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likes you, and I really
think you two could hit it off.”
    “ Why do you care so much?” I asked, not hiding the annoyance
in my tone.
    “ Because Allie, it’s been fun going out on dates and to
parties with you. It almost feels like it used to be, you know…
before.” Tara dropped her lashes momentarily, rubbing her lips
together with uncertainty. She glanced back up at me, surely
wondering if I caught her meaning. Of course I did. All anyone
wanted was for me to go “back to normal,” so they could cross me
off their list of worries and return to their normal life.
    I stood
up, wrapping a napkin around my muffin and unintentionally molding
my grip into it. “Let’s just get out of here, ok? Thanks for buying
breakfast.” Before I could stalk out the door, Tara grabbed my
wrist, standing so her eyes met mine.
    “ Look, I’m sorry, ok? I know your cousin’s death still affects
you. I’m your best friend—I understand how you feel.” I fidgeted at
her latter statement, but she carried on unaware. “I just hate to
see everything you’ve worked for at this point in high school get
kicked to the curb. We could have a
lot of fun this year.” She let go of my arm but peered at me
earnestly. “It’s your senior year. It’ll be gone before you know
it.”
    I stared
back at her. “So you want me to pretend to like Shane?”
    Tara
shifted her stance. “Not ‘pretend’ necessarily. But give him a
chance. I think it’d be helpful for you to have something else to
think about.”
    While I could agree that the distraction with Shane had been
refreshing, I didn’t know how helpful it could be in the long run.
I told Tara I’d consider it and asked her to let it be for now.
When she dropped me off at my doorstep, I didn’t return with the
clear head I’d hoped for. I frowned at the Lexus parked in my
driveway. Someone quite wealthy was visiting my house—or at least
the son of
someone quite wealthy. With anticipation, I pushed the latch on my
door and stepped into the house.
    Shane
sat on my couch, chatting comfortably with Mom, while Leah and
Taylor peeked at him from the hallway. I glared at the two of them,
and they smothered giggles. Shane and Mom turned my way.
    “ Hi, honey! Your friend stopped by…” She raised her eyebrows
at me and failed to contain a teasing smile.
    Ugh. Her, too. I knew she would love
nothing more than to believe I was hanging out with friends and
even dating again. I met Shane’s penetrating gaze. Despite the
annoyance at myself for kissing him, I couldn’t help the
instantaneous butterflies in my stomach. Some of my confusion flew
out the window as a magnet of attraction drew me towards him. I
couldn’t help but like the way he was checking me out, even with
Mom present. There was an arrogance about him that both repelled
and lured me. Tightening my tousled ponytail, I asked, “Shane, what
are you doing here?”
    He stood
up and closed the gap between us. Mom also rose to her feet,
watching us carefully as if she were trying to clue in on the
status of our relationship.
    Good luck with that.
    “ You never responded to my text,” Shane said. “So I figured
that meant you wouldn’t mind if I stopped by.”
    “ That was your conclusion, huh?” I folded my arms but I
released a half-smile, realizing I didn’t entirely mind him being
there. It was easier to write him off when he wasn’t standing in my
presence—especially with his cologne baiting me.
    “ I thought we could team up and sell raffle tickets together
this afternoon,” Shane suggested.
    Raffle
tickets… I’d forgotten we needed to go door to door in support of
our basketball fundraiser. “Uh, sure, if that’s how you want to
spend your Saturday,” I said.
    Shane
puffed out his chest, deepening his voice for effect. “Well, you
know, with our powers combined…”
    “ Our powers being?”
    Shane smirked. “Well, obviously, I have all the charm. We
just need to hope women open the door.” Noticing