Last Breath by Brandilyn Collins, Amberly Collins

statement than a question. I held his gaze, feeling a little tingle inside. Was Gary Donovon flirting with me?
    â€œYou ever go out at night?” I blurted.
    He shrugged. “When I can. I work a lot of hours a week, helping this guy out with his moving company.”
    Lifting furniture. So that’s where his muscles came from.
    â€œI never see you at football games or anything.”
    There came that little smile again. “Didn’t know you were looking for me.”
    Okay, he was flirting. This I could handle. “Maybe I just notice things around me.”
    â€œYou’d have to look through a lot of people.”
    â€œWhat’s that mean?”
    â€œYou’re usually surrounded by lots of friends. Girls and guys.”
    I leaned forward, fixed him with a knowing smile of my own. “Sounds like you’ve been looking for me too.”
    â€œMaybe I just notice things around me.” Gary looked straight into my eyes. As if daring me on.
    Whoa. There was way more to this guy than I thought. I’d expected him to be all shy and everything. A flush crept into my cheeks. Before I could stop myself, my gaze fell to my binder.
    Well, great. Now what? And—wouldn’t you know it—Gary was back to saying nothing. He just sat there watching me, waiting for me to find my tongue.
    Fine then.
    I raised my eyes to his. “You know Nikki over there?”
    Gary glanced at her. “Yeah.”
    â€œShe’s having a party at her house this Saturday night. Want to go with me?”
    Gary didn’t even blink. “I thought the guy was supposed to ask the girl out.”
    â€œI’m not asking you out. It’s just a party.”
    â€œCould have fooled me.”
    He said it teasingly enough, but it still ticked me off. I leaned back and shrugged. “Never mind then.”
    â€œI didn’t say I didn’t want to go.”
    My jaw firmed. “Could have fooled me.”
    Both sides of his mouth curved. Definitely the biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face. My irritation slid away.
    He bounced a fist against the back of his chair. “Nikki won’t mind?”
    â€œNo. She’ll be glad you came.”
    Listen to us now. Suddenly so polite. I felt that old distance between us edge back, and I didn’t want it.
    â€œGary.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou remember a couple months ago, when our French conversation was about white roses?”
    A look came into his eyes. “Yeah.”
    Something about his expression almost made me lose my nerve. I didn’t want to ask the question and be refused an answer. “Your last line. You wanted to say something else. What was it?”
    He pressed his lips and looked away. Ran a finger along his jaw. “What’s your address?”
    I gave him a look. “You mean you’re not going to tell me?”
    â€œWhat’s your address?”
    I sighed and told him. He wrote it down.
    â€œWhat time should I pick you up for the party?”
    â€œI don’t know.” My voice sounded sullen. I was still fixed on the unanswered question. “Seven, I guess.”
    He nodded. “I’ll be there.”
    I heard finality in his voice, like the conversation was over. He started to turn around.
    I caught his hand. “Why won’t you tell me?”
    His gray eyes looked deeply into mine, as if trying to figure out if he could trust me. “Tell you what—I will. On Saturday.” He smiled. “Thanks for asking me.”
    â€œSure.”
    He turned to face the front. Just like that.
    I folded my arms, staring at the back of his head. Wondering what on earth had just happened.
    The three days before the party passed so slowly. Mrs. Wright was out sick for all that week, and her sub didn’t make us do the French conversations. Gary and I barely talked.
    Finally Saturday arrived. That afternoon the doorbell rang. It was a delivery from a florist. A long white