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“Hey,” he said. “I’m surprised you’re not with your partner in crime.”
“Oh, Winnie? She’s on the couch having the time of her life.”
I pointed to the other room, and Alden’s eyebrows reached his hairline when he caught her lip-locked with Kadie Henry, the cheerleader of her dreams. This was the most I’d seen her touch anyone since she usually kept her distance, but nothing could stop her when she was determined.
“Seems like she’s having fun.”
“You know Winnie. She’s always having fun.”
“Except when she’s around Nick.”
“Not everyone can like my brother,” I replied. “I barely like him some days.”
His eyes slid back over to me and I saw him do his familiar double take. The first thing he glanced at was my teal sweater showing off my boobs. He quickly looked away, but his eyes returned, this time traveling over the rest of me. I’d done my makeup perfectly and my cheeks glistened in the low lights of the party.
“Like my sweater?” I asked. “I got it from Target this week. I wanted something that screamed more Christmas, but they were out of red.”
“Red isn’t your best color.”
“Then what is?”
He looked away and vaguely gestured at the top I was wearing.
A compliment?
Yes.
I waited for him to say something, or worse, walk back what he had just said. He stayed silent.
“Forget how to talk?” I asked demurely.
“H-how is school going? Shouldn’t you be studying?”
“Studying for what? It’s Christmas break.”
“Already?”
“College lets out earlier, remember?”
“Right,” he said, rubbing the side of his neck. “You’re already in college.”
“You helped me move in.”
“It’s still hard to believe you’re mostly out on your own. How’s campus life?”
“It’s ... something. I had a bad roommate this semester but I’ll have Winnie in the next one. I forced our RA to approve moving me.”
“Forced?”
“More like annoyed into submission. Either way, next semester will be way easier. But for now, I get to celebrate my favorite holiday of the year with company.”
“Whose?”
I tapped my finger on my chin, scanning all of the people around me. “Icouldgo get hit on by the football team.” That was a bluff. I doubted any of them would want me around. Alden’s face darkened anyway. “Or hang out with you.”
“I think I prefer the second thing.”
I waskillingit.