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“Um, okay.”
Nick’s cheek twitches with the ghost of another grin.
“Why are you nervous?” he asks.
My cheeks heat with a blush. Hopefully, it’s hot and dim enough in here, he won’t notice. “I’m bad at this stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“Flirting.”
“You seem to be doing just fine to me.”
I raise both eyebrows. “Which part turned you on more—the St. Nick comment or the dead-mother bit?”
He rubs his jaw, but his hand doesn’t completely cover his smile. “The honesty. I appreciate honesty.”
“Usually, I’m bad at that too. I hate talking about my mother.”
I realize after I’ve spoken that I’ve said too much again.
“Not talking about something and lying about something are two different things,” Nick replies.
I consider that and decide he’s right. “Do you lie a lot?”
He studies me with those mysterious eyes. “Why do you ask?”
“The things we value most are the things we know we want. We know what we want based on what we know we don’t. If you value honesty…I’m guessing you’ve heard a lot of lies.”
Nick is silent for long enough that I regret every word I said.
“Never mind. I just—”
“You’re right. I’ve heard a lot of lies.”
He holds my gaze, and the pull between us has somehow strengthened in the short time I’ve been standing here.
“Doyoulie a lot?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Have you lied to me?”
“No.”
Maybe I shouldn’t believe him, but I do. I’ve encountered plenty of people who lied about being trustworthy. None of them ever admitted to lying.
“Do you promise?” I mean it as a tease, but Nick’s expression doesn’t lighten.
“I don’t make promises.”
“Lyla!” Kennedy reappears beside me. Her cheeks are flushed, and the messy ponytail she spent a half an hour constructing before we left the dorm has fallen apart. “Ellie isn’t answering. But they moved to that house where Dylan lives! He just posted a photo, and Mark is in it. He could have made it easier to find, but whatever.”
I glance at Nick. I can’t be certain, but I think he’s fighting a smile. Maybe he’s contrasting Kennedy’s exuberance with my awkwardness.
“Great,” I manage.
“Great? We don’t have to wander around, freezing anymore. Let’s go!”
