Page 65 of Embrace

“Uh, I was just heading out, but if you need a minute…” He bites down a laugh, glancing toward the driveway, where his car is boxed in. “Want me to move your car, Scarlett?”

“No! I mean, no, no that’s fine. I was just leaving.” Her eyes flick up to meet mine for half a second before she waves, a quick flutter of fingers, and rushes down the steps.

Suddenly, I’m alone again, and I have no clue how to tell Summer I just fucked up her whole party. But I don’t get a chance to figure it out because she’s walking up the steps to the house.

“You know what I hate? Slow walkers,” she says when she sees me. “Like, don’t you have somewhere to be? We’re literally on a college campus.”

So far not a good mood to have her in. “Did someone step on your foot again?” I ask.

“Worse. I was late to class because of some guy on a scooter. He’s lucky I didn’t push him over.”

Okay, maybe I won’t tell her and just surprise her on the day.Surprise! I ruined your party. Don’t hate me.

“So I heard you got the speakers from a creepy basement,” she says with a laugh, her mood instantly lifting. Summer drops her bag on the swing and sits beside me.

But when she looks at me I panic. “I messed everything up. The caterers bailed, the decor people said our tables are halfway to Texas, our balloons deflated, and our DJ dropped out.”

I breathe hard. Summer’s quiet for so long, I’m about to have another bout of word vomit.

“Okay,” she finally says.

My head snaps to her. “Okay? Is that code for you’re going to hurt me in my sleep?”

She laughs—she actuallylaughs. “Why would I do that? Didyoucause any of that?”

I shake my head.

“Besides, I got emails from the caterer and a decorator a few hours ago. I hoped they were errors, and I tried calling you.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No, I’m not. It’s okay, Kian. It’s not your fault.”

“But I can fix it. I’ll—”

She shakes her head. “It’s my fault for trying to plan it when everyone just wants booze and wings. No one even cares about quiche or pastries.”

“But it’s the only thing you wanted.”

“No. The only thing I wanted was my boyfriend, and he’ll be there. Dylan is going to love that everyone is together again, just like old times.”

“You’re sure you’re not mad?” I ask again.

She punches my arm before pulling me in for a hug. “Super sure. Now, stop sulking and go tell Uncle Frank’s that we’re going to need a whole lot of pizzas and wings.”

•••

I’m in bed,chasing sleep that won’t come. Only a few more days, and my insomnia will disappear like clockwork. Or rather, I’m tricking myself into thinking it will. Placebo or whatever.

But even better than placebo is Scarlett’s name popping up on my screen. It’s a picture of her in a baggy shirt—mine—with herglasses on and papers spread around her on her dorm room floor. Textbook, laptop, highlighters. It’s pure chaos.

Kian:You look just like the nerd that tutors me.

Scarlett:She must be hot.

Kian:You have no idea.

I cringe the moment I send it, quickly typing out another text. Something that hopefully works as a distraction for my stupidity.