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“Yes, my queen,” I heard Holden say but this time kept my damn eyes to myself.
Evelyn chose a name from the pile of paper strips. “Up first…Violet McNamara.”
Violet hesitated and then picked her way between us seated players, toward the closet. Evelyn shot me a knowing look and I understood what would happen next. She pulled a strip with a new name, showing no one.
“River Whitmore!”
The guys thumped me on the back.
“Remember,” Chance said too loudly. “Be gentle.”
From the corner of the living room came a discordant note from Miller’s guitar. Now he glared at me as if I’d run over his dog, backed up, and did it again.
I hauled myself to my feet, pinned between Stratton’s evil eye and Holden’s relentless gaze. I stumbled inside the closet, brushing heavy coats aside to feel my way along a wall in the near-total blackness.
“Violet?”
“I’m over here,” she called from the back.
“It’s dark as shit…”
I felt my way to the wall opposite her, not wanting to crowd her in or make her uncomfortable. I fought for something smooth to say to pave the way for asking her to the dance. I had nothing.
“This is a crazy party, huh?” Violet said finally. “That Holden is a strange guy.”
“Yeah,” I blurted. “He’s fucking weird. Reminds me of that vampire, Lestat.”
“Oh my God, I said almost the exact same thing! I didn’t know you read Anne Rice.”
“I don’t. Saw the movie. I mean…my mom watched it once. I remember some of it, I guess.”
“Okay.”
Another silence fell. I leaned my head against the wall and stared at the black of the ceiling. I was in a dark, enclosed space with a beautiful girl who was clearly into me. And I felt nothing. Had nothing to say. Not even my prescribed lines.
Violet jumped in. “How are football practices going?”
“Good. Long. You play a sport too, right?”
“Soccer. We don’t start until spring.”
“Cool.”
The convo sputtered and died.
Enough of this bullshit. Just do it. Like tearing off a band-aid.
“So, Violet.”
“So, River.”
“Homecoming dance is in a few weeks.”
“Yes.” Hope came alive in her voice.
“Are you going with anyone?”
Miller Stratton, maybe?
