The carnival was only about fifteen minutes away from campus—but it took us another ten minutes to find a place to park. It looked like everyone else had the same idea we did.
Thea’s phone chimed with a text message and she looked down at the screen.
“Cade said they’re at the entrance.”
I nodded because I didn’t know what else to say.
I followed her to the entrance, tugging at the bottom of the dress. I suddenly felt very naked and I kinda wanted to run back to my car and hide.
“Stop fidgeting,” she scolded.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, and let my hands drop. My arms felt awkward at my sides so I crossed them over my chest, which only served to make me look grumpy.
“Honestly, Rae.” Thea groaned. “At least try to smile.”
I tried to force my lips up.
She wrinkled her nose. “On second thought, don’t smile. That looks even creepier.”
Thea, Queen of the Blunt Comments.
I finally lowered my arms and took a deep breath.
I could do this.
It was just a carnival and I was going to have fun. It didn’t matter that Cade was here.
The entrance came into view—a silly arch made of balloons—and there stood the three guys waiting for us.
Xander and Cade had their heads bowed together in conversation while Jace stood a few feet away smoking a cigarette and tugging at the beanie he wore.
Cade looked up then, almost like he sensed us, and a huge smile spread over his face making his eyes crinkle at the corners. That smile…it was like a kick to my gut. It reminded me of everything I could never have again.
“Hey,” he chuckled, stepping forward, “look who it is. My Rae of Sunshine.”
I rolled my eyes at his jest-filled comment. “Ha, ha, ha,” I fake laughed.
“Come on,” he grabbed my wrist, “admit that it was a good one. In fact, I think it might be your new nickname.”
I tried to pull away from his grasp but he was too strong for me. He wrapped a paper band around my wrist and secured it. Seeing the question in my eyes he explained, “You have to wear a band to get in.” He held up his own wrist and wiggled it around.
“Oh,” I nodded. Of course. “You didn’t need to get one for me. I could’ve bought my own.”
“That’s what friend’s are for.” He shrugged, smiling lazily.
“You’re not my friend.” I said the words firmly.
He chuckled and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I beg to differ, but if you say we’re not then I’ll have to work that much harder to convince you that we are.”
I felt flustered by his words and very confused. I hadn’t seen him in a while and he was acting like we were close, which most definitely wasn’t the case. He baffled me.
“I don’t understand you.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. I wanted to smack myself in the forehead for saying anything, because I knew he’d make me explain.
“Why is that?”
As we walked forward, beneath the balloon arch, I shrugged. “It’s just…I haven’t seen you in a while and you’re acting like…”
“Like what?” He prompted, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans and gazing down at me.