Page 68 of For Keeps. For Always.

I hate how hot my cheeks feel. “About a year.”

“Cute. Have you met Brooks’s girlfriend?”

My nostrils flare of their own accord. “No.”

“She’s beautiful,” she comments, her eyes focused on the trees out the window.

“She is,” I whisper.

* * *

I’ve managedto avoid him for the first few hours of the evening. Hyper aware of his every movement, I weave away from him every chance I get. He’s at the bar, I’m dancing. He’s dancing, I’m in the bathroom. I refuse to sit, to relax. Afraid if I let my guard down, he’ll catch me.

If he even cares to.

Our last encounter was far from amicable. In fact, it was downright hideous.

“You’ve not stopped moving all night.” Alex grips my waist. “Let me buy you a glass of mediocre champagne.”

I laugh. “How can I say no to that?”

“You don’t.” He leans down to kiss me, his lips cold from his beer as he brushes them against mine. “I love this dress.” He squeezes my ass. “Have I told you that?”

I kiss him again. “Once or twice.”

“I’ll keep reminding you,” he tells me. “Just in case you forget all the nasty things I’d like to do to you while you wear it.”

My thighs clench in the opposite way my heart does. One with heat. One with guilt.

Oblivious to the racing beat of my heart, Alex turns us in the direction of the bar, right into the path of Brooks and his beautiful redhead.

“Squirrel.”

“Brooks,” I stumble out. “Hi.”

Stepping forward, he breaks contact with his girlfriend to pull me into a warm hug. “I’ve missed you,” he breathes into my neck, soft enough that it’s only for my ears.

Pulling back before I’m ready, I strain myself to smile. “Brooks, this is Alex.”

Staring at me for a beat longer than comfortable, Brooks eventually breaks his gaze to look at Alex, whose hand sits outstretched.

“Nice to meet you, man.”

Brooks smiles tightly at Alex’s greeting.

“I’m Henley.” I step forward, offering my hand to the girl standing behind my best friend.

“Grace.” Her slender hand slides into mine, a meek lift of her hand before she pulls it back.

“Did you two go to school together?” Alex asks.

My eyes shut in shame.

“Henley didn’t mention me?”

“Should she have?” Alex glances at me, then back to Brooks again.

“Brooks was, is,wasmy best friend,” I stutter.

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