Free Unexpected by Meg Jolie

eyes landed on me, she threw a look of disgust my way. Whether it was aimed at me or him, I didn’t know. Didn’t care.
    I shrugged in response as Willow handed me my full cup.
    “Hey, Willow, do you wanna dance?” Grant asked. He seemed to have appeared from nowhere but knowing the poor guy like I did, I was pretty sure he’d been following Willow. Just waiting for the music to change.
    She glanced at me.
    “Go ahead,” I told her, waving her away.
    Grant gave me a thankful grin as he led her out of the room.
    I followed them out of the kitchen at a much slower pace since I had nowhere in particular to go.
    “Hey,” Tristan said as he came up beside me. “How did you end up all alone?”
    “Jamie went to talk to someone,” I said. I leaned into to him, so I could be heard over the music . “Willow’s dancing with Grant.” His hand ran up my back. Not in a presumptuous way but in the way someone would when they want to draw you in so they could simply hear better.
    “Are you having fun?” he asked. H is eyes were resting on something past my shoulder. I had a hunch it was Corey. I didn’t bother to turn around to find out.
    I shrugged. My head was pleasantly fuzzy and that was all I was going to allow it to be. “It’s okay. How about you?”
    He grinned. “It’s not so bad.”
    “Can I have that?” Brian asked as he walked past. He was a friend of Tristan’s. He took the cup from my hand before I could reply. “Thanks!” he said as he walked away.
    “Do you want me to get you another one?” Tristan wondered.
    “No,” I said. “I’m good.” I was actually relieved to have it gone.
    Tristan had an oddly curious look on his face. That’s when I realized we were holding hands. Kind of. My hip was leaning against his. I was turned in to him but our hands were behind our backs. His hand was cupped ever so lightly around mine. And mine? I was shamelessly rubbing my thumb round and round the palm of his hand as my fingers gripped his. For a moment, I was stunned. I realized it must be me that started this little flirtation.
    “Come with me!” Jamie demanded as she appeared by my side. She grabbed my arm to pull me away. I moved to go, but not before Tristan gave my hand a tight squeeze. I think I surprised us both by squeezing back.
    Jamie still had a grip on my arm as she pulled me down the hallway. I glanced over my shoulder, catching Tristan’s eye. He made a face and shook his head. At Jamie’s interruption, I was sure. I smiled back. She pulled me into Krista’s room.
    “ Corey wants to talk to you,” she informed me.
    “So?” I asked with a shrug. My brain took a second to catch up. “Why do you know that?”
    “Because he just cornered me to ask if I thought you’d talk to him,” she explained. She said it as if I should’ve known that. Or at least been able to guess. “Anyhow, the only reason I’m telling you is to warn you. I didn’t tell him what I thought one way or another.”
    I nodded slowly. “What does he want?”
    She shrugged. “I have no idea. Like I said, I just wanted to let you know. Personally, I think he blew his chance with you but…it’s obviously your call.”
    “Okay, thanks for the warning.” I turned to go. I’d been worried she wanted to talk to me about Tristan. But with our hands behind our back, she probably hadn’t seen anything. And really, there wasn’t much to see.
    “Oh!” she exclaimed. “I love this song! Let’s go!” she said as she flung the door open.
    The music was floating up from downstairs. I followed her but before I reached the staircase, someone’s hand gripped my elbow. I turned, smiling, because I’d thought…I’d hoped, it was Tristan.
    It wasn’t.
    “Where are you running off to?” Corey asked. His blue eyes slid over me. I smirked because, thanks to my boots, we were more or less the same height. At the same time, I tried not to be annoyed that his messy brown hair looked obnoxiously, perfectly