But I like Zeke too. Well, I like the look of Zeke. But how am I supposed to know if I like the artist himself if I don’t give myself the chance to get to know him better?
And part of me, a part of me I can’t explain, really likes the idea of being with someone different, someone wild and dark. I want tattoos and motorcycles. For once in my life, I want to have a fling with someone completely wrong for me.
Someone like Zeke.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with Linus.
“I better go clean up,” I say.
Linus nods. “I need to get back to the group anyway.”
I push away from the wall. “I’ll see you later.”
I’m assaulted by heat the moment I walk through the doors. Thankfully, since I left a window open, the old home economics room isn’t as hot as the halls. Before I begin to clean up, I glance at my pretty loaves of soap. Then I narrow my eyes. The first, the honey one, is looking kind of weird. It’s grown darker, less opaque, and the top is beginning to crack.
That’s kind of odd.
But I followed the recipe perfectly, so it must be fine. It’s just doing its soapy thing.
With thoughts of Linus and Zeke jumbling in my mind, I get my gear back on and begin with the cleanup. I’ve just finished the last of it, and I’m drying off my immersion blender, when movement catches my eye.
“No!” I scream, horrified. My honey soap bubbles out from a crack in the middle of the loaf, volcano style, and huge mounds of molten, frothy goo runs over the edges, onto the counter like a caustic lava flow.
I’m staring at it, helpless, clueless as to what to do, when Linus bursts into the room. He glances around, wide-eyed, probably looking for an ax murderer considering the way I shrieked. Then his gaze lands on the soap, and his whole expression changes to one of enraptured interest. “What happened?”
He joins me, slides his thumbs through his belt loops, and stares at the mess.
“I have no idea.” My voice wobbles like I’m going to cry, which is just pathetic. But I followed the directions. I followed them.
Why can’t anything ever go right?
“Hey.” Linus glances over, realizing how upset I am. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” I say, overwhelmed. I realize I’m still wearing the stupid goggles. When I rip them off my face, I catch a few strands of hair in the elastic band on accident. Pulling them from my head hurts so much, actual tears sting my eyes.
“Come here.” He pulls me into a hug, and I lean against his chest, blinking quickly so I don’t actually cry over a batch of ruined soap.
Another one.
“I don’t know what I did wrong this time,” I say against the soft jersey material of his T-shirt. “I was so careful when I measured. I followed every direction.”
“What kind of soap is it?”
I list the ingredients, and when I get to the honey, he relaxes against me. “I think that’s your culprit, especially with today’s heat.”
Still leaning against him, liking the feel of him more than I should, I look up. “Why would it do that?”
“It’s a type of sugar. It makes it get really hot.”
“Seriously, how do you know all this?” I demand. “Are you some kind of soap fairy, come down to tell me everything I’ve done wrong?”
“Like I said before, chemistry is my thing.” He smiles, but then, noticing how close we are, his expression changes. Slowly, as if he’s testing both of us, he lowers his arms from my shoulders until they’re wrapped around my waist.
Speaking of chemistry…
Suddenly, this is a little too real. My hands are on his chest, and I can feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat. Just like the other day, he smells of fresh aftershave and deodorant and guy.
And I probably smell like I’ve been trapped in this hot room all afternoon, and I likely have lines around my eyes from where the goggles sat.
I pull back abruptly. Linus looks startled, but he hides it quickly and turns back to the soap. “How about I help you next time?”
“Cause you’re a nice guy?” I ask for the second time today.
Linus pauses like he’s thinking of saying something entirely different than what he ends up saying, which is, “That’s right.”
I catch my eyes drifting to his lips again, wondering… I turn away and busy myself with gathering up my stuff. What is my problem?
I’ve been over this already. I want Zeke.
Zeke—who’s barely talked to me, blew me off on Saturday, and whom I’ve already seen on a date with another girl. Perhaps my loyalty is a bit misplaced.
