Sleet Sugar by S.J. Tilly

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

IZZY

I think I’m in shock. My mouth is hanging open, and I can’t look away from Zach’s beautiful eyes. The smirk gracing his lips tells me he’s not as surprised to see me as I am to see him. He must have spotted me when he came in.

“What’s he doing here?” Meghan asks.

She’s standing next to me now, and she’s glaring at Zach.

“You’re asking me? I have no idea why Zach is here!”

“Zach?” Meghan glances at me.

“Well, yeah. Who were you talking about?” I question.

“Oh, no, that’s what I meant. What’s Zach doing here?”

Is she drunk?

I nod slowly. “That’s what I’m wondering.”

“And since when did he become buddy buddy with Sebastian?”

“Huh?” I look back to see Zach and Ash bent over their keyboard, entering names. “Oh, Ash? I don’t know, but he was at the haunted house thing, remember? I think they’re friends.”

Meghan makes a grunt of acknowledgement.

Luckily, our boy-dates have been tittering about the Sleet players amongst themselves and haven’t paid attention to our side conversation. The last thing I want to do is have Zach come over here and meet Zander. I mean, he seems about ready to cream himself just at the sight of Zach, so I’m sure he’d be fine with it. But standing Zander next to Zach just wouldn’t be fair. To Zander.

I grab my ball and toss it down the lane, with barely a look, wanting to get back to my seat, and my drink, asap. I’m halfway back when I hear the sound of pins getting knocked over.

“Woot Woot!” Zander cheers.

I look up at the screen. “I only knocked over four pins.”

“Still better than none!” he exclaims.

Zander’s excitement is infectious, so I give in and smack his offered hand in a high-five.

I can’t help it, I glance over at Zach as I sit down, and see he’s watching me. His smirk is gone, and his gaze is… predatory.

Eyes locked with his, I pick up my drink, put the little straw between my lips, and suck.