Virtually in Love Read Online Free Page B

partner.”
    Ah. I should have known Kaz would notice the lonely newbie too. “I’m on it,” I whispered back, giving him a quick peck on the cheek—just to play it up a little more for Shani.
    Kaz looked a bit startled by that as he quickly released me. “Okay, I’m all yours, Shani,” he said, shooting me one last glance. “Let’s dance.”
    I hid a smile as I hurried off. It takes a lot to surprise Kaz, and I was always pretty proud of myself when I managed it.
    But there was no time to gloat just then. Aidan had backed up against the wall, and he looked pretty miserable.
    I walked up to him. “Hi there, Aidan,” I said cheerfully. “Will you dance with me?”
    He shrugged, not meeting my eyes. “I dunno,” he mumbled, his voice so soft, I could barely hear it. “I’m not a very good dancer.”
    â€œOh, I bet you’re better than you think.” I leaned over and smiled at him. “You’re probably better than I am. My dad used to say I had two left feet because I was always tripping up the stairs.” That was true, though it was mostly because I was too impatient to walk up like a normal person and always insisted on taking the steps two or three at a time, even when I was way too young and short to manage it.
    The boy’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and his mouth twitched as if he weren’t quite sure whether I was joking. “Do you really want to dance with me?”
    â€œI really do,” I assured him. “Pretty please?”
    I held out my hand, and after a long moment of hesitation, he took it. He didn’t seem sure of what to do next, so I just shuffled my feet a little, not worrying too much about actual steps.
    â€œSo, one fun thing to do while we’re dancing is to talk to each other,” I told him. “What do you want to talk about?”
    I was already coming up with a few possible topics, since I was guessing all I’d get was another “I dunno.” To my surprise, though, he was ready with an answer.
    â€œIs that guy your boyfriend?” he blurted out.
    I blinked, not sure who he meant for a second. “Oh—you mean Kaz?” I suppose it was no surprise he thought so, given the way we’d been acting. “No, we’re just friends. Best friends. We were just kidding around, pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend.”
    â€œOh.” Aidan thought about that for a second. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
    I shot another look at Kaz, who was goofing off nearby, doing some kind of modified tango with Shani. “As a matter of fact, I do,” I told Aidan. “His name is Trevor.”
    â€œOh.” Now the kid looked nervous. “Will he be mad you’re dancing with me?”
    â€œNo way,” I assured him, twirling him carefully out of the way as Kaz and Shani boogied past. “He won’t mind at all. You’re doing him a big favor, actually.”
    â€œI am?”
    â€œYeah. See, Trevor lives really far away. Like, three hours drive at least.”
    â€œHuh?” Aidan exclaimed. “What are you talking about? How can he be your boyfriend if he’s way far away like that?”
    His voice was louder, and his eyes were bright and curious. Yay! Apparently, Vanessa wasn’t the only one who could bring a shy kid out of his shell.
    â€œTrevor and I met at music camp when we were just a little older than you,” I told him. “We bonded over our love of music.”
    I smiled at the familiar memory. Back then Trevor had been a violinist. He was first chair in his school orchestra and had even gotten to play at the governor’s mansion once. At camp they encouraged us to try out different instruments. At first Trevor hadn’t been interested, but then one of the counselors offered to help him learn guitar. And the rest, as they say, is history.
    â€œSo he’s been your boyfriend since you were my