“Sure, why not?” I say, turning back toward Linus. “When are you free next?”
“I work mornings on the weekdays, usually until one. But after that…I’m yours anytime you decide you want me.”
My chest tightens, and my knees go soft. From the look in his eyes, I’m willing to bet he said that on purpose.
“I want to be friends,” I blurt out.
He raises an eyebrow and takes a step closer. “I was pretty sure that’s what we’re doing here.”
Uncomfortable, I swallow. “I mean…I…”
He’s a lot taller than I am, built like the guys I usually date even though he’s not a jock, and his eyes are piercing in their directness. There’s something familiar about him, something I first took for boring, but I’m starting to think he’s just comfortable to be around.
“You have a thing for Zeke.” His voice is quieter now, and his jaw hovers awfully close to my ear. “I already know that.”
My pulse jumps, and I nod. “Okay.”
“But can you do me a favor if we’re going to be hanging out more?” he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear and making me seriously rethink my decision.
“Hmmm?”
Leaning close, he snatches my goggles off the counter behind us and dangles them in front of my face. Then he flashes me an ornery smirk. “Can you refrain from wearing these around me? If you continue to flaunt them in front of me, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.”
I laugh, embarrassed and surprised. After I grab the goggles from Linus, I swat his shoulder with them. “You’re very funny.”
That smirk grows and morphs into something real. He leans against the back counter and crosses his arms. “Seriously, Riley. We’re good. Just friends.”
Which is exactly what I asked for, so I shouldn’t be this disappointed.
“Can I salvage any of this batch?” I ask, ready to change the subject. “I suppose it’s ruined too.”
“Nah. Let me see your gloves.”
I hand them to him, and though they are too small, he manages to scoop up the frothy soap and squish it back into the mold. “It won’t be pretty,” he warns like I can’t see that for myself. “And I doubt you can sell it, but as long as you measured carefully, it will be safe to use yourself.”
“That’s something at least.”
He glances at my other two hot-processed batches. “These look good. Don’t be too discouraged.”
Seeing I’m still a little down, he bumps his shoulder against mine. “What do you think? Need some onion rings and French fries?”
“You’re going to make me gain weight,” I joke even though that does sound good. “I’ve become such a couch potato since I’ve been here.”
“That’s what you’re worried about?” He peels off the too-small gloves. “Are you free tomorrow afternoon? We’ll go for that ride I promised you.”
Spirits boosted, I glance at him and then out the window at the gorgeous day. “Yeah?”
He bumps my shoulder again. “Yeah.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
It’s raining. And it’s not one of those passing mountain storms that only last fifteen minutes. The clouds have settled into the valley, and it’s drizzled so long that the puddles are running into each other, and the ground is soggy.
I stare out the window, more than a little disappointed. There
will be no bike ride today. My phone’s in my pocket, and I take it out. Linus should be calling any minute to cancel.
Aunt Marissa’s at work, so the house is quiet. Despite the fact that she lives alone, she doesn’t have a dog or even a cat. Really, what single thirty-five-year-old woman hasn’t embraced her cat lady status by her age? I know if I lived alone, I’d at least have a goldfish. I knew I should have adopted something for her at the barbecue.
The rain beats down on the roof, the constant patter reminding me I’m not going anywhere today.
I flip on the television and surf through channels, but daytime TV stinks, and there’s nothing on. I almost jump out of my skin when my phone rings.
Disappointment washes over me when I see it’s not Linus but my sister. I click the accept button. “Hey.”
“Wow, you sound so happy to hear from me.”
Smiling, I settle back on the couch. “It’s raining, and I was supposed to go mountain biking today.”
Harper and I have a lot in common. We’re both athletic and blond, and we were both the head of at least three groups in high school.
She took track instead of cheer, but, like me, she was Homecoming queen, voted Most Likely to Succeed, and had her picture no less than fifteen times in her yearbook. Though we fight like all sisters do, I’ve missed her horribly since she left for college.
