chapter 2

Samantha

They were huddled around one of the kegs, cups in hand, talking to each other, seemingly unaware of the girls hovering around and eyeing them with obvious interest.

He looked so cool and at ease. I began to wonder if maybe I should tell him how I felt. Maybe Jessica was right…what better time would there ever be?

Maybe I was drunker than I’d thought.

Whatever. Alcohol might be just what I needed to gain the courage to talk to him.

“Okay.” I nodded.

Jessica appeared surprised. “Okay?”

“Yeah!” I clapped my hands together, pumping myself up. “Yeah, I’m going to do it. You’re right! Why not? Why shouldn’t I tell him how I feel?”

“Hell, yeah!” Jessica declared. “That’s my girl! What are you going to do, exactly?”

I pondered that question a moment before saying, “I’m…not sure. I think I’ll probably just wing it?”

Jessica nodded in approval. “Love it. Flawless. Now, get on over there and get your man.”

She shoved me forward. After a few seconds of stumbling, I regained my balance and kept walking toward Ryan. Jason was distracted talking to a girl, so I walked right up to Ryan, who was getting more beer from the keg, without incident.

“Hey!” I exclaimed, stopping next to him.

He furrowed his brow and gave me a confused smile. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Not much,” I replied with a shrug, fighting down another giggle that was bubbling up within me. “What’s up with you?”

“Not too much,” he answered.

“Are you happy to be home?”

A strange expression flashed across his face. I wasn’t able to tell what it was, it was there and gone again so fast, but it wasn’t a happy expression.

“It’s fine.” He shrugged, his tone a bit strained.

I frowned in concern and put a hand on his arm without thinking. I got momentarily distracted by the firmness of his bicep and gave it a small squeeze.

He glanced down at my hand with an amused, little smile and then looked back up at me.

“I’ve been working out,” he teased. “Can you tell?”

I blinked and realized I was basically just feeling up his arm at that point.

“Sorry,” I murmured, though I didn’t drop my hand. “I’m trying to comfort you.”

He chuckled softly. “I appreciate the concern, but I promise, I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? You’ve got that wrinkle in your forehead that you always get when something’s on your mind.”

“Really? I didn’t realize that happened.”

I nodded. “It also happens when you’re concentrating or plotting.”

“Plotting? I look like I’m plotting something?”

“Sometimes.”

In a teasing tone, he asked, “You’ve got a lot of insight into me, it seems. I’m curious what you’d think I’d be plotting.”

“World domination.” What was I saying? I was rambling like an idiot. But I was also talking to Ryan with more ease than I ever had before. That was something.

He let out a bark of laughter. “I’m a James Bond villain now?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, of course not. Don’t be silly. You just have this incredible drive and focus. It’s like you could do anything you set your mind to. You know?”

He gazed at me for several moments, his expression slightly stunned.

“Wow, Sam,” he said. “You really know me, huh? I didn’t realize you were paying such close attention to me.”

I nodded, my breath hitching at the heat in his eyes. He’d never looked at me that way before. It made my heart race, and I momentarily lost my ability to speak.

At length, I managed to choke out, “Yeah…I have been”

Ryan was silent for several moments as he looked at me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and it made me anxious. He wasn’t usually so hard for me to read.

“You’ve grown up,” he murmured, almost to himself. “When did that happen?”

I furrowed my brow and glanced down at my thin, flat body. What was he talking about?

As if snapping out of a trance, he blinked and cleared his throat, jerking his gaze away from me.

“Was there something you wanted?” he asked in a rough tone.

“Um, I was wondering if I could talk to you,” I said. “Alone.”

He looked back at me in surprise but slowly nodded. “All right. sure, I guess.”

My heart skipping a beat, I turned to lead him away from the party.

I could hardly believe he was actually following me and that this was actually happening.

I tried to think of what exactly I was going to say to him. So many things raced through my mind, but I couldn’t seem to land on anything that didn’t sound stupid and pathetic.

We made our way deeper and deeper into the forest. The sounds of the party dulled, and when it was quiet, I finally stopped.

Slowly, I turned around to face him. It was dark except for the rays of moonlight that managed to filter in through the trees above. He was watching me with a curious expression, and I felt shy under his scrutiny.

I cleared my throat and scratched nervously at my cheek.

“Well, you’ve got me out here.” He chuckled in a rumbling voice that made me shiver. “What did you want to talk about?”

Taking a deep breath, I murmured, “Well, I wanted to tell you…that is, I wanted to ask…um…I have a birthday wish.”

His brows shot up. “A birthday wish?”

I nodded. “Yes. I have a birthday wish, and only you can make it come true.”

“Is that so?” He grinned, appearing amused. “Well, color me intrigued. What’s your wish?”

“A kiss,” I blurted.

Ryan appeared shocked, and there was a moment of tense silence as he simply stared at me.

At last, he stammered, “You…you want what?”

“A kiss,” I repeated in a softer voice. “Just one. Please?”

Ryan blinked and shook his head with a tense chuckle. “That’s cute, Sam, but I’m sorry, I can’t.”