Uh, I am pathetic.
Liam stands up from my bed, holding his arm out to me. “Ready to be escorted to the dance?”
“Sure.” I take his arm.
“We’ll just finish getting ready and meet you there,” Harper says.
I wave bye to my friends, leaving them in my dorm while Liam and I leave.
Friends… I already have friends. Maybe that means my mom is wrong. Maybe I am likable.
It’s then that I decide that my mom sending me to boarding school was the best decision she’s ever made.
Don’t tell me what to do.
The welcome back to school dance is being held in a ballroom.
A freaking ballroom.
The fact that this school has a ballroom further solidifies the fact that I do not belong at this posh school. Maybe in another life—one where my mom and dad actually wanted me.
I spot Preston as soon as I walk into the large ballroom. It’s impossible not to notice him—he stands out, at least he does to me. The fact that he’s surrounded by a group of girls proves that it’s not just me that notices.
Preston grins at one of the girls, winking at her. I hate how my stomach churns with jealousy.
Liam nudges me with his elbow. “Come on, Coco. The first dance belongs to me. Your boyfriend can wait until later.”
I huff. “Clearly he’s not my boyfriend. I don’t share.”
“Good. Cause you deserve a guy’s full attention.” His eyes glance toward where Preston is standing. “I don’t know the guy yet, so I’m not approving of him, but I do know looks can be deceiving. Those girls… they’re just… fun.”
“Fun?” I repeat, frowning.
Am I not fun?
Liam chuckles. “Coco, you’re wifey material. You’re the kind of girl a boy brings home to his mom.”
I raise an eyebrow at that. “Really?”
He nods, then holds out his arm for me to grab. “Come on, let’s dance. I want to make all these guys jealous.”
I roll my eyes, but I do grab onto his arm, letting him pull me onto the dance floor.
Let the record state, I am not a dancer. I’m not graceful and, well, I just can’t keep rhythm to save my life. But Liam is good at everything he does, naturally. When I dance with my brother, he makes me look far cooler than I am.
I laugh and I have fun while Liam does crazy dance moves around me.
One thing that I admire about Liam is the fact that he doesn’t care what people think, not really. He dances like nobody is watching. And he is just so… himself. I wish I could be more like him in that way. The problem is, before I can be myself, I have to figure out who I am. Right now, I’m not so sure.
After my dance with Liam, he saunters off to find some unwitting girl who will inevitably fall for his charms. I hate myself for looking for Preston, but I do look for him. I can’t help it. Sure enough, he’s on the dance floor, his arms wrapped around Arabella Middleton.
Seriously? Her? Are his standards that low?
Arabella is beautiful, that I must admit. If you took every cliché American standard of beauty and manufactured a woman, she would be it. Big boobs—check. Tiny waist—check. Thigh gap—check.
I know what Liam would say to me, as I continue checking off all the reasons in my head that Arabella is perfect. He would tell me that not everybody’s idea of beauty is the same. And just because you’re hot doesn’t mean you’re beautiful. Beauty comes from the inside—blah, blah, blah. I’ve heard him give me that speech a million times.
Liam is right. He is. But it’s hard to remember that he’s right while I watch Preston and Arabella press into each other on the dance floor. I mean, really? Do they have to dance so close? Their lips are practically touching.
I sigh, turning away. I don’t need to see any more of this.
Spotting a staircase, I head up. Not many people are on the second floor, which is fine with me. I need a break from everybody.
Eh, more like I need a break from Arabella and Preston.
Maybe this is for the best. Arabella and Preston do look good together. They would probably make a good couple. Besides, I am staying away from Preston Lomax. I don’t need a guy like that in my life. I already have my brother—he’s enough.
A set of double doors lead onto a balcony, so I push them open, stepping out to get some fresh air.
I lean against the railing of the balcony, looking out into the woods. I can’t help but think that I am in way over my head. Boarding school and boys—it’s a lot. I just wish I could stop thinking about Preston.
The doors to the balcony open behind me and my heart sinks—so much for privacy. I decide to not turn and look at whoever it is. Maybe they won’t try to talk to me.
“You ran out before I could talk to you.”
My body stiffens as I turn to face Preston.
He looks good.
So good.
Still, I don’t let his looks sway me.
I put my hands on my hips. “Why aren’t you back there, dancing with your girlfriend?”
He snorts. “Who? Arabella? She’s just a friend. We’ve been best friends since forever. We were practically raised in diapers together. She’s more of a sister, really.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I’ve got to tell you, I would never get that close to my brother’s lips.”
Preston smirks. “Are you jealous?”
My cheeks grow warm and I turn away from him. “No way. Why would I be jealous? I don’t even know you.”
“You sound jealous.” He puts his hand on the small of my back.
I flinch, turning to look at him. “Well, I’m not jealous.”
I’m so lying. But I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of know that I am insanely jealous of him and Arabella. They sound close.
“Arabella is pretty,” I say, trying to sound casual.
He chuckles. “She’s gorgeous, yeah, but she’s a handful. I feel sorry for whoever wins her heart someday. She’s an only child and doesn’t like to hear the word no.”
Huh.
Well, maybe Arabella isn’t perfect.
I take comfort in the fact that Preston watched Arabella go through puberty. Though, let’s be honest, she probably did that beautifully too. She probably didn’t even need braces or pimple cream. Some girls get all the luck like that.
I sigh, turning to look at him again. “Look, it’s fine, Preston. I’m not really into dating anyway. And I definitely don’t want to compete for your attention with half the girls in the school.”
Preston reaches over slowly, and I suck in a sharp breath as he pushes a piece of hair behind my ear. His finger slowly trails down the side of my face. He whispers, “You don’t have to fight for my attention, Cove Lawson. You’ve already got it.”
I blink at him, trying to remember to breathe.
This boy is a player. And he is a good player at that. He has captured my attention like nobody ever has before.
Thankfully, the door to the balcony opens and Preston takes a step back, nodding at whoever came out. I take the break in eye contact to turn away and just breathe.
I’m pretty sure Preston was about to kiss me, and I’m glad he didn’t get the opportunity.