In This Moment by Autumn Doughton

direction proves that she isn’t going to be any help. Her bottom jaw is resting in her lap.
        “That was completely out of context,” I murmur faintly. I know that every available inch of me is flaming fire engine red.
        It’s obvious that Cole notices my mortification, but instead of giving me space to breathe, he steps closer and his smile only gets wider. “Of course it was,” he replies casually, swinging his backpack to the ground by my feet. When he sits on the sofa next to me, my heart races and my skin prickles. “And I certainly didn’t mean to put a stop to such a fascinating conversation—especially one about penetration and penises—but I saw you sitting over here and I wanted to let you know that we’re having a party at my place Friday night. You should come.” He turns to Jodi. “You should come too.”
        “Th-that sounds great,” Jodi stutters, shaking her head and blinking like she’s just waking up. I would roll my eyes, but I think that’s the exact same reaction that I had the first time that Cole spoke to me. “I’m Jodi.”
        “Hi Jodi. I’m Cole.”
        “Oh, I know who you are.” Jodi smiles suggestively.
        “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
        Jodi shrugs. “Well, I haven’t heard many complaints…”
        “Ugh,” I moan. “Please don’t feed his ego.”
        Cole laughs and steeples his fingers. “Now, Jodi, can I trust that you’ll get Aimee to the party on Friday night? Because I know that she’ll come up with an excuse, but this girl is in definite need of some fun in her life. Don’t you agree?”
        God. Jodi’s nodding her blue-tipped head and batting her eyelashes vigorously—a clear sign that she’s fallen victim to a brain fog induced by Cole’s quasi-magical green eyes. I understand it. I’m quite familiar with the symptoms myself.
        I cough. “Actually, I won’t be able to make it to your party,” I say, trying to ignore the fact that Cole’s leg is touching mine and that every time I catch the scent of him all sorts of crazy, swoony thoughts dance around my head.
        “See…” Cole hesitates, shares a knowing look with Jodi. “I told you that she’d have an excuse.”
        “It’s not an excuse,” I defend. “An excuse would be telling you that I have to wash my hair, or that my pet goldfish is ill and I need to stay home to take care of him. I happen to have real plans on Friday night.”
        The corners of Cole’s lips fall and his forehead wrinkles as he searches my face. I momentarily wonder if it’s possible that he truly is disappointed that I can’t make it to his party. Then, almost before I can be sure that I saw something real and solid in his expression, the familiar easy smile is back in place.
        “Real plans?”
        “Yep,” I reply as I finger the lid of my coffee cup. “My parents are coming down to take my sister and me out to dinner on Friday. We’re going out for my dad’s birthday.”
        He cocks one eyebrow. “So, your parents are big into the rave scene, yeah?”
        The question takes me by surprise. “Wh-what? My parents?”
        He nods his head.
        “No, they aren’t in the rave scene. Carl and Elise Spencer are your run-of-the-mill country club yuppies. I doubt my mother even knows what a rave is.”
        “Hmmm…” He smiles and leans on his elbow. “Are they wannabe vampires? You know that they have those cults now where people think that they’re actually members of the undead and they drink blood and sleep in coffins and do all kinds of weird shit.”
        “Okay, wait. Are you crazy or something?” Both of my hands are up and I’m on the verge of confused laughter. “No, my parents are not wannabe vampires. They are completely normal. Painfully normal actually.” This is the truth.
        Cole straightens his posture and flashes his dimples. “Then I’m sure that your mom