“Then give me everything you’ve got.” Her eyes widen at what exactly that might be.
“I will.”
I’ve already given her my heart.
She just doesn’t know it.
The Build Up
Reese
The sky darkens a shade, wrapping itself with a blanket of white flannel clouds, thick and soft. I head home after my paddle boarding session with Ace, and I can’t wipe the silly grin off my face.
Brylee waves at me from the porch with a towel draped over her shoulders. She’s still dripping wet from the lake, but I don’t care. I race up the steps and take her by the hand all the way to my bedroom, laughing as if it were junior high and the cutest boy in school just asked me to the dance—which he sort of did. A very erotic, sexually pleasurable dance for two, usually performed horizontally, or, until tonight, only in my dreams.
“What?” Brylee shuts the door behind us. “Did you set a bag of crap on fire outside Neva’s door?” She gets that gleam in her eye as if she just gave birth to a very wicked idea. The three of us used to be inseparable. After Neva kicked me out of her life, Brylee decided not to take sides. Somehow she still manages to maintain a genuine friendship with the both of us.
“No,” I correct. “But her brother took me out on the lake and setmeon fire. I’m damn lucky my bathing suit didn’t melt right off.” I glance down to verify the fact it’s still firmly in place. It’s wet in all the right places, and I think that in and of itself is a testament to Ace.
“Really? Right on the lake?” She glances out the window in disbelief. “God—Ace Waterman is an animal. Warren issogoing to kick his ass when he finds out.” Her brows rise and fall as if this were all some amusing prank I’m pulling.
“He’s not going to find out.” But if I had it my way, I’d want the world to know. “Me and Ace are keeping things low key since it’s just a summer thing.” I pick up my brush and rake it through my hair. “Ace wants to stay friends.” I stare at my reflection in the mirror and wonder if deep down maybe that’s what I want, too. Having Ace in my life would rearrange things for my dad more than it would me, not to mention there’s a sour feeling in my gut when I think of breaking the news to him. I push the thought out of my mind. For sure this is nothing I have to worry about right now. If my father thinks I’m with Warren for the summer. So what? My mind just wants to turn this thing with Ace into something it’s not, so does my heart.
Brylee presses her lips together until they’re white as paper and reverts her eyes to the ceiling.
“I saw that.” I spin around. “You’re not buying it, are you?”
“Are you buying it?” Her powder blue eyes blink at me as if I’d be an idiot to think Ace and I could get away with still being friends after the fact. “He’s too nice of a guy to do you a favor like that. Don’t you think he might be genuinely interested?”
“The thought crossed my mind. Or, more to the point I was hoping.” I plop on my bed, and she follows. “But he hasn’t expressed any feelings to me outside of the friend zone. If he doesn’t give me those kinds of signals, I’ll have to gauge our relationship by the one’s he does give me. And, for now, that would be friends.” I pull the brush through my hair again, smooth, like running