Page 2 of Sunkissed Colorado

Callum was hot, and he knew it. He looked more like twenty-five than eighteen. Tall, leanly muscled, wavy brown hair. A big dumb grin that drew teen girls like purple coneflowers attract honey bees.He’s, like, the sweetest, they cooed.

Blegh. Good thing I was immune to him.

The bell rang, and Ms. Washington started class. I focused on her lecture for a while. Until inevitably it was time for group work. Tommy and Callum started talking about the party tonight and who would be there, while Jessa kicked my foot under the table.

Please come tonight, she mouthed at me.

Tommy’s shrewd eyes glanced over. “You coming to the party, Zandra?” he asked. “You should. First one of the year. Don’t you think she shouldcome, Cal?”

Like I didn’t catch that unsubtle innuendo. Callum crossed his arms over his meaty chest with a frown, tilting his head to study his friend, then me.

The bonfire party after every football game was a Silver Ridge High tradition. The football players held it on private land, somebody’s daddy’s ranch, and it was technically invite-only. Those invites were coveted. Most of the time, you wouldn’t catch me dead at their dumbass wannabe-frat party.

I didn’t mix with football players like Callum and Tommy. This was no surprise to anyone. I was more of an outsider with big ambitions for my future. Picked my friends carefully, biding my time until Jessa and I could finally get our asses out of this small mountain town.

But Jessa was dying to go tonight because of this secret boyshe liked. Didn’t she deserve that rite of passage, no matter how ridiculous?

I loved her like a sister. I’d already been rude to Callum today, so it was time to lay off. I couldn’t mess this up for her. Otherwise, what kind of best friend would I be?

My shoulder shrugged up and down. “Jessa got an invite for us. So I guess I’ll be there.”

Jessa’s face lit up.

Only to free-fall when Callum opened his big mouth. “I don’t think so.” He looked at Tommy. “Z doesn’t want to go to the party.”

“I just said I do.”

“You hate being around guys like me so much. Wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Jessa laughed nervously. “Callum, Z was just kidding around earlier.”

Smirking, Tommy punched Callum’s upper arm. “Relax, man. Don’t take it personal.”

“I’m not,” Callum said matter-of-factly. Not a trace of animosity. “But Zandra’s not invited.” He shrugged and smiled.

One point to O’Neal. For being so much more devious and petty than anyone had expected, including me.

The rest of the class had suddenly gone quiet, because of course they’d all been eavesdropping. “Damn,” someone whispered. It was the sound of my senior social status crashing and burning. Like I cared.

Until I saw the look of devastation on my best friend’s face.

“I’m sorry,” I said again. “You could’ve gone without me. He didn’t disinvite you, just me.”

“Whatever. It’s fine.” Jessa skipped a rock into the creek. “I didn’t want to go that much anyway.”

Geez, I really was the worst.

I still thought Callum was obnoxious, but I’d probably gone too far.Why are you so mean?he’d whined. I didn’t know. I would never win the title of Miss Social Butterfly. But Callum O’Neal did not bring out the best in me.

People justlovedhim, no matter what he did, and it wasn’t fair.

“I’m a terrible best friend. Epically bad. Please accept this offering?” Unzipping my backpack, I pulled out the Hearthstone tall-boy cans I’d brought from my parents’ fridge. “Trust me, it’s only the start of my groveling.”

Jessa snickered, accepting a can and popping the tab. “You’re lucky your grandpa runs a brewery and your house is always overflowing with so much beer they don’t keep track of it.”

“Seriously. Callum is so short-sighted. I could’ve hooked up hisbrosfor their parties all semester.”

She arched a brow. “Would you?”