I don’t know, but I hate him for it.
And I hate him for how confused I feel right now.
thirty-two
CALEB
“I really thinkthis is the last time Caleb will have to go in my place,” Justin says, placing a rushed kiss on Summer’s cheek. “I have to finish the books from the QVC orders we got earlier this week, and then I’ll be a free man.” He spins in his chair at the kitchen table, facing me. “You don’t mind, right, Caleb?”
I’m sitting on the couch, putting on my freshly purchased cowboy boots that I bought today just for this occasion. “Nope.”
Summer glares at me from the kitchen table. It’s one of her harmless glares that’s more of a pout than hurtful. “Are you sure you don’t already have plans to go to the dance with Jordan? You two seemed pretty cozy the other night at the Mountain Lodge before leaving together.”
Is it wrong to take pleasure in Summer’s jealousy?
“Yeah, Jordan was pretty tight-lipped at work yesterday about what happenedafteryou two left the party together.” Justin tips his smile. “Did you guys kiss?”
I look at Summer with a gloating smile. “I’m not the type to kiss and tell.”
“You kissed her.” Justin points at me. “Yousokissed her.”
Summer lifts her chin, trying to act like she doesn’t care, but jealousy hangs off each of her movements. “That’s what I was saying. Maybe Caleb already has plans to go to the dance with Jordan.”
I stand, straightening my legs in my new tight Wranglers and fixing my giant Telluride belt buckle just right. “Don’t worry, Summer. I’m all yours tonight.”
Her jaw hardens, and she looks away.
“Perfect.” Justin claps. “I promise this will be the last time.”
“But Justin, this is the Mistletoe-Down.”
“I know.” He places his hand on the top of her head, running his fingers through her hair until there’s no more, and he’s left resting his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll go to the Mistletoe-Down together next year.”
Wow. A few weeks ago, he wasn’t sure about Summer, and now he’s promising things for next year. Why the sudden shift?
“It’s not just that.” She bites her lip, all while blatantly avoiding my stare. “There’s mistletoe everywhere at the dance.”
“A good decorating choice since it’s calledMistletoe-Down.”
She huffs in her spot, getting annoyed. “You don’t get it. There’s mistletoeeverywhere.” Her eyes peek at me, then glance away. “What if…you know…” her voice lowers. “What if Caleb and I get stuck under one?”
“Then you kiss.” Justin says it so matter-of-factly that I have to believe he’s either the most distracted, oblivious man not to see what’s really going on here, or he doesn’treallylove Summer. I’m hoping it’s the latter.
“You want us to kiss?” She gives him a pointed stare.
“I don’twantyou to kiss, but if you find yourself accidentally under some mistletoe and people are watching, then you have to kiss. We don’t want people wondering about our swap.”
Summer leans forward, ready with a rebuttal. “But—”
“It’s not like you two haven’t kissed before.” Justin laughs, looking between us. His gaze lands on me and stays. “It will be like kissing your sister.”
“I doubt that,” I say under my breath.
“Try not to throw up.” He laughs again, but when he sees neither Summer nor I laughing, his tune changes, and he gives me a look. “I’m not saying you should search out a mistletoe. This is only if the situation can’t be avoided.”
“Understood,” I say.
If the situationcan’tbe avoided.
