No Place Like Homecoming, Dallen, Maggie [beach read book .TXT] 📗

was twelve and talking to a boy I liked for the first time.

I tried to remind myself that I had Logan. Sorta. Kinda.

Well, he would be as good as mine by homecoming.

Yeah, that did nothing to help my sweaty palm situation over here. It was almost like my body didn’t care at all that the guy I really liked wasn’t even here.

I perched on the edge of the couch, my brain scrambling to think of something to say. How on earth did I flirt again? Taylor used to joke that I’d been born to flirt, but right now my mouth was dry and the most flirtatious line I could think of was, “Do you want to sit?”

His brows hitched up a little. Not surprisingly, he seemed confused by my weirdness.

Nope. Nothing awkward to see here. Just sitting on the edge of the couch with my hands on my knees like it’s my first time at a party—lame little small-town get together or otherwise.

“So,” I said.

“So,” he repeated, drawing the word out as if to exaggerate how awkward this was.

I drew in a deep breath and forced a big smile. “Have you been catering for long?”

He nodded slowly. “I’ve been working for the restaurant since I was thirteen. First doing dishes and clean-up, and then some serving and catering.”

“Oh really? That’s...interesting.”

His smirk made my heart leap. “Is it?”

“No, not really,” I admitted on a sigh.

That at least earned me a laugh. A low, rueful chuckle as he looked down and took a sip of his drink.

“I heard you’re driving out east in a little while,” I said.

Yup. Way to ease into that one, Isla.

His gaze darted up to meet mine. “Yeah?”

I nodded. “To see your family?”

“Yeah.”

That was it. I drew in a deep breath. I was officially pulling teeth over here. This was ridiculous. He was a guy.

Guys liked me.

If I could get a guy like Logan to choose me over every other chick at our school, I should certainly be able to get this guy to sit up and take notice.

“Hi,” I tried again, resting closer to Flynn and edging sideways so I was basically in his face.

“Uh, hello,” he said.

I couldn’t tell if it was amusement or annoyance making his eyes dance. But I caught the way his gaze dipped down to my lips, resting there for a full second and stealing my breath from my lungs before looking back up at me.

“So, what do you guys really do for fun around here?” I asked, channeling all the sexy breathiness I could into that question.

“You’re looking at it,” he said.

I pouted. “I think I can do better.”

His expression was a cross between intrigued and annoyed. “What did you have in mind?”

I heard the girls in the kitchen laughing over something. Any minute now they’d be back in the living room and my chance would be ruined.

“Come outside and let me show you,” I said.

His brows pulled together, forming a little crease over his nose. “Isla, I don’t know what you’re up to, but—”

I put a hand on his knee and he forgot what he was saying. At least, I assumed that was what happened when his jaw went slack and his eyes glazed over.

“I want to hear more about this road trip of yours,” I said. And how I can tag along.

My phone dinged in my pocket and I pulled it out to see a frowny face emoji text from Taylor. My stomach plummeted, but I pulled it out and opened the messages to see the photo she’d sent with that eloquent text.

A picture of Logan and my frenemy Meredith locking lips. They were on a couch and it looked like a party was going on and…

I tried to swallow and failed.

“Hey, you okay?” Flynn asked.

“What’s with the new girl?” Savannah asked, her voice so loud as she entered the room it made me flinch.

I couldn’t seem to stop staring at the photo though. It was like my entire world had come down to this.

“Her name is Isla,” Callie shot back. It seemed to be on autopilot though because a second later she was by my side. “Seriously, though, are you okay? You look a little sick.”

“I’m fine.” I said it quickly, glancing up to see Flynn and all three girls staring at me. “Totally fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” Flynn said.

I frowned. “That’s what every girl wants to hear from the guy she’s hitting on. Thanks ever so much.”

“You were hitting on Flynn?” Callie asked. She sounded way too happy and clearly missed the point.

I stood up. “I was trying, but he’s not exactly a willing participant.”

Flynn made a sound beside me, and I looked over to see him either choking or laughing, and then he was coughing.

“You know what?” I announced louder than necessary. “I need some air.” I headed toward a door leading to the back patio and turned to glance over my shoulder. “Flynn, are you coming?”

He exchanged a quick look of surprise with the other girls before getting to his feet. “Uh, yeah. I guess I am.”

I led the way and drew in a long, steadying breath.

I wasn’t sure what was going on with me, but that picture just brought me back to reality with a shove. I wasn’t upset.

I mean, I was a little thrown by the sight of Logan with another girl. But I wasn’t heartbroken. If anything, I was sort of expecting this. Okay, I was totally expecting it. This was why I had to get back there.

Or was I too late?

I gave my head a shake. No, I couldn’t be too late. I was just out of sight, that was all. Once I came back, I’d resume my place in life and forget all about this town and these people.

“So you were hitting on me, huh?” Flynn’s voice was so smug, and I sincerely wished that wasn’t so hot.

I turned to him with a smile. “Guilty as charged.”

He tipped his head to the side to study me. “I thought you didn’t