Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot

this.
    He smiled back. He couldn’t help himself.
    It was like her happiness—her irrepressibility—was rubbing off on him. Not like he was going to start skipping around or anything like she seemed to do, but he realized he felt calm around her. At the very least, safe.
    That feeling felt different enough to make him hope this whole experience might not crush him. It also made him wonder if he should try to trust her. If the possibility of being friends—and nothing else—with someone his own age could be a reality.
    He’d give it, give her a chance. Maybe.
    Plus, he didn’t want to think of how to disguise himself alone. There was no reason to fight any of this. He’d just roll with everything. See what came next. Like Barry said.
    One hour at a time.
    “Why do we have to go see your dad? Does he own a clothing store?” he asked finally, trying to grasp one shred of the conversation flying over his spinning head.
    “Well, like I said...” She stepped forward.
    He had to lock his knees so he wouldn’t pull away. Any possibility of him concentrating shredded to bits when he caught some of Vere’s scent.
    Flowers or lavender...or sage? Or hell, I have no damn clue.
    Smells like friendly-happiness...whatever it is...whatever she is...
    Everyone seemed to be talking at once. Hunter breathed in the air around Vere, zoning out on her completely with his relaxed ‘meet-and-greet’ smile secured on his face.
    Vere chattered away. Hunter’s eyes had locked onto the curve of her upper lip again. She chewed lightly on it every time she paused in her speech.
    She must be worried when she does that.
    Is she worried about me?!
    His chest tightened at the thought.
    She doesn’t even know me...and from what I can tell, no one here is being paid. Could they all really be this nice?
    She stopped talking and blinked expectantly, still chewing on that damn lip.
    Hunter shot a glance around the room. Everyone seemed to be waiting for him to answer. He crossed his arms and hid his clenched fists under his arms, forcing himself back into the conversation.
    “Great, sounds like a good plan.” He blinked, adding in a convincing smile. “I’ll do whatever you recommend.”
    When they all just stared at him as though they were surprised by his too jovial response, he concentrated on what he knew he was supposed to do next. Go shopping with Vere, then meet everyone up at the cabin later.
    “And thanks, everyone. For helping. Mrs. Roth, I’m really looking forward to seeing this lake cabin and hanging in the mountains. I think I could use a few days of true hiding out. Whatever happens, it’s very kind of you to host me,” he added, using his most polite voice.
    They all still just blinked at him, like he’d eaten the family dog or something.
    Do these people even have a family dog?
    They probably do. A really cute and perfect Golden Retriever or something.
    He shrugged helplessly. “What? Let’s get started. Where’s the car?”
    That worked. Everyone moved at once.

10: lying to jenna

    VERE

    Vere headed to her room to gather enough stuff for the long weekend. She dialed Jenna on her cell as she ran up the stairs.
    “OMG! What’s the PROJECT?” Jenna yelled as soon as the call connected. She never answered with a simple ‘hello’. “Have you recovered from your day?”
    Vere chose to ignore the second question because there was no recovering from this day. Not with Charlie swearing Curtis Wishford had asked about her on the crush level! And not with a famous rock star waiting for her downstairs somewhere?
    This day had exploded out of all normal reality.
    “The project is not an exchange student. Not at all. It’s worse. It’s uh...Nan’s nephew. Moved in with her.”
    “Nan has a nephew?”
    “He starts school with us Tuesday. I mentioned him to you, I think? Do you remember?” Vere rolled her eyes at herself in the bathroom mirror.
    Let the lies begin.
    “You did?” Jenna sighed, sounding miffed.