"Good. Meet me and the girls down at the dance studio around eight," she said. "I've got something special planned for Lexa."
"Really? What?" Ariana asked.
"Oh, you'll see," Brigit replied. "I like my events to be a surprise."
Ariana was dying for details but didn't want Brigit to think she was a nosy pain on top of being rigid.
"All right. I'm there," Ariana replied. "Now, on to my plan. . . ."
Brigit was all ears and breathless anticipation, and for the first time in a long time Ariana found herself relaxing. Found herself in the middle of a good old--fashioned, lighthearted, mischievous bonding moment.
She was glad Brigit had warned her that she was coming off as tightly wound. Now that she knew it was an issue, she could work on it. She could make sure that her public humiliation proved to the members of Stone and Grave that she was anything but rigid. Brigit was a good, honest friend. And it was good to have real friends again.
96
VERY SOON
After she left Brigit, Ariana headed for the cafe and a celebratory mocha latte, feeling more herself than she had in days. She'd started the ball rolling. Certainly once the Allison Plan came together, everything else would fall into place as well.She was just heading past the door to the darkened theater when it flew open right in front of her, two inches from slamming into her skull. An arm reached out, grabbed her by the wrist, and yanked her inside. Ariana was about to scream, until she realized that her assailant was none other than Palmer Liriano.
"Hey," he said quietly, backing her into the wall.
"Hey."
She looked into his warm brown eyes and smiled. He kissed her. A soft, sweet kiss. And this time, she just let it happen, because she knew Lexa was not around. And besides, it felt so very, very good.
"Hey," he said again, pulling his face back and smiling.
97
"You said that already," she replied flirtatiously.
"Sorry. Sometimes when I'm around you I get kind of stupid," Palmer replied.
"Stupid's good," Ariana whispered.
Then she pulled him to her again and kissed him and kissed him and kissed him. His fingers briefly clutched the pleats of her skirt, then slipped beneath the hem, tickling her thigh. Ariana backed toward the wall and Palmer came with, pressing himself up against her so that it felt as every inch of their bodies were touching.
Then he pulled back and cupped her face with his hands. Her lips buzzed as she gazed up at him.
"I told you not to keep me waiting too long," he said. "Now I've had to resort to kidnapping you."
"I know," Ariana said, placing her palms against his chest. He was wearing tan cargo shorts and a gray Yale T--shirt, the letters worn from many washes and a couple of small holes near the hem. Did this mean that Yale was his first choice? And if so, how could she make him switch to Princeton?
It's not about that right now, Ariana.
"I just want to make sure Lexa's over you before we make this thing, you know, public," Ariana said.
"And? How's that going for you?" Palmer asked.
"Brigit's got something planned for tonight, and tomorrow at lunch, I'll be introducing a new man into her life," Ariana said with a smile.
Palmer took a step back. "A new man? Really. Who?"
98
Ariana's heart panged. He was jealous. Jealous over Lexa. She took a deep breath and told herself it was only natural. He'd been with Lexa for a long time. But then, if he really wanted to be with her-- Ariana--then why should he care?
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it," Ariana said, reaching out and tousling his hair because she knew it would probably irk him. But he'd just irked her, so he deserved it. "Now I've got to leave before someone else sneaks in here to hook up and finds us together."