A jab. A condescending, bold-as-fuck jab, however for some cause, I wouldn’t have that shit every other approach.

I believe her smile had one thing to do with that.

It was small, but it surely was there, and I believe I spotted in that second that was why it was really easy for me to deep-dive into this friend-zone shit she’d put us in. Previous Thatcher didn’t make Aspen Davis snicker. Smile. Previous Thatcher scared her and made her concern him. I shouldn’t care about that.

I shouldn’t care.

I scanned the group subsequent to her. A few of my frat brothers and their dates had been doing a coordinated waltz for the alumni, and I may say some equally condescending shit. She deserved that after she ghosted me.

“You look stunning.” As a substitute, I selected to say that, daring myself after I peered right down to see her response. Aspen made a seem like my praise didn’t have an effect on her, however I didn’t miss how her hand delicately maneuvered over the skirt of her costume. Like she was making an attempt to fluff it out and favor herself.

“Thanks,” she mentioned.

I smiled.

“And I suppose you look good too,” she continued. Her lashes flicked up. “Punisher.”

She observed my darkish masks, easy, and although it wasn’t my neck gaiter, I believe its presence may need finished one thing to her too. All of the sudden, these fingers had been gathering up in her skirt, and her masks and fan hit the ground. She dropped them, and I instantly picked them up for her. The issue was she went for them too, and we practically collided.

Yeah, it was harmful being this near her. She was a breath away, a kiss away, and that shit made me drunk within the head. Dizzy.

Again off.

I actually ought to ream out this woman for what she’d finished to me lately. She’d actually ghosted me, however right here I used to be eager to kiss her.

I wished to greater than kiss her.

I used to be certain she noticed that in my eyes. The starvation there. That depth. Neither one in every of us moved, however she took the masks and fan after I handed them to her.

“And now for our particular leisure. Live performance cellist Aspen Davis is right here amongst our ranks tonight, and we’re honored to have her. Aspen?”

I acknowledged the voice as one in every of my frat’s alumni. I’d talked to the man dozens of occasions, however in that second, you couldn’t even ask me what the man’s identify was. I’d get it incorrect 100 occasions over.

And I believe that strongly needed to do with Aspen.

Gone was the warmth in her eyes, and although the flush in her cheeks was nonetheless there, it accompanied a glance of dread. Her darkish eyes flashed at me, and he or she didn’t instantly transfer.

“Aspen? Aspen, are you on the market? We’re prepared for you up right here.”

The alumnus summoned her once more, and although she didn’t transfer, I took her hand. She was sporting quick gloves. “Snowflake?”

She blinked. Like she’d been in a trance, and since we had been each hunkered, I held her up.

The alumnus forward grinned. He put a hand out towards her. “Aspen Davis, everybody.”

The ballroom instantly erupted in applause, and I misplaced Aspen to the group. Her fingers left mine to assemble in her costume. She headed towards the entrance of the ballroom, however very a lot seemed to be on autopilot.

I clapped for her too, after all, and regardless of my hand in tonight’s occasion, I’d had no thought she’d be taking part in her cello. I used to be joyful she was, although. I’d by no means heard her play in individual, and even in all our hanging out, she by no means talked about her music actually. I introduced it up a time or two, however she all the time modified the topic. I had a buddy who was into the humanities, and since he by no means actually preferred to speak about his artwork, I figured she was the identical.

That made the truth that she was taking part in tonight all of the extra particular, and I received as shut as I may to the entrance. This occurred to be close to the now vacant piano, and our employed string quartet was gone now too. Their devices had been nonetheless there, however the gamers had been gone, and in entrance of their setup was a chair.

It was for Aspen.

Snowflake took her seat, eradicating her gloves and putting down her issues, and as quickly as she did, somebody came to visit with a cello. It should have been hers, however she didn’t instantly take it.

The group was silent now, and I watched on, curious when she lastly took it. She had a music stand in entrance of her with sheet music.

There was silence.

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