Begin Again (Again #1)(19)

As I dashed out of my room, I saw him fumbling around in the kitchen. Frowning, I turned and peered through the spyhole in the door. “It’s actually not for me,” I said, opening the door for Spencer.

“Hi Allie,” he said, and gave me a hug.

“Hi Spencer.” I checked him out. “Looks like you have big plans today.”

He waggled his eyebrows at me. “Oh yes. Didn’t Kaden tell you that there’s a party tonight at Hillhouse?” he asked, walking with me into the living room. I glanced toward the kitchen and shook my head.

“No, but I’m going with some of my friends.”

“We could go together, if you like,” he suggested. Obviously he wasn’t aware that Kaden was avoiding me.

“I don’t think that’s—”

“Good idea,” Kaden interrupted me and came toward us. “We can also braid each other’s hair and watch Disney movies together.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Kaden.” I clenched my teeth.

“And that outfit doesn’t suit you,” he retorted, handing Spencer a soda. Then he took his phone from his pants pocket and, frowning, began typing on the screen.

I looked down at myself. My dress was blue and almost knee-length. I had only chosen it because of its pretty neckline, which was somewhat daring without being indecent.

“Well, if a connoisseur like you says that, I’ll have to change right away.” I adjusted the top and looked at Spencer with my eyebrows raised. “Or what do you think?”

Spencer shook his head slowly. “I think you look hot.”

“Really?” I turned around for him. “So I shouldn’t change?”

“No, definitely not.” He took a swig of his soda while eyeing me once again, from head to toe.

I mouthed the word “thank you” and threw him a broad grin, which he returned without hesitation.

I heard a snort coming from the direction of the couch. But before I could get into another war of words with my roommate, I was saved by the doorbell.

In the end, we did go together with the guys.

At Hillhouse they were loose when it came to age restrictions. Their eyes might graze our fake IDs, or maybe they’d wave us in and stamp our wrists, no questions asked. Once inside, Dawn and I searched for our classmates while Spencer and Kaden went looking for Monica and company.

Once Scott spied us, he gestured for us to join him. I greeted him with the kiss on each cheek, which he always demanded from us. Then we hugged Grace, Cody, and Madison, classmates with whom we often spent breaks between classes. They made room for Dawn and me at their standing table.

“You ladies look hot,” Scott purred. “Why didn’t you bring your companions along?”

“We just came here together,” Dawn said with a shrug, poking me in the ribs. “And besides, Mr. White isn’t particularly nice to our little one here.”

“Our little one?” I repeated, looking down at Dawn.

Despite her extra half-inch, I was more than a head taller.

“Yes, you’re my little chick. Whatever your size,” Dawn said, with a grin. “I protect my chicks. I take care of them, build them up and help them until they can fly on their own.”

“Chickens rarely fly. That’s a mean metaphor,” I replied, laughing.

Dawn and I made our way through the crowds to the bar. Amen for the generous “over 21” stamp I got at the door. I could get used to this ordering-at-the-bar thing.

I handed Dawn her drink, and we returned together to our table.

A little later, I had another drink. After a while, Scott grabbed my hand and led me and Dawn out to the dance floor. We shimmied with abandon. It was great not to have to worry about what others thought of me. I felt exuberant down to my toes. At least until I turned and saw Kaden.

To be exact, Kaden and a girl, around whose body he had wrapped his well-formed arms. She moved with him, pressing her body into his.

I gulped.

“We can do that, too,” suggested Scott, dancing around me. He put his arm around my waist and pulled me close. I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the game. Because I knew that Scott wasn’t interested in me, or any woman, for that matter, I unleashed the dance goddess within. I raised my arms in the air and swung my hips, then turned toward him and put my hand on his shoulder. Dawn danced toward Scott from behind, and we laughed as we moved together as one. As I swung around in the other direction, my hair fell across my eyes. I flicked it away from my sweaty face.

Kaden’s stare caught me unprepared. He was only a few yards away and was watching my every move. He hardly noticed the girl he was with anymore, even when she possessively threw her arms around his shoulders.

Instead, he tilted his head toward me, and grinned. He didn’t look away for a single instant.

Suddenly I imagined that he was the one dancing with me, that it was his hand on my waist, steering me.

“Bingo,” I heard Scott murmur in my ear.

I turned to grin at him and Dawn.

“Have I ever told you guys how much I love you?” I asked, wrapping my arms around both of them.

Dawn laughed and returned my embrace. “Yes, but I can’t hear it often enough.”

Over the course of the evening I noticed that Dawn hadn’t been exaggerating: She had no tolerance for alcohol. After only two drinks she was already praying to the porcelain god, and I had to hold back her hair while she puked.