free hand through his hair. “I don’t hate you,” he told her, almost patiently.
She frowned and leaned back slightly. “Are you patronizing me?” she asked, then turned and looked back for Mark, who she knew wouldn’t patronize her. But Mark had already vanished into the crowd, abandoning her with Will. She shrugged and returned her attention to Will, standing in front of her.
“No.” To her surprise, he was clad in only his white t-shirt, his button-down in his hands, which he held out for her to step into. She dutifully slid her arms into the arms of the shirt, shocked at the astonishingly soft material that enveloped her. A warm, heady cologne invaded her senses and she nearly swooned, the scent addictive and almost painfully delicious. As she stepped back she laughed, holding up her arms to show how large it was on her, falling almost to her knees. He nodded approvingly, smiling, and held out his hand. “Dance?”
She laughed again and threw herself into his arms. Will might have been a year younger, but he was strong and protective, and she felt completely relaxed in his arms as they danced. He was a good dancer, too, graceful and in-step with the beat. He held her a few inches away from himself, not like the other guys she had danced with, who couldn’t seem to get close enough. Irritated at the distance between them, she squirmed in his arms, trying to get closer. Will spun her by her hand away from him, then returned her to his strong embrace, at the same distance as before. She tried again and he repeated the movement, keeping her away from him.
It was frustrating and almost heart-breaking.
“Do you think I’m pretty?” she demanded, stopping short.
An aggravated look marred his attractive features as he ran a hand through his hair again, apparently a habit of his. He opened his mouth to answer when she felt something take her arm. Will’s dark eyes flashed, glaring up at something beside her. She followed his gaze up to her left, recognition flooding her.
“Grey!” she greeted enthusiastically, hugging him. “How are you?”
He grinned widely. “Great. How are you? Are you having fun?”
“Absolutely! I’m having the best time of my life!”
Grey held out his hand to her. “Would you like to dance?”
Before she could accept, she was suddenly yanked into Will’s arms, which he wrapped tightly around her. “Show a little class, Grey. She’s with me.”
Startled, Annabelle turned in his arms to look up at him. “I thought you hated me,” she said again.
To her utter disbelief, he touched his forehead down to hers and let out a soft sigh. “I don’t hate you, Belle.”
She smiled happily. “I don’t hate you, either. I think you’re amazing.”
Will smiled, almost painfully, and pulled back. “Everyone’s probably pretty amazing, huh?”
She let out a laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yup! Everyone is amazing. Especially you! I’m having such a good time. Are you having fun?”
He was tense when he answered, but a flirtatious smile curled up his lips. “Of course. I’m with the most beautiful girl at the party. The guys can’t take their eyes off of you.”
She clasped her hands behind his neck and swung back, letting her knees go weak. He braced himself quickly, wrapping his arms tightly around her to keep her from falling and pulling them both down. “You think I’m pretty?” she asked, laughing.
“Everyone thinks you’re pretty, Belle.” He lifted her back up to her feet, returning her weight to her legs, barely an inch between them—the closest he’d allowed her to be to him all night. He was warm in the cool night air, the heat between them flushing her already-hot skin. Still, a shiver ran through her as she gazed into his eyes, which were fixed on hers, just inches away.
He started to say something, a troubled look in his eyes, when a startled, bewildered voice interrupted him. “What’s going on?”
Her head snapped to the right, causing her vision to swim, and she had to blink to clear it. “Can’t you tell, bro?” Will asked mockingly, and suddenly she was tugged against him in a hug.
Bro? Trevor! Trevor was there! Trevor, who she had loved since she was a little girl!
“Trevor!” Annabelle squealed in delight, breaking away from Will to throw her arms around him. “Hi!”
Trevor was tense, but his arms automatically held her back. “What’s going on?” he asked again, slower this time.
Annabelle pulled away far enough to look up into his face.