You’ll see.” I look over to where Cal had been standing but don’t see him now. Rather than walk around aimlessly looking for him, I figure now is as good a time as any to see if I can get some bonfire shots. The angles are going to be key if I’m going to get anything worth keeping. “Hey … do you mind being my test subject? I want to see if shooting at the bonfires is going to work. If it doesn’t, I won’t bother bringing my camera down with me again.”
“Sure! Where do you want me?” Amy asks.
“Hmmm …” I take a few steps to my left and then to my right, tilting my head to see if there’s a good angle.
“This is a familiar scene,” Miller’s voice rings behind me.
“You’re developing a habit.” I smirk at him. “Where’s my sister?” I’m a little surprised at his ability to get away from her once she had his attention.
“She went to get a drink , or something. I don’t know. I wasn’t really paying attention.” Miller takes a swig from his bottle and waits for me to say something. Now I’m looking for my sister, sure she’s going to be embarrassed and then furious.
“Well, I’m sure she’ll be back in a second and you two can resume your little get-to-know-me session.” I really don’t like that I’m pushing him on her, but if Addy found out I did anything to ruin her chances with Miller, it’d be the start of Armageddon.
“You’re not as delusional as she is, are you? There’s no way you think I’m remotely interested in her.” He looks at me with sarcastic confusion.
“I still don’t get that,” I say.
“I am an excellent judge of character, Kinley. And ever since I started listening to my gut, it’s never steered me wrong.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really. I’ll prove it to you. First, your guy Cal is a real douche. Typical football player. I’m sure he’s probably a nice guy if you’re one of his people , but otherwise, he’ll hang your underwear up a flagpole while you’re still in them just for the sport of it. On the other hand, Matthew and Pete: stand-up guys you could trust with your life. Amy: she’s a sweetheart and she totally kicks ass. Carrie? Bridget? As nice as they come. Dave? Well, Dave’s a good guy, but a bit of a wild card. All in all, these are people you’d be lucky to have on your side any day of the week and twice on Sunday.” Miller takes another swig from his bottle and smiles proudly. Okay, so he doesn’t like Cal. He just doesn’t know him. But, he’s hit the nail on the head about the rest of them, that’s for sure.
“What about Addy?” I challenge, hoping he’ll give me some clue that he’s actually noticing her sweetness.
Miller looks at me for a moment, I assume deciding just how honest he wants to be with me about what his gut is telling him about my sister. “She’s a nice girl. Stereotypical fashion major: obsessed with clothes and how she looks. If you’re in her circle, she’ll fight for you, but not at the cost of her reputation.”
Damn. He’s spot on there, too. Although, I’m the exception. Me. Her sister. I have always trumped any situation regardless of where it left her reputation with certain people.
Alright, he’s got me interested. He’s the first guy who seems to really want to be my friend. My friend. Not Addy’s. And he’s here, talking with me … not her.
“And what about me?” I ask softly.
“You’re loyal and committed … to a fault. A beautiful girl with a beautiful heart. When you’re focused on something, everything else seems to fade away, like the fact that Amy walked away three minutes ago and you didn’t even notice.” Miller takes a step closer to me and my pulse begins to race as our eyes burn together in the glow of the fire. “Am I close?”
“Very.” My chest heaves with my racing heart and shallow breathing. He just said I was beautiful. I must be dreaming … or maybe Miller is from some parallel universe where people who look like Addison are
“Sure! Where do you want me?” Amy asks.
“Hmmm …” I take a few steps to my left and then to my right, tilting my head to see if there’s a good angle.
“This is a familiar scene,” Miller’s voice rings behind me.
“You’re developing a habit.” I smirk at him. “Where’s my sister?” I’m a little surprised at his ability to get away from her once she had his attention.
“She went to get a drink , or something. I don’t know. I wasn’t really paying attention.” Miller takes a swig from his bottle and waits for me to say something. Now I’m looking for my sister, sure she’s going to be embarrassed and then furious.
“Well, I’m sure she’ll be back in a second and you two can resume your little get-to-know-me session.” I really don’t like that I’m pushing him on her, but if Addy found out I did anything to ruin her chances with Miller, it’d be the start of Armageddon.
“You’re not as delusional as she is, are you? There’s no way you think I’m remotely interested in her.” He looks at me with sarcastic confusion.
“I still don’t get that,” I say.
“I am an excellent judge of character, Kinley. And ever since I started listening to my gut, it’s never steered me wrong.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really. I’ll prove it to you. First, your guy Cal is a real douche. Typical football player. I’m sure he’s probably a nice guy if you’re one of his people , but otherwise, he’ll hang your underwear up a flagpole while you’re still in them just for the sport of it. On the other hand, Matthew and Pete: stand-up guys you could trust with your life. Amy: she’s a sweetheart and she totally kicks ass. Carrie? Bridget? As nice as they come. Dave? Well, Dave’s a good guy, but a bit of a wild card. All in all, these are people you’d be lucky to have on your side any day of the week and twice on Sunday.” Miller takes another swig from his bottle and smiles proudly. Okay, so he doesn’t like Cal. He just doesn’t know him. But, he’s hit the nail on the head about the rest of them, that’s for sure.
“What about Addy?” I challenge, hoping he’ll give me some clue that he’s actually noticing her sweetness.
Miller looks at me for a moment, I assume deciding just how honest he wants to be with me about what his gut is telling him about my sister. “She’s a nice girl. Stereotypical fashion major: obsessed with clothes and how she looks. If you’re in her circle, she’ll fight for you, but not at the cost of her reputation.”
Damn. He’s spot on there, too. Although, I’m the exception. Me. Her sister. I have always trumped any situation regardless of where it left her reputation with certain people.
Alright, he’s got me interested. He’s the first guy who seems to really want to be my friend. My friend. Not Addy’s. And he’s here, talking with me … not her.
“And what about me?” I ask softly.
“You’re loyal and committed … to a fault. A beautiful girl with a beautiful heart. When you’re focused on something, everything else seems to fade away, like the fact that Amy walked away three minutes ago and you didn’t even notice.” Miller takes a step closer to me and my pulse begins to race as our eyes burn together in the glow of the fire. “Am I close?”
“Very.” My chest heaves with my racing heart and shallow breathing. He just said I was beautiful. I must be dreaming … or maybe Miller is from some parallel universe where people who look like Addison are
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