads all over your body just by reading his name on your phone.

But she does.

Every single time Cam texts, Julia reacts in the same way. Except one time, when a loud gasp leaves her lips instead of the usual giggle.

“What is it?” I ask striding towards her on the couch. “What’s wrong?”

“Cam invited me to go to San Diego with him tomorrow. To spend the weekend.”

“You’re going,” I declare when I notice her hesitation.

It takes some convincing, but she finally texts him back saying she’ll go.

We move to her bedroom to pack her an overnight bag, and I wish Olivia were here and not working right now. She’s the one who’s better at coordinating outfits. I’m a basic clothes kind of girl. Whatever is comfortable is what I’m wearing. But I’m guessing bike shorts and cropped tops shouldn’t be the first choice for a romantic getaway.

Even if she insists this isn’t what this trip is.

“Are you sure you can’t come with?” she asks for the millionth time.

“I’m not going to barge in on your couple’s trip.”

“It’s not a coup—”

“It is,” I interrupt her because we’ve already been through this. “Try Olivia again,” I ask, and she grabs her phone to call our sister, but a text comes through, distracting her.

“See? I told you it wasn’t a couple’s trip.” She waves the phone in front of me, but the way she’s shaking it, I can’t read anything. I grab her wrist to stop her movements and read.

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