Page 53 of The Soulmate Bakery

‘I’m going to kill you,’ I told her, and only two per cent of me wasn’t serious in that claim.

But confidence rang out in Sofia’s voice. ‘No, Maya, one day you’re going to thank me.’

‘She’s obviously lost her mind,’ I exclaimed, as I stepped out of the double doors to Maple Falls High, sandwiched between Raven and Sofia. ‘I do not have some secret party venue hidden up my sleeve, and I cannot throw a party at my house. My mother would flip out, or worse, chaperone!’

‘She is standing right here,’ Sofia said, as we walked down the steps to the parking lot. ‘And need I remind you: you were the one who wanted to speak to Silas about your feelings outside school and your study dates. Now you can make your move at a party.’

She wasn’t wrong, but, still, where exactly was I supposed to find a venue? It wasn’t like I had much experience in party planning.

‘OK, let’s say we do find a venue,’ Raven argued, weaving past cars to a parking spot that was empty. ‘What guarantee do we have that Silas even shows up to this party?’

I pointed aggressively at Raven in agreement. ‘Exactly.’

‘Well, I’d say that’s a pretty good guarantee,’ Sofia replied, a sly smirk on her face as she pointed over my shoulder.

I turned around, and my heart immediately started to take flight in my chest. Silas was striding towards us with his books tucked under one arm, looking like something out of a daydream. Eventually, the gap between us was closed and he was stood before the three of us.

‘Hi,’ Silas said, like we hadn’t just spent a whole class together.

‘Hi,’ I echoed back, feeling a grin tug at my mouth. ‘Finally free from Malt?’

Silas rolled his eyes and shook his head. ‘He’s obsessed with me, and it’s actually worrying.’ Amusement twinkled in his eyes. ‘Heard you’re hosting a party.’

I rocked on my heels. ‘News travels fast.’

‘What does a guy have to do to get an invite?’

The feeling of molten lava went down my spine at his voice. It should be a crime to be this attractive. How was a girl supposed to concentrate?

‘Hm,’ I said, faking thought. Silas’s laugh was soft and made my insides warm. ‘Help with the set up?’

‘So you want to put me to work?’ Silas asked.

‘Do you have other uses?’ I questioned, teasingly.

‘I usually bring the drinks to these parties,’ Silas continued, and then seemed to catch himself. ‘The safe stuff. Don’t want anyone going too wild if you get what I mean. I know your mother would … I’m going to stop talking now.’

For the first time, I think I understood what it felt like to be on the other end of a Maya Reverie word-vomit spiel.

‘That … that would be great,’ I said, my cheeks aching with how hard I was smiling.

Silas mirrored it, his chest puffing with excitement. ‘So we’ll meet early then?’

Silas. Freaking. Moon. Wanted to hang out with me. Not to study. Not for good luck. But just to hang out. He’d given me his jersey, and surely that meant something? Something more than just friendly. This had to be a sign. Sofia was right: I needed to confess my feelings to him at this party.

‘We’ll meet early,’ I replied, and I scurried about for things to ask him, just to keep him talking to me, when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.

It felt like I was being doused in cold water when I stepped out of Silas’s orbit. I twisted around to see Raven and Sofia were now sitting in a car.

A car I recognized.

And its owner was leaning languidly against its hood, waiting.

‘Sorry to break this up,’ Orion said, though he didn’t sound very apologetic. ‘But I’ve got the car running, Maya.’

Seriously. Could he not see the sparks flying between Silas and I right now?

‘I didn’t even know you were picking me up,’ I sniped.