Page 44 of Betting on You

“Myfriends are pretty chill. And funny.”

I don’t know why, but I nervously asked him, “Do you think they’ll like me?”

He gave me a quick glance and looked like he wanted to laugh; it was in the squint of his eyes when he said, “You might’ve changed on the outside, but you’re kind of still the brace face from the airport, aren’t you?”

“No, I most definitely am not,” I said defensively, irritated that he was mocking my moment of insecurity. “But you, Charlie—you are absolutely still the know-it-all jackass that I met in Fairbanks.”

“Whoa,” he said, and now he did cough out a little laugh as he slowed for a stoplight. “Calm down. Ilikedthe brace face.”

“And now you’re lying,” I said, turning in my seat to face himbetter. “Because we’ve already established that we hated each other.”

His eyes moved from my face to my hair and back to my face again before he said, “How could I forget?”

“I mean,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ears and thinking back to that day, “I was just a nice girl, trying to safely maneuver my first solo flight, and thereyouwere, being a jerk and macking on a girl in the security line like a mini–Hugh Hefner.”

“First of all, ‘macking’?” he said, hitting the gas after the light turned green. “Do better, Glasses.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I don’t know where that came from.”

“Second of all, Hugh Hefner was an asshole. Young Charlie, on the other hand, had enough game for Grace Bassett to make the first move with that airport kiss.”

“Really?” I didn’t hide the sarcasm in my voice. “I don’t believe it.”

“Trust me, she begged for that kiss.”

“That’s what you want me to think.”

“Touché.”

When Charlie pulled to a stop in front of a nice-looking cookie-cutter split-entry house at the top of a cul-de-sac, I got a few butterflies. There were three cars in the driveway and a few on the street, so though it didn’t appear to be a huge party, it was bigger than my usual four-friend get-togethers.

It was like Charlie knew I was nervous, though, because as he pulled a little roll of TUMS out of his pocket and popped two into his mouth, he said reassuringly, “I’ll make it fun—I promise.”

We got out of the car and walked toward the porch, and I wondered what he’d be like at the party. WhowasCharlie Sampson with his friends?

“It’ll be quick and painless. Don’t worry.” We went up the two porch steps, and Charlie pushed open the front door like he’d been there a hundred times. There was loud music playing—“Nobody Knows” by the Driver Era (I loved theXalbum)—with people floating around everywhere.

I followed him inside, taking a deep breath and reminding myself that this didn’t matter. I didn’t know anyone at that party, so they could all hate me and it wouldn’t even count.

We walked by two guys on a couch, listening to a pretty blonde tell them something that appeared to be fascinating. A group of people on my right huddled around the dining room table, which was covered in cards and beer cans, as others watched whatever game they were playing with deep interest. We wove through more people standing around laughing or caught in light conversation. Following Charlie, I quickly eyed the kitchen, my hungry stomach wondering if that’s where the snacks or chips or some kind of delicious dips resided, before figuring this wasn’t a party where casserole dishes filled with any sort of seven-layer jalapeño popper dip existed.

It was exactly what you’d expect from a party, yet it wasn’t out of control.

But it was early.

People glanced at us as we passed, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that all eyes were on us. I tucked my hair behind my ears, tugged atthe hem of my sweater. Yes, I was starting to feel a bit insecure, which was probably why Charlie leaned closer and murmured into my ear, “Let’s go in the kitchen.”

It was in the kitchen—I was right; ZERO dips—where a tall blond guy said, “Fucking finally, Sampson. I was starting to think you were blowing us off.”

Charlie gestured toward me. “I had to pick up Bailey first.”

“Finally we meet Bailey.” The blond guy, who was leaning casually against the counter, flashed me a nice grin. “I’m Adam—I’m sure he’s told you all about me—and this is Evan and Eli.”

I floundered for a second, totally taken aback as I glanced toward the two guys sitting at the table.Charlie mentioned me to his friends?

“Hey,” I said, smiling and pretending like I’d previously known of their existence. “Nice to meet you guys.”

“What do you think of this shirt?” Evan asked, pointing at his pink button-down.

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