I’ve had a drink at Treasure’s parties, usually no more than one strawberry or cherry margarita. And Treasure was always around just in case I became tipsy and lost even a kernel of inhibition. Tonight, I’m alone. I would never make myself so vulnerable. I don’t want to end up doing anything to embarrass myself or the family. I’ve already broken the rules by lying to my parents.
“Okay,” he says, and I’m surprised he accepted my decision so easily. “But what made you finally come out tonight? You’ve been MIA all year, playing with your computer, right?” His smile is less crafty and more charming, and I study it a bit longer to see if I can discover an ounce of sarcasm in it. So far, I can’t see it.
“Kind of,” I say, deciding to tell the truth.
“You’re smart and pretty. I like that in a girl.”
I didn’t mean for my mouth to fall open.Is O’Brien Klein, of all people, trying to hit on me?
He steps closer, and my eyes grow wide with surprise. “Hey, how come we’ve never gone out, grabbed some coffee or something? You drink coffee, don’t you?”
I nod. You can’t keep the hours I keep, writing programs, and not drink coffee—strong coffee.But now what do I say?I want to keep our conversation going. If he hadn’t said anything to me, I’d still be standing here, feeling awkward and all alone.
“So where are you going to college?” I ask.
He presses his lips into a tight smile. “I don’t know. I’m taking the year off to travel. Wanna come?” His eyebrows flit upward as he takes notice of the lower half of my body. I’m starting to think there’s a double entendre in his question. Once again, he’s rendered me speechless.
“Congratulations, though, on your scholarship. I heard about it,” he says.
I drop my face bashfully. “Thanks.”
“You know, I never played along with that ‘this is Valentine country’ bullshit.”
My head shoots up. “What do you mean by ‘Valentine country’?”
“The feud,” he says as if I’m supposed to know what the hell he’s talking about.
In a way, I do. Our families had business disagreements in the past. I have no idea what those disputes were, but I wouldn’t have thought corporate issues would find their way to our high school.
“I don’t understand,” I say over the music. The song has changed to an electronic rap number that’s a bit louder than the last.
I’m caught off guard when O’Brien comes even closer. His mouth is next to my ear. “Me neither. But I’ve had a crush on you since I first saw you. You’re sexy, Paisley.”
I’m experiencing sensory overload. “Me?” I’m barely audible, still ruffled by the mention of the Grove-Valentine feud.
He moves his mouth close to my other ear. “Yeah, you.”
I’m staring into his eyes, speechless. I want to ask him more about the feud. It explains a lot about why everyone behaved as if World War III had ended when Hercules spoke to me in class today. It would also explain why it’s been so difficult to make the kind of friends I have back in California.
O’Brien continues to lean into my intimate space. I don’t think a boy has ever gotten this close to me before. The faint rosewood scent of his cologne rages through me like a gust of pure animal instinct. This feeling is strange because he’s not at all my type. I’m not into jocks or guys who appear to have no depth.
“What do you think about that?” he asks.
I’m experiencing sensory overload. “I don’t know,” I exhale.
His lips are on my earlobe. “I think you’re naturally sexy.”
I’m speechless. My body is confused, and so is my mind.Me? Sexy? No way.
“How about I get you a drink? Like a Coke or something?” Finally, he leans back, and I’m staring into his lit eyes and noting his slanted smile.
“I don’t…” I stop myself from telling him that I don’t drink soda either. My parents never allowed me to have it growing up, and therefore, my tastebuds reject the syrupy sweet taste. But I don’t want to come off as a party pooper. So I nod. “Okay, I’ll take a Coke.”
His smile turns broader as he puts his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t move.”
He doesn’t have to worry about that, because I can’t move.
Chapter Five