“Well, cheer up, because I’m on my way to come see you.”
I sit up. “Are you really?”
As a rule of thumb, my sister always thinks of the best things to do. It’s never boring when she’s around.
“I’ll be there in a couple hours.” Which means she must already be on the road. “Get your gear together. We’re going camping.”
I glance out the window. “Uh, Harper. Rain. Remember?”
“Since when do we let a little bad weather stop us?” she demands. “Besides, it wasn’t easy for the guys to take off four days from work, so we’re not going to waste it.”
“Guys?”
Harper laughs like she’s awfully proud of herself. “I managed to kidnap Lauren, Harrison, and Brandon. Proud of me?”
My initial reaction is dread. Harrison on a camping trip? I’m not sure I’m ready to watch him and Lauren get all cozy roasting marshmallows. I let out a weak laugh. “Wow. Did you really?”
They all holler a hello to me, and I work up a happy, maybe slightly fake, squeal back. “This is going to be…amazing! Let me go so I can pack.”
We say quick goodbyes, and then I hang up, feeling a little sick. No sooner do I hit the end button than my phone starts buzzing with another call.
“Hey, Linus,” I say as I hurry upstairs.
“Listen, I know it’s raining,” he starts, “but I was thinking we could—”
“I’m going to cut you off. Can you get a few days off work?”
What am I doing? I don’t even know Linus that well, and I’m inviting him to go camping? I must be crazy, but I need him there. I can’t explain why, and I don’t want to overthink it.
“Uh…what?”
“My sister’s coming up, and she has our friends with her. They want to go camping. Can you get time off?” My voice rises, and I know I sound desperate. “Come with us?”
He’s silent for several minutes, and I realize how stupid this is.
“You can bring your bike,” I add, somehow undeterred by common sense. “And if you don’t want to camp, you could at least come up for the day. We’ll wait the rain out and then go for our ride.”
After another moment, I say, in a small, slightly desperate voice, “Linus?”
He doesn’t know me all that well, and he doesn’t know my friends and sister at all. He probably thinks I’m crazy.
“Let me call a few people,” he finally says. “I’ll see if I can cover my shifts for the next few days.”
I’m already upstairs, going through my closet, pulling out sweaters and jackets and jeans. At his words, I fold over at the waist and let out a relieved breath. Glad he doesn’t think I’m insane, I sit on my bed. “Let me know, okay?”
We hang up, and I continue to pull things like woolen socks and fleecy pajamas out of my drawers. Hopefully, Harper remembered my sleeping bag. I didn’t think to bring it with me.
I shove everything I think I’ll need into a large duffel bag and then jot down a quick shopping list. I’m out the door in five minutes. No longer discouraged by the rain, I hop in my car and hurry to the grocery store.
Before Harper hung up, she told me I’m in charge of snacks, which means the others must have split the rest of the groceries between them before they left.
Linus is going to come. It’s going to be all right. Fun, in fact.
Fun, fun, fun.
I’m ready to face the store after my pep talk. In fact, I’m starting to get excited. I love to camp, and I love my friends. This really will be good for me.
First, I grab strawberry licorice because they are Lauren’s favorite. Grasshoppers for Harper. Hard caramels for me. Fancy instant coffee for Harrison. Brandon will practically perform tricks for cake donuts, so I toss a few bakery packs into the cart. Then I get stuff for s’mores because, well, camping.
I stop in the junk food aisle, stumped, and pull out my phone. Favorite camping snack?
Two seconds later, Linus types back, Surprise me.
Well, that’s not helpful at all. For some reason, and I have no idea why, I decide to buy him chocolate chip cookies—he just seems like that kind of guy.
Then I buy baby carrots, apples, protein bars, and trail mix because Harper will kill me if I only bring processed sugar, and I’d like to fit in my skinny jeans when we get back.
Before I check out, I toss sunscreen, bug spray, and dry shampoo into the cart—because those are exactly the sorts of things that Harper forgets, and Lauren will be completely miserable without them. I’m surprised Harper talked Lauren into coming at all.
