“You know what I mean … cuddling up on the bed and all that.”
I blush. “We’re just friends. It’s no big deal.”
“To her it is.”
I sigh. “I’m not into that kind of thing, and you know that.”
“I know, but she won’t give up, and I can already tell this is headed toward disaster. Someone’s going to get hurt, and I know it won’t be you.”
“Stop making such a huge deal out of a hug. She’s not … we’re not. It’s nothing. Forget about it.”
Brody holds his hands in the air and closes his eyes. “Don’t come crying to me later when your friendship is on the line, because I’ll only say ‘I told you so.’ Don’t mess with chicks, that’s all I’m saying, and I know plenty about that.”
I grimace. “Yeah … What do you know about relationships? Last time I saw you trying to hook up with a girl you got a milkshake in your face instead.”
“Hey, I’m not that guy anymore. It’s been three years since then, Autumn; I’ve changed.”
I purse my lips. “We’ll see about that.”
Brody squints, a devilish smile creeping onto his face. “I guess so. See you around!”
He walks through the hallway, and I hear him go downstairs before I turn around again and go back into my room. Staring at the clock, I pull up my sleeve so I can fiddle with the bracelet I got from Evie before summer. The only problem is, it’s not there.
What? I stare at my wrist, but my bracelet is clearly missing. What happened to it? Did I take it off? I remember twiddling with it in the bus, so it can’t be at my parents’ place.
I grab my suitcase and rummage inside, but it’s nowhere to be found. Oh God, I hope I didn’t lose it. What if that leaf blower blasted it away into the grass? What if someone else picked it up? I’d never find it again.
Frantically I search my room, but can’t seem to find it anywhere.
“Looking for this?” someone says.
I turn around only to stare into those piercing gray eyes again. It’s him: the guy who was staring at me when I left the bus. The one who turned my cheeks redder than a beet. That guy.
He leans against my doorpost, casually holding up his hand. Pinched between his index finger and thumb is my bracelet.
My bracelet. He’s holding it. Him. The guy who caught my eye the moment I saw him.
And he’s talking to me.
Oh God, I can’t breathe.
I swallow away the lump in my throat as I walk toward him, holding my breath.
“This is yours, right?” he says. His voice is deep and husky, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything sexier.
I nod, still staring at him. I’m only just close enough to be able to reach for the bracelet, but not nearly far enough away for my liking.
My heart is beating like crazy as his eyes scan my face, while I try not to breathe. I feel like if I do, I might start panting.
He looks so goddamn ridiculously handsome up close. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy this gorgeous before.
His spiky hair all gelled up, the tan skin of his hands peeking out from underneath his leather jacket, his broad pectorals visible through his tight white tee. All of it is making my head explode.
A hot guy is standing in my doorway, talking to me, giving me back my stuff. Stupid as it sounds, it feels like a dream.
Things like this never happen to me. Hot guys don’t come so close to me.
I never anticipated something like this happening. I don’t even know how to behave. I didn’t expect this at all.
I catch myself staring at his amazing features so I raise my head to look up at him. His eyes follow mine, and then I know he knows exactly what I was looking at.
Oh God. This is embarrassing.
A cute smile curls up his lips. “You can’t talk?”
My mouth feels like it’s stitched together, as if I’m unable to pull it open and say anything. I must look ridiculous.
I push my glasses farther up my nose so they’re not askew anymore. Flushing, I force my lips to part. “Yeah,” I say. “I was so scared I lost it. Where’d you find it?”
He cocks his head, and it shows me his muscular neck, making me blush even more. “Outside. Thought it was yours. It looked expensive.”
I hold out my hand, but he doesn’t give it to me.
“I think it’s important to be careful with stuff you think is valuable. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Besides, not everything can be replaced.”
“I agree, but I lost it by accident. Can I have it back now?” I say. I’m not in the mood for a lecture. I try to snatch it from his hand, but he grasps my bracelet and pulls back his hand.