“I don’t know,” I hedge, not wanting to admit theanswer.
“Liar.”
“I don’t see how this is relevant.Atall.”
“I’ll decide whether or not it’s relevant. When was it? Justtellme.”
“Fine!” I toss my hands up. “If you must know, my last real date was probably…December.”
A slow smile works its way acrossPhoebe’slips.
My answering frown is severe. “Why are you grinning at me like theCheshireCat?”
“December.”
“Yes, that’s whatIsaid.”
“You know who we met in December,don’tyou?”
“No,” I lie. My heart is pounding double-time. “I can’t be expected to remember the exact date I met everyone inmylife.”
Her grin, if possible, gets bigger. “Allow me to refresh your memory, then. We metLuca Buchananin December. He flirted with you, after we watched him fight against that IceMan guy. He asked if you’d be at my Christmas party the following night. Any of this ringingabell?”
“Nope.”
“Uh huh. Well, as I recall, the morning of my party I got a call from you, saying you couldn’t make it. Something unexpected came up. Very light on the details, but you wouldn’t be inattendance.”
“Is there apoint,here?”
Her smile widens even more. “Yes. My point is, you missed my party after you found out Luca was going to be there. And you’venevermissed one of my parties, even when you had a hundred degree fever that one year and almost passed out in thepunchbowl.”
“I…” I swallow. “You’ve got it allwrong.”
“Do I?” Her eyes start to glimmer, like a bloodhound who’s caught the scent of its prey. “In fact, now that I think of it, every party I’ve had since we met Luca Buchanan, you’ve found an excuse tobailon.”
“I’ve been busy,” I say weakly. “It has nothing to do with him. You’re seeing patterns that simply aren’t there,Phoebe.”
“Actually, I think I’m seeing things pretty clearly.” She leans toward me. “I think, if we’re being honest, your sudden vanishing act haseverythingto do with him. Because I think it’s finallyhappened.”
Mybrowslift.
“Delilah James Sinclair has an actual, real life crush on a man!” Phoebe squeals and fans herself. “I never thought I’d live to seetheday!”
“A crush? What am I, fourteen?” I scoff. “Plus, weren’t you just saying that Ialwayshave aboyfriend?”
“You do. But that doesn’t mean youalwayshave feelings for them. In fact, I’d guess just the opposite. As soon as feelings are involved,youbolt.”
“Have you been huffing glue again? I know you were determined to make your own centerpieces for the rehearsaldinner,but…”
“Oh, come on.Admitit.”
“Admitwhat?”
“That you thinkBlazeBuchanan ishothothot.”
“No. He’s not my type. Youknowthat.”
“Maybe the fact that he’s not the kind of man you’d typically go for is the reason he makes you sowiggy.”