Page 91 of Falling Like Snow

“Whyyy?” he whines.

“Something came up.”

“Something like what?”

I drop my eyes to the table, unsure how to answer without admitting that I’m blowing him off for someone else. He slowly starts nodding.

“Something like Asher?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Sloane, are you sure you two are only friends?”

“What? Yes, of course I’m sure. Why would you ask that? Just because I didn’t know he’d already made plans for us when I made plans with you?”

Micah studies me for a moment. Then he shakes his head. “Sorry. Forget I said anything. You want help working this booth?”

“Sure,” I say, forcing a smile as Micah joins me behind the table.

People have always speculated about Asher and me, but before, I never had to worry if I was wearing feelings on my face, announcing them to the world—because I didn’t have any.

Now I’m beyond confused, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s apparent in my every glance, my every word, my every breath.

But when Micah sets his hand on the small of my back and flashes me his brilliant smile as the next customer visits the booth, I stare into those deep green eyes and remind myself that this gorgeous boy likes me. And I’d be an idiot to blow things with him over some weird feelings that emerged because of a first kiss with my best friend.

Even if it was a mind-altering, earth-shattering, heart-stopping first kiss.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Asher arrives on my doorstep at seven o’clock. I’ve curled my hair into loose waves again and put on my favorite distressed baggy jeans and a white cropped knitted sweater.

When I meet him outside, Asher’s hair is spilling out from beneath his black beanie, and he’s wearing his dark gray chino pants with casual black boots. His eyes twinkle like the stars scattered across the glittery sky as he grins at me.

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you last night, but your hair looks nice like that,” he says.

My cheeks flush, even though Asher has given me a million compliments over the years. “Thanks.”

“Wow. You’re not going to slap me for saying something nice? No threats to my life? Are you feeling okay?”

“Ha-ha. Shut up.”

“That’s more like it,” he says, laughing. “Shall we?” He offers me the crook of his elbow, and I link my arm through his.

“So, where are we heading?” I ask as we walk right past his car.

“You’ll see.”

I groan. “Not this again.”

Just then I catch a glimpse of people moving beneath a streetlight ahead. I squint, trying to make out who they are.

I tilt my head as Chloe, Preeti, Parker, and Sterling come into clearer view, wearing matching red sweatsuits. “What are they doing?” I ask Asher.

He presses his lips together and shrugs as music starts to play.

We get closer, and the four of them begin dancing to Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree.”

“What the…,” I mumble when we stop to watch them. The ridiculous choreography is clearly barely rehearsed, because even though they’re all great dancers, Sterling keeps stepping in the wrong direction and Chloe trips over Parker, her cheeks practically glowing pink when Parker catches her around the waist. “Um, what exactly is going on?”