Chapter 48
FORTY-EIGHT
OLIVIA
Olivia scanned the ballroom feeling like she was in a scene from a Jane Austen movie. Only she was playing the role of a spinster no one wanted to dance with.
Hugo and Cass were supposed to meet her, but there was no sign of either of them.
Malik aka Mike had ghosted them after the float-barn challenge. She’d only seen him a couple of times at school. He’d skipped bio-chem twice, and she bumped into him once on her way to the cafeteria, where he managed a brief “hey” before running off like she had the plague.
But there he was, on the other side of the room, dancing with a girl Olivia didn’t recognize. “Dancing” wasn’t the right word. “Grinding” was more like it.
Olivia averted her eyes. She couldn’t believe she’d been so caught up in his fake persona. His entire social media was a glorified résumé for his future modeling career. He didn’t read. He didn’t sketch. She was an idiot for thinking he personified cool.
Fortunately, Cass swept over to her with a glass of punch. “Liv, you look amazing. I love the tulle and the sparkles. Do a twirl so I can see the whole fit.”
Olivia tipped the edge of her pale pink skirt and spun around to show off her dress. “Thanks, I made it myself.”
“Super cute.” Cass handed her the punch.
“Did you see Malik?” Olivia held the paper glass carefully so as not to spill the bright red punch down the front of her dress.
“Uh, yeah. How could you miss him? I mean, come on, get a room.” Cass stuck out her tongue and pretended to gag. “He was never your guy, Olivia. You get that, right?”
“Oh yeah, totally. I’m over him for good. I’m just mad at myself for taking so long to see it.” She paused and frowned. “The only thing I can’t figure out is why did he agree to join our team?”
Cass stared at her like she was speaking a foreign language. “You’re probably the smartest person in our entire school, and yet when it comes to love, you’re hopeless.”
“I don’t get it,” Olivia replied honestly, feeling like she was outside of a joke.
“S.S., your Secret Santa.” Cass rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly in disbelief. “You really don’t get it, do you?”
“No.”
“Think it through. Who invited Malik to join our team?” Cass exaggerated her movement with her hands as if hoping that might help Olivia catch on.
“Hugo?” Olivia replied timidly, not connecting the dots.
“Yep.” Cass snapped her finger and thumb together. “You’re getting warmer. You’re getting flaming hot.”
“Hugo is my Secret Santa?” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “But why would he invite Malik to join our team?”
“My gawd, Liv. Because he knows you better than you know yourself. Malik is not your type, but you’ve been semi-obsessed with him for nearly three months. Hugo figured the best way to show you was to get Malik to spend time with you.”
“What?” Olivia nearly dumped her entire glass of punch on the floor.
“It worked, didn’t it?” Cass arched her brows in Malik’s direction. “Are you finally over Mr. Grinder?”
Olivia’s eyes drifted in that direction. If possible, Malik and the girl he was dancing with were plastered even tighter together. This wasn’t a rave. Mr. Graff and Mrs. Reynolds were at the dance. “Yeah, like one thousand percent yes.”
“Then maybe you should go say hi to S.S.” Cass nudged Olivia in the opposite direction.
Olivia clutched her glass as she caught Hugo’s eye. His usually boyish face suddenly seemed much more mature. Why hadn’t she noticed how chiseled his jawline and arms had become? He looked good in his well-fitting black suit and funky paper crown.
She took a step forward.
It’s Hugo?
The fancy chocolates. The bookmarks. Her favorite book.
Of course it’s him.
Hugo pulled a package that looked suspiciously like a book from behind his back. It was wrapped in brown butcher paper and tied with a red-and-green ribbon. He came closer and held it out for Olivia.
The inscription on the paper was hard to miss:
To Olivia, from S.S.
“It was you?” Olivia whispered.
Hugo nodded, a look of longing mixed with adoration flooding his eyes.
“But I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me how you felt?” And why was her heart pounding against her chest like she’d just had to run a timed mile in gym class?
“Open the book.” Hugo handed her the package.
Olivia gave him her punch to hold, carefully untied the ribbon, and peeled the tape from one edge.
“Just rip it,” Hugo said impatiently.
“Hold on.” She wrinkled her nose. “I like the experience of unwrapping. When have you ever known me to tear open a package?”
Hugo scowled.
Olivia lifted the tape from each corner and finally revealed a book she’d seen on display in the library. “The Friend Zone?” she asked out loud.
“It’s a metaphor for us. We’ve been in the friend zone too long.” His voice cracked slightly. “S.S., your Secret Santa, is hoping we can change that.”
“He is?” Olivia wondered if her voice sounded far away and dreamy to him, too.
Hugo.
Her best friend.
The person who knew everything about her, the good and bad. Hugo. Her hands felt clammy.
He moved toward the punch table and set her drink down.
Then he extended his hand. “Olivia, you’re the best thing in my life.
I don’t know why I’ve waited so long to admit this.
I guess because I was scared, but senior year is ending, and I’m not going to waste my shot.
You are the coolest, hottest, goofiest, smartest, most by-the-book-planning, get-shit-done girl I’ve ever known. ”
Olivia gulped, trying to process whether this was really happening. The signs had all been there. Why hadn’t she paid more attention to them? To Hugo?
“Hugo, you’re the best person I know, too, but what if this doesn’t work? I would hate to lose you as a friend,” Olivia admitted, holding the book like a security blanket.
“I think it’s worth the risk.” Hugo’s eyes made it hard for her to swallow. He held out his hand again, urging her to take it.
Olivia released her grasp on his gift, set it next to her untouched punch, and placed her hand in his. An immediate surge of warmth rushed up her arm. Her hand felt right linked with his, perfectly normal like it was always meant to be there.
He led her to the dance floor, let go of her hand, and pulled her close to him as they began moving to the music. “My holiday wish has come true. What about you?”
Olivia wanted him to kiss her—now, in the middle of the dance floor. She didn’t care if Mr. Graff, Mrs. Reynolds, Marissa, or anyone else saw them. Hugo, her Hugo, had a protective arm wrapped tightly around her waist and smelled like minty gum. She needed his lips on hers.
He was right. They’d been in the friend zone too long. It was time for something new.
“Hugo, I think you should kiss me.” She craned her neck to meet his eyes.
His voice was thick and deep, unlike the kid she’d spent summers exploring the lava caves with. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Olivia pulled his head toward her. “Kiss me already.”