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Arien responded with a brisk laugh, “Kellan hates me, but other than that it’s great.”
He’d gone cold. Ever since that night in his room, the only time he spoke to her, or even acknowledged her presence, was at the dinner table. In front of their parents, everything between them appeared fine. If Tanner was around, he tolerated her. Otherwise, he avoided her like the plague.
“Oh, honey.” Grams wrapped her up in a great, big hug. “Believe me when I say this, that boy does not hate you. Quite the opposite, in fact.”
Pfffft.
“It’s okay. I don’t need Kellan to like me.” She took a step back. “I tried to apologize, but he’s made his feelings quite clear.”
“Give him some time, Arien,” Grams spoke on a sigh, combing her fingers through Arien’s hair.
“I better go.” Nodding, she hitched a thumb behind her. “They’re waiting on me.”
“All right, dear. Have a good lunch.”
Last one through the food line, everyone was already eating when Arien made it to their table. Shocker of all shockers, Shiloh was going on about something other than her wedding, as she set down her tray and took a seat next to Emily. After skipping breakfast this morning, she was starving. Arien’s focus was the cheeseburger on her plate, not the conversation.
She’d just taken the first juicy, delicious bite, her mouth full, when Shiloh tapped her on the shoulder. “You’re going, aren’t you, Arien?”
Jesus, can I just chew my food here?
Emily answered with a wink, “Tanner’s bringing her.”
Almost choking, she swallowed. “What? Bringing me where?”
“The bonfire party tonight.”
“Did you say party?”
“Sure did.” And tossing her blonde beach waves, Shiloh grinned. “We have to make our own fun around here. It’s a good time, I promise.”
Having dreaded the thought of spending another evening reading a book with Kellan looming from across the hall, her Friday night was starting to look a whole heck of a lot better. The girls sitting at the next table stopped their whispering to glare at her.
Arien smiled at them.
“Can’t wait.”
“C’mon, little sister!” Tanner shouted from downstairs. “Time’s a wastin’.”
“Five minutes.”
Not that it should matter, but her makeup, hair, clothes—everything—had to be on point tonight. If those bitchy girls thought they were going to stare her down, she was going to give them something to look at. Arien pulled the fleece-lined leggings on over her lace-trimmed thermal underwear. Checking her reflection in the mirror, she smoothed the fabric over her tummy. Sadly, the cold Wyoming winters necessitated wearing several layers.
She was struggling to get her foot inside a thigh-high boot when Tanner peeked inside her door. “It’s been ten.”
“Almost…” She pulled harder. “…done.”
“Need help with that?”
“Maybe.”
“Here.” He pushed while Arien pulled. She fell back on the bed, Tanner landing on top of her.
Both of them laughing, he lifted himself up, his hands on either side of her head. Green eyes gazed into hers. His lips so close she could almost taste them. They stayed like that for a moment, her heart beating rapidly beneath him.
“You’re so pretty,” he whispered, fingering her hair. “Let’s go.”
Arien followed him down the stairs. Tanner wrapped her up snug in a heavy knit scarf and placed the matching beanie on her head. “Gotta bundle you up.”
