“You’re inviting me to a stage crew party?”

He’d probably rather rip his own eyeballs out.

“No, definitely not. But maybe we could get some burgers or something.”

His jaw clenched and he faced the wall.

“Is this straight?” He tilted the rod.

Did he not want to hang out with me? Why did I feel like I was getting whiplash? We’d kissed. He hung out with me for nearly 48 hours straight, then disappears and was now pissed I wasn’t inviting him to a stage crew snoozefest?

“A little higher on the left.”

“Can you hand me the level?” He held out his hand.

“After the Combine thing are you finished working out?”

“There’s the Bedlam Bowl in 3 weeks.”

“Oh, those banners.” They all ran together at a certain point. A football, bubble lettering and a date. How did anyone keep them all straight? “I forgot about that.”

“Only you, Bay.”

My cheeks turned molten.

“With all the senior year madness who has time to notice anything?”

His gaze snapped to mine. “I notice.”

My heart leapt.

He balanced the curtain rod in one hand and the drill whirred as he fastened the last three screws.

The frames on my dressers shook when he dropped down off the ladder.

“And it’s done.” He pointed with the drill at the perfectly straight curtain rail and green and blue mosaic patterned fabric hanging down.

“My mom didn’t come in my room yesterday, but it was only a matter of time before she did.” Nerves bubbled in my stomach and I tugged at the hem of my shirt. Why did it feel like it was shrinking by the second and a quarter of an inch away from choking me? “Sorry if I made you late to something, or you had other, better things to do.”

"Bay..." His voice trailed off and he stepped closer. Almost like he was being pulled along against his will. Stilted, hesitant steps.

The spark had caught the kindling and the flames were slowly creeping higher up my body.

His head dipped and I prepared myself for the same fierce possession of my lips he’d taken in the rain.

Bang, the door downstairs opened, hitting the wall. “Bay, can you help me with this?”

I stared at him, stunned. Dropping back onto my heels, I dropped my head. I hadn’t even realized I’d gone up onto my toes to meet him halfway.

“Bay?”

“Coming, Mom.” I skirted around him.

“Let me help.” Dare followed me down the stairs. His shadow falling over my body.

I peeked over my shoulder.

“There you are.” Mom came in the front door with a massive box in her hands. “Oh Dare. I didn’t know you were here.” Her gaze swept over us both. No disheveled clothes, speedy exit from my bedroom, only mildly panting.

“We had a father drop off twenty fruit bouquets and dozens of boxes of donuts. I think he thought he was bringing donuts for the whole hospital. We needed to get it out of there before it all spoiled.”