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“Bryan.” I looked up at him and gave him a weak smile, my heart aching. “It was never about you.”
“I really thought I could win you over. I thought if I put in the groundwork and stayed the distance…”
“I’m sorry. But you’ll make some girl really happy one day.”
“Peyton?” A meek voice said, and I looked down the hall to find Carrie-Anne standing there, glancing between Bryan and me.
Crap. The universe was really out to mess with me tonight.
“Oh, hey, Carrie-Anne. We were just… I got a little upset.” I untangled myself from Bryan’s hold and put some distance between us. “But I’m okay now.”
“Oh, I… I think I’m going to head home.”
“No, don’t do that,” I blurted. “Bryan was just about to go get another drink. Why don’t you take Carrie-Anne with you?”
“The fuck?” He glared at me with clenched teeth. I nudged his arm and whispered, “Please.”
His eyes fixed on mine and he gave a small shake of his head in disbelief. I knew what he was saying. That I was demanding too much. But he’d do it, because it was me asking. “You thirsty, Trombley?”
Her eyes lit up but if Bryan noticed, he didn’t react. “I guess I could stay for one more drink.”
“You should,” I said, shooting her a warm smile. I wanted to suggest Bryan could show her the Raiders cabinet full of newspaper clippings and paraphernalia, but I didn’t want to push my luck.
He reached Carrie-Anne and glanced back at me, mouthing, “You owe me.”
I nodded, and I knew he didn’t only mean for playing babysitter to Carrie-Anne.
“Thank you,” I mouthed back.
They disappeared back into the bar, but I remained, needing to catch my breath for a second.
I waited to make sure the coast was clear, and then slipped back outside to explain everything to Xander.
But as I scanned the shadows, I realized he was gone.
* * *
Xander didn’t returnto the party. I spent the next hour on tenterhooks, keeping one eye on Bryan while I searched the bar for any signs of him.
“Who do you keep looking for?” Ashleigh asked me as we stood with Lily, Kaiden, Poppy, Sofia, and her brother.
“No one,” I said dismissively.
“Is it Bryan and Carrie-Anne? Because I thought you were trying to set them up.”
“I was… do they seem to be hitting it off?”
“You have seen them, right? It’s got disaster written all over it.”
I glanced over at the two of them. Bryan was talking to Gav while Carrie-Anne lingered at his side looking every bit as uncomfortable as he did.
“Ugh, I should probably go over there,” I said.
“Uh, yeah you should.” Ashleigh gave me a small nudge and I approached them.
“Hey, are you enjoying the party?”
Carrie-Anne’s eyes darted around me. “I’m not sure I fit in here.”
