"Or you could have just hopped off the roof and dropped in on the patio."

"I'm not real y one for an entrance that dramatic. I don't like drawing attention to myself."

I laughed. "You fail miserably at that, in case you haven't noticed."

He seemed to ignore the observation and lifted my pendant with his hand. He turned it over in his palm, looking at it fondly. "I'm glad you're wearing this."

"It matches my dress."

He smiled softly. "That it does."

I glanced behind him and spotted Harper staring at us with a look of derision on her face as she talked to another girl. I looked back to Wil . "Do you want some cake?"

"No, thanks."

"Come and eat some cake. It's real y, real y good."

Ignoring his response, I grabbed his arm and led him into the kitchen. I smiled at a couple of girls grabbing their slices as they stared at Wil . He seemed unfazed, as if he truly didn't care about the attention, and was not just oblivious.

"I real y don't want any cake," he said, eyebal ing the sugary masterpiece laid out on the bar counter.

"Are you sure?" I asked, disappointed. "Wel , I'm having a piece." I cut myself a slice and started eating it. "You're real y boring, you know that?"

"I'm anything but boring. You're the one prancing around in your little dress pretending to be a normal human girl. That is boring."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "I am a normal human girl, despite what you'd like to believe, and I'm going to enjoy my birthday. You only turn seventeen once."

"I might have turned seventeen only once," he said. "But you are a pro at it."

My heart sank. "Wel , this is the only time I remember, so don't ruin it for me."

"Forgive me," he said, surprising me. "I don't mean to upset you." He studied my face for a moment before taking my hand. "Let's go enjoy your party."

"Wait, wait," I said, pul ing away from him to finish my cake before dumping the plastic plate and fork in the trash. I wiped at a little bit of frosting on my lip and al owed him to lead me from the kitchen, but in the archway opening up into the living room, we came face-to-face with Landon. He looked from my face to Wil 's, to Wil 's hand holding mine, and back again to my face, his expression quickly fil ing with contempt. He said nothing and pushed past us into the kitchen.

Back out in the living room, Wil turned to face me. "Your friend was right."

"About what?" I asked dreamily as he leaned into me and I took in his scent.

"He is very jealous."

"Oh." Landon. "How do you know what Kate said?"

"I have very good ears."

"So you were eavesdropping?" I asked playful y.

"I might have been," he said with a wide smile.

I rol ed my eyes. "You should meet Kate official y. Then she might not think you're so weird."

"I'm afraid that might have the opposite effect," he said dejectedly.

I rol ed my eyes and led him out onto the patio.

Kate was standing in a group of other guests, laughing in a high and gracious voice. When she spotted Wil and me, she waved us over. Everyone wished me happy birthday for the bil ionth time and Kate held out a hand for Wil to shake.

"I don't think we've formal y met yet," she said. "I'm Kate."

"Wil ," he replied. "Nice to meet you."

The others introduced themselves, and we engaged in tedious smal talk I knew I'd forget in five minutes. Wil continued to surprise me, as he seemed to slip comfortably into the role of attentive guest. He cracked jokes, chatted amiably, al the while keeping a close eye on me. I didn't think anyone thought he was too weird, much to my joy.

Josie appeared with Harper on her heels, and she placed a hand around my arm and kissed me on the cheek. "Hi, El ie, how are you?"

"I'm real y good, Josie," I replied happily. "I'm so glad you could make it. Are you having a good time?"

"Yes," she said. "The party is great and the decorations are so pretty. I love your dress!"

"Thank you so much! We got the boys to do most of the work."

Josie laughed. "Wel , that's what they're for, right?" She smiled at Wil , tilting her head and bouncing her circus-shiny curls. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Wil ," I said. "Wil , this is Josie."

"Are you new at our school? I've never seen you before."

She examined him much too thoroughly, her eyes moving up and down, her lips curving delicately. "Are you on the footbal team?"

"No," he said. "I graduated. I'm actual y at Michigan."

Her eyes perked. "Oh, real y? What's your major?"

"Economics."

"Wel , that's interesting," she said, lighting up a bit more, toying flirtatiously with her curls. "So you're going to be, like, a top CEO someday?"

"Probably not," he said honestly.

Josie frowned.

"I have your birthday present," Kate said suddenly and excitedly, grabbing my arm. She pul ed out bottles of Goldschl a ger and Dr Pepper and waggled them both enthusiastical y--much to my delight, as I was sick of watching Josie flirt at Wil . "Time for this party to get started."

12

AT ONE IN THE MORNING THE PARTY HAD CLEARED out, leaving only my closest friends and Josie's group. Chris and Landon had made an excel ent DJ team al night, and I was stil feeling the shots a little bit. After another dance with Kate, I bounced up to Wil , who was leaning against the wal in the archway to the kitchen.