Love on the Lifts by Rachel Hawthorne Page A

fire,” Leah said.
    â€œSo I look like a skank?”
    â€œNo,” my friends both assured me at the same time.
    â€œYou look like you want guys to notice you,” Leah said. “But we all do, right? That’s the whole point of going to a party. To hook up with guys.”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œAnd tonight is all about getting you with Brad.”
    I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Was it?
    â€œRight?” Allie asked, as though reading my mind.
    â€œRight.”
    â€œSo what’s up with you and Joe?” she asked.
    â€œWhy would you think there was anything?” I picked up my brush and started dragging it through my hair. It created static electricity, causing the strands to start flying around my head like Medusa’s snakes. I should have left well enough alone.
    â€œMaybe the fact that you came in with him before supper and you were both laughing and breathless.”
    â€œLaughing leaves you breathless.”
    â€œYour cheeks were flushed.”
    â€œThey were cold. Besides, I told you. He stayed and helped during the rush at the hot chocolate counter.”
    â€œI think he likes you,” Allie said.
    â€œHe likes someone, but I don’t think it’s me. He kinda mentioned her today.” I spun around. “Speaking of kinda liking someone, this morning Aunt Sue told me that she was once in love.”
    Leah and Allie smiled as though I’d shared the secret of the century, their eyes huge. “Really? Who is he?”
    â€œI don’t know. She wouldn’t say. She thoughtshe was going to marry him.”
    â€œWhat happened?” Allie asked.
    â€œI don’t know. Like I said. She wouldn’t say. She was her usual mysterious self.”
    â€œI’ll bet there’s a picture of him hanging somewhere in her store.”
    I stared at Allie. I hadn’t thought of that. A lot of the photos did have guys in them. “I’ll bet you’re right. I’ve looked at all of them, but not that closely.”
    â€œTomorrow we’ll have to go on a hunt through the shop, study all the photos, and see if we can figure out who he was,” Leah said.
    â€œI’ll bet he was hot,” Allie said. “He had to be hot.”
    â€œMaybe he was an artic explorer,” Leah said.
    â€œIn which case he’d be cold,” I said.
    â€œLame, Kate!” Leah shouted.
    We were still laughing when we stepped into the living room, ready to go.
    And came up short.
    Had my stupid brother actually styled his dark hair? And what was this? A button-up shirt? Guess he was hoping to hook up with someone at the party as well. Whoever he endedup with would have my deepest sympathy.
    â€œWhat’s that stink?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s some fancy aftershave,” Sam said, jerking his head to the side.
    That’s when I noticed Joe standing there, grimacing. I grimaced, too. I thought I’d been insulting Sam. Apparently another miscalculation on my part.
    â€œMoves, by Adidas,” Joe mumbled.
    â€œAnd we’re all planning to make some moves tonight,” Sam said. “Let’s go.”
    â€œWhat about Brad?” I asked.
    â€œHe already went to get Cyn. They’ll meet us there.”
    I did my best to hide my disappointment, but since Brad had joined us for supper, I’d mistakenly thought he was back over playing with us. Why didn’t he just move next door already?
    We all grabbed our jackets and stuffed our bodies into them while heading to the door.
    â€œAre you driving?” I asked Sam.
    â€œNope. I plan to do some drinking,” Sam said.
    â€œYou’re not old enough,” I reminded him.
    â€œNever stopped me before.”
    â€œSam!”
    He halted and glared at me. “What? You gonna tattle to Mom and Dad?”
    Was I? No. But he didn’t know that. Besides, as irritating as my brother was, he was good for one thing: blackmail. And it was payback