it distracts from the now - edna mode, incredibles
"Can you set the cups up over there, please?" I ask, standing on my patio chair, trying to hang our birthday banner.
"Yup," Harper replies, putting them on the bar. I focus on tying the string of the banner, leaning closer to it, the chair creaking beneath me, but I have to hang this first.
I quickly knot it, looking over to Harper and laughing at the way she's setting them up. As I step back from the banner, my foot doesn't fully make it onto the chair and I stick my leg out, hoping to catch myself, but a set of arms wrap around my waist instead, helping me stand straight up.
I don't even have to look beside me to know it's Cole, his tan, long arms holding me tight against him, just like the other night. For a moment, I wish I could stay here, but I know it's wrong. So I back away, laughing as Harper chuckles from the bar.
"Thanks," I say, not looking over to him. I know he's seen me fall, but it's embarrassing. But at least he didn't see the worst and caught me beforehand.
"You need to be more careful, dude," he states with a laugh, and I look behind me as I walk towards Harper with a shrug.
"Ky, please be more careful, sweetie," mom calls to me, making me laugh even more. I just have to make a joke out of everything.
"Come on, you guys. Falling's my thing," I joke, meeting Harper at the tiki bar, the appetizers set up already.
Tonight me and Michael's friends are supposed to be here for our birthday party, and I can't wait to see all my friends. I only saw a few when I got back from Florida, but now I'll see them all.
Mom's busy cleaning up inside, freaking out when little things are left around, even though she doesn't need a clean house for a bunch of sixteen and seventeen year olds. Especially ones that will mostly be in the pool, not the house.
I turn to the yard, seeing all of our lights nicely set up, and checking other things off my list as I look at the time, realizing we only have a few minutes.
As I'm double-checking my phone list, I hear an engine, Harper coming right up to me with a huge smile. I tell her to wait a second while I finish checking my list, but she just rolls her eyes and pulls me away, and I quit my whining as we make it to the front.
The Jeep is parked in front of our garage, and Harpers smile is radiating off of her.
"Maybe don't smile like a Barbie and he'll smile back," I tease at her and she just rolls her eyes, but I can tell she chills out a little to prove she's calm as Nicholas steps out of the drivers door.
The rest of the boys hop out as well and I point them in the right direction, everyone giving me smiles and nods, a happy birthday here and there. Nick walks right up to us though with two gifts in his hand.
"Ah, Nicholas. My favorite gift-giver," I joke, making a reach for the presents but he just backs up.
"Uh-uh, not so fast, Manni. You'll get it later," he states and then looks to Harper. "You'll help me keep her away, right, Locklift?" he asks and I can practically feel the chemistry oozing out of them, so I make my quick exit, mumbling something about making sure Michael is behaving.
As I make it to the back, Michael's already laughing it up with his friends. Cole and him are shoving food down their gullets already. As Cole licks some dip off his thumb, his eyes flit over to mine and I realize I've unintentionally been watching him.
"Ky, come help me, please," mom calls, making me quickly turn and start to walk towards the house, almost hitting into a chair next to the window. I scurry away, begging they didn't see me.
YOU ARE READING
But I Can't Lose Her
Romans"You can't be serious. You can't sit here, and tell me you don't care how much this would kill Harper and Michael," I protest, sitting up on my hand, watching him below me. I feel his hand tighten slightly as he swallows, taking breathes I can feel...
