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Dreaming.
Desperate.
I kiss her back to the pounding erraticism of my heart. Allow myself to register nothing beyond the fact that she’s a girl and I’m a guy. I don’t pull back until I’m out of oxygen and growing hard.
“Hi.” Her voice sounds breathier than usual and her cheeks are flushed. I already got assurance that she was into the kiss—into me—just now, but it feels good to see the evidence on her face, too.
“Hey, Denny.”
“That was…different.”
“Apparently, us disappearing last night didn’t convince anyone of much. I took drastic measures.”
Auden mumbles something that sounds like “I’ll say” under her breath.
“Hope it wasn’t too terrible for you,” I tease.
“It was okay.” Auden has an excellent poker face. According to her, it’s the product of a lot of uncomfortable social events with her parents.
I’m ninety-eight percent positive she’s messing with me, but I’m not certain. Most of the girls I fool around with act like everything we do is the most incredible thing they’ve ever experienced. It’s good for my ego, sure, but it also makes encounters feel a little…empty.
“Okay?” I’m exaggerating my incredulity, but not by a lot. Because that was the best kissI’veever experienced.
“Maybe you’re not the hot shit you think you are.”
“You called me hot yesterday,” I remind her.
The flush darkens, but she holds her ground. “I was trying to prove a point. In retrospect, since we’re—” She lowers her voice. “Fake dating anyway, I should have come up with a different adjective. Like infuriatingly cocky.”
“That’s two adjectives.”
Auden sighs, but her lips twist like she’s fighting a smile. “I’m going to get some food. All I had for dinner was spiked soda and ice cream and nothing for breakfast.”
“What? Why?”
“Aunt Katherine didn’t get home until three—four a.m., I think? I’m not sure if Annabel ever came home. Anyway, there’s no food in the house.”
“No, why didn’t you say something last night? We could’ve gotten actual food, not just ice cream.”
She shrugs. “I wanted ice cream.”
I don’t argue with that bulletproof logic. “What made you come over?”
She smirks, then raises both eyebrows, and I realize how it sounded.
“I just meant—”
“Relax, Reid. I know what you meant. Josh texted me, telling me to come.”
“He did?” My brow furrows. I had no idea Josh had her number, let alone texted her. “Did you give him your number?”
“Save the jealous boyfriend act for when people can hear what we’re saying. I’m going to eat something before I pass out.”
She brushes past me and heads for the deck. Someone—likely Josh—must have ordered pizza, because people are stepping out on it holding slices. I spot my other best friend standing by the fire pit, talking with Ava and Annabel.
Auden’s cousin focuses on me as I approach, but Josh and Ava are flirting obliviously.
“Hawley.”
