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He smiled. Kaiden Thatcher smiled at me. And the butterflies in my stomach took flight and soared.
Without overthinking it, I smiled back.
I’d half-expected for him to ignore me today and pretend like nothing happened. But he was smiling…at me.
“Oooh, I see what the problem is now. You, Lily Ford, have a crush.” Ashleigh chuckled.
“I don’t… that’s not…”
“Lil, stop.” She gave me a pointed look. “This is a good thing. A great thing. Just don’t get too invested because, well, he’s a football playerandhe’s an Eagle.”
“He’s a Raider now,” I said.
“Is he?” Her brow lifted, and I didn’t like the doubt in her eyes. But she had a point. Kaiden and his friends were still outsiders, the enemy. It would take more than a week and one party to change that.
“Okay, don’t freak,” she breathed, “but he’s coming over here.”
My heart lurched into my throat as I watched him approach. His long legs ate up the distance, his dark-wash jeans hugging his muscular thighs. He was wearing a gray t-shirt that highlighted his thick biceps and broad shoulders, but it was his eyes that caught my attention the most. The way they focused right on me. I’d never been in the spotlight before, but the lights blazed down on me now.
“Hey,” he said, coming to a stop right in front of me.
“Hi,” I frowned, and Ashleigh shot me a reassuring look.
“I’ll just be right over there.” She pointed to the rest of our friends. They were all watching with interest.
“So, I didn’t know if I should come over,” Kaiden said, “but I wanted to see if you were okay, after the party.”
“I’m fine. Thank you for asking.” My fingers stroked the ends of my scarf, drawing his eye.
“Do I make you nervous?”
I found no malice in his eyes, only mild curiosity.
“A little,” I confessed.
He ran a hand through his hair and down the back of his neck. “I won’t bite.” His lip curved into a small smirk. “Well, only if you beg.”
“I…” Oh God.” I gulped. “Was he flirting with me?
My body tingled with awareness as he stepped closer.
“You know, you look kind of familiar,” he said, and I frowned.
But before I could reply, a saccharine voice cut the tension swirling around us.
“Well, isn’t this cute,” Lindsey said. “The football star and the ghost.”
“Ghost?” Kaiden asked with a hint of irritation.
“Yeah, you know, invisible?” She glowered at me, and I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
“What kind of shitty thing is that to say to someone?”
“Kaiden, it’s okay,” I said.
“Like fuck it is,” he growled.
“Relax,” Lindsey laughed, pressing her hand against his arm. “It’s just a joke. Isn’t that right, Lily?”
