Virtual Attraction [COMPLETE]

38| The Beach House

Blaze's POV

It was Spring Break and all around me were boys in trunk shorts and girls clad in bikini swim suits. Somehow, Victoria had convinced me to attend another Caden party. Although this time, the party was at Caden's beach house at a cabin near Lake Wemt.

Unsurprisingly, his beach house looked like it belonged to Bill Gates or some other billionaire. A long, white-colored deck spun around the exterior of the house. The house itself had a modern aesthetic with tall, floor-to-ceiling spit shine windows and there were dozens of gorgeous palm trees surrounding it.

Only at a Caden party could you find authentic, home-grown palm trees. I wondered how they survived the New York winter.

Victoria and I were lying on some beach chairs on the shore of the lake. I followed her gaze towards Adam who was covertly watching the two of us.

"So..." Victoria started. "Now that you and Ryder aren't happening...what do you think about giving Adam another shot?"

I spit out my Mimosa, then burst into hearty laughter.

"Please, don't try and set me up with your brother again," I said. "There's no way—

Victoria suddenly got up, wiping off the sand that clung to her legs.

"I'm gonna go get some punch," she said. "You want some?"

"No thanks," I said, frowning at her. What was going on?

As soon as she disappeared behind one of the cabins near the lake shore, Adam took that opportunity to head in my direction.

It dawned on me that the two of them had set me up. I was going to kill Victoria whenever she appeared out of whatever nearby tree she was no doubt hiding behind, spying on the two of us.

"Hey," Adam said, once he reached me. "How's it going?"
"It was going perfectly, until now," I said, eyeing him suspiciously. "What do you want?"
"Listen, Blaze." His voice was serious and his gaze was piercing. "I'm sorry about what happened between us before."

I just watched him, waiting for him to continue.

He didn't.

"That's it?" I cried, incredulous. "Why don't you just go back to flirting with Cammie and Ashley?"

I glanced at Victoria's ex-friends Cammie and Ashley who were watching Adam and I intensely.

He followed my gaze and shook his head vehemently. "I don't really feel like hanging out with them right now."

"Why not?" I asked.

There's someone else I like," he said, moving towards me.

He was way too close.

"Who?" My breath hitched.

He was breathing heavily. "She's standing right in front of me."

I blushed, flattered by his admission. Then, Adam swiveled past me and hugged the red-haired girl who was standing beside me. It was Char, who was in fourth period chemistry with Victoria and me.

"You jerk," I said, elbowing him in the ribs.

For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, then he left a big, sloppy kiss on my cheek.

Despite myself, I laughed again and elbowed him another time in the ribs.

Ten minutes later, Victoria appeared with Liam beside her.

"Where's the punch?" I asked.

"Oh." She knew she'd been caught. "Well..."

"I know," I said. "What kind of best friend does that?"