“Of course.”
“You’re lying.”
“Maybe.”
“Rider,” I sighed.
He looked up through his lashes. “It won’t take me that long to write something up. Besides, this is a better use of my time.”
“How so?”
“The drawings make you smile,” he replied with a grin. “Working on the speech doesn’t do anything.”
That...that was so sweet, I wanted to hug him tight, kiss him, too. “Working on your speech will make me smile, too.”
His brows lifted and then he flipped his notebook closed. “I know what else will make you smile.”
“What? You actually doing some homework?”
“Nope.” He glanced at the door again and then rose. “I think me sitting closer to you will make you smile.”
The boy knew me well.
He took a step closer. “I think holding your hand will make you smile.”
I straightened as I watched him.
“And I think...” He sat on the edge of the bed and twisted his body toward mine. “I think kissing you will make you smile, too.”
Oh, dear. I’d totally lost control of this conversation, but I liked it. The corners of my lips tipped up. “I think you’re right.”
“I know, but...” He placed his hand over mine and lowered his voice. “If Rosa comes up here and catches me making you smile in that way, it’ll end badly.”
“You’re not worried about Carl coming up here?”
The right dimple appeared as he shook his head. “Rosa scares me more.”
Laughing, I shoved his arm.
“What? She’s pretty scary. Like badass scary,” he replied. “She looks like she knows how to fight ninja-style.”
“Ninja-style?” I laughed again. “I can confirm that...she does not know karate.”
“That’s a relief.” Leaning over, he kissed my cheek. “It’s about that time.”
Unease curled low in my stomach. Party round two. It was going to be a very different party, not nearly as big as Peter’s. It was just hanging out at someone’s house, a guy from school that Hector and Rider played basketball with. Ainsley wouldn’t be with us, but I was still nervous. What if I bailed again, unable to do it? What if I didn’t talk to anyone? What if I was so worried about doing the wrong thing that I didn’t even try?
He tilted his head to the side, eyes searching mine. “We don’t have to go. We can stay here. Or go to the movies.”
Staying here would be nice. Movies would be awesome, but what did that accomplish? I shook my head. “No. I want to go.”
“Mouse...”
“I’m serious.” I ducked my chin as I picked up the sketch of me and closed my notebook. Scooting to the edge of the bed, I stood and walked over to my desk. “I want to go to the party.”
“It’s not really a party,” he said. “It’s just going to be a couple of people hanging out at a house. Not a big deal if we miss it. There will be more.”
Opening a drawer in my desk, I rooted around until I found the roll of tape. “We’re going.”
There was a pause. “Yes, ma’am.”
I cracked a smile as I taped the sketch to the wall above my desk. “Wait here?”
His eyes were on the sketch. “Not going anywhere.”
Walking out, I grabbed my makeup bag and took it to the hallway bathroom before I lost my nerve and ended up changing my mind. I pulled out the bobby pin and then ran a brush through my hair. I quickly retouched the makeup—lipstick, blush and added mascara. I figured the sweater dress and thin tights were good enough.
Rider was waiting for me like he said, and when I walked in, his gaze did a slow slide that left a wake of shivers. “I really love it when your hair is down.”
My heart did a little skip at the word love and I told my heart to stop being stupid. “Thank you.”
He rose and within three steps he was in front of me, lifting up a heavy strand of hair. “Such a gorgeous color now. Don’t get me wrong, the orange was cute...”
I rolled my eyes. “The orange was not cute.”
He ignored that. “I have no idea what I’d have to mix, color-wise, to get this shade, but I’m going to figure it out.” Then he lowered his head and kissed the freckle below my eye.
I started to lean into him, but Carl’s voice echoed through the house, and I figured that wouldn’t be the best idea. “Let’s do this.”
On the way out, I grabbed my phone and a small purse. We headed downstairs to the kitchen, where I swiped my keys off the counter.
“You guys heading out?”
We turned at the sound of Carl’s voice. “Yes.”
Carl crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Rider. “And where are you going?”
I responded before Rider could. “We’re going to a friend’s house.”
“I thought you two were studying.” Suspicion clouded Carl’s tone.
“We were and we’ve finished.” Which wasn’t a lie.
He didn’t look like he believed us, but before he could say anything else, Rosa entered the living room. “Neither of you have a jacket?”
“We aren’t going to be outside for very long.” I glanced at Rider. He was just wearing a thermal under his shirt. At least my sweater dress was thick.
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Thank you again for the sandwich, Mrs. Rivas.”
Rider had thanked Rosa so many times for the ham and cheese sandwich she’d made us when he first came over that I was seriously starting to believe that he was really afraid of her.