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foosball table, she made a beeline for her friend. “You’ve been holding out on me.”
    “Me?” Abigail’s eyes were wide. “I’ve been after Adam for weeks – he just finally gave up the fight. But you? So, Zander was just coming to check on you at lunch the other day because your moms are friends, then? Since when does Quinn Robbins come to a party at the quarterback’s house?”
    Quinn opened her mouth, but then closed it again. She didn’t have a response, and she wasn’t ready to talk about this – it was too new, and she hadn’t had a chance to sort out her own feelings yet. And she wasn’t sure how Zander really felt, either. Sure, tonight seemed like a date, but he hadn’t said so. Fortunately, Abigail was easy to divert.
    “So when did Adam ask you here?”
    Abigail shrugged, although her eyes were bright and excited. “I think it was Wednesday before lunch. I was going to tell you about it, but I swear, you’ve been so distracted this week. Every time I see you, you’re out in space somewhere. Lately, you’ve been about as social as William Rose.”
    A jolt of electricity shot through her chest. “Wh … what do you mean?”
    “Jeez, Quinn, you look like I said you murdered someone or something. I was just trying to make a joke. I didn’t really mean you’re as weird as William – just that you’ve been so … distant or something. Are you sure that accident didn’t freak you out worse than you thought?”
    She couldn’t do this, didn’t have answers for her friend. She thought she’d been doing well this week, focusing on Abbie, trying to be normal. Maybe it was just because she was so tired from not sleeping. “The boys are done playing,” she said. “Should we go and check out the hot tub?”
     
    *           *           *
     
    “Did you have a good time?” Zander asked, climbing into the truck beside her and turning the key in the ignition.
    “Yeah, actually.” Quinn reached for the control panel, turning the heat to high. She was rewarded with a blast of cold air in her face, so she adjusted the vents, avoiding looking up at Zander. On the walk back to the truck, she’d suddenly become self-conscious again.
    “Does that surprise you?”
    “What?”
    “That you had fun.”
    She frowned, finally lifting her eyes to study his expression. He looked genuinely curious; his brown eyes were warm and gentle as he blinked back at her. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Is it supposed to surprise me?”
    He was silent for a minute, and then he, too, shrugged. “You play a mean game of air hockey.” He grinned, and rubbed his thumb. A little bruise was starting to form there, where she’d hit him, hard, with the puck.
    “You have only yourself to blame for that one. I seem to remember you teaching me that move.”
    “That was a long time ago, Quinn.”
    “Yeah, it kind of was.”
    “Where have you been?”
    “Me? I’ve been right here the whole time. You’re the one who’s always off doing something when we come to your house. When’s the last time you were home to eat dinner and play air hockey when your parents invite us over?”
    “Why aren’t you out doing stuff with us? This is the first time you’ve ever come to a party – even with Abigail.”
    “I don’t know, I guess I’m usually busy. I’m usually helping my mom with the kids, or doing homework, or working. Does it matter?”
    He looked down at his hands, and for a second, she wondered if they were trembling. “I just miss you, Quinn, that’s all.”
    Oh. Now her hands were shaking. “I miss you, too.”
    “And …” he stared down at his hands again. They were definitely trembling. “And I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Valentine Dance with me?”
    She blinked several times. “You’re asking me to the Valentine Dance?”
    “I think I just did.” He leaned down, catching her gaze.
    “Um … you know I can’t dance, right?” She was stalling, trying to regain