My best friend is about as outdoorsy as I am crafty.
I leave the store with my bank account crying (I’m really going to have to start making some money). As I’m running across the parking lot in the rain, my phone chimes. I shove everything into the car and then get inside before I check it.
All set. What can I bring?
I bite back a grin, a little too relieved that Linus is coming along. Quickly, I dial Harper. “Add one more to our party.”
“One more?” Harper asks, instantly nosy. “Do tell.”
“You’ll meet him soon enough.”
“Him?”
I roll my eyes. Sometimes Harper’s as bad as our mother. “He wants to know what he can bring, and I’m not sure what to tell him.”
Harper discusses it over with the rest of the group. I can practically see her rolling her eyes when she finally comes back on the line and says, “Brandon wants donuts.”
“Done.”
“She already bought you some,” Harper says to Brandon.
“How about a cabin? Running water? Electricity?” I hear Lauren say from the back seat.
I grin at my phone and wonder just what my friend packed. It’s been a long time since she went camping. I’d bet the rest of my babysitting money that she has a pair of heels in her bag.
“Lauren says she’d like him to bring a Hilton,” Harper says, her voice wry.
“Did you guys remember hot dogs?” I ask.
When she asks the group, Brandon takes the phone. “Do you think we’re barbarians, Riley? Of course, we brought hot dogs. Now, what kind of donuts did you buy me? And do I have to share them?”
Harper rips the phone back before I can answer him. “Honestly, are you sure you want to introduce your new guy to this group?”
“He’s not my guy. We’re…friends.” I stumble over the last word.
“Yeah, okay.” She’s using her obnoxious big sister voice. “Just tell him to bring himself. Groceries are on us this time.”
“You sure?”
“Totally.”
&
nbsp; We hang up, and I text Linus, telling him to meet me at my house in an hour. I swing by Marissa’s work on the way back home.
“Have fun,” she says when I tell her Harper’s plans. “But leave me an exact location of where you’ll be camping.”
I give her a hug, and when I turn to leave she says, “Be careful, okay? And text me if you have service up there.”
When I pull up to Aunt Marissa’s house, much to my surprise, I find Zeke on the doorstep, standing like he’s just about to ring the doorbell. When I step out of the driver’s seat, he smiles and saunters over. “I was hoping to find you home.”
Though the sun has peeked out from behind the clouds and the rain has temporarily stopped, his dark hair is damp. He has a rain jacket on, which kind of ruins his bad-boy vibe, but I can’t fault him for practicality.
My heart picks up its pace. What’s he doing here?
“Kind of a wet day for a walk.” I give him a flirty smile. “What brings you by?”
With slow, purposeful steps, he grows close. “I have something for you.”
My heart does a little stutter, but I hide how much I like hearing that. “Oh yeah?”
He produces an envelope. “It’s from Linda. It’s the vendor information for Saturday’s raffle. I said I’d drop it by since I had to come this way anyway.”
Trying to hide my disappointment, I take the envelope. “Thanks.”
He watches me for a moment. “There’s a group of us going to The Cable Car tonight,” he says, referring to the questionably-shady pool hall near the highway. I’ve heard from some of the other younger crafters that it’s the place to go if you have a fake ID. “You should stop by.”
“Tonight?” I ask, my good mood plummeting. “I can’t. My sister’s coming into town, and we’re going camping.”
Zeke takes a step back, grimacing like “camping” is a dirty word. “Will you be back Saturday?”
I nod, hoping he’ll take a rain check, and a little disappointed he looks so disgusted with the idea of roughing it. For one millisecond, I had debated inviting him too.
Now that would have been a brilliant idea.
“My friends and I usually go to the pub on Saturday nights.” He runs his hand down my arm. “Maybe I’ll see you there?”
Shine and Shimmer (Glitter and Sparkle #2) Page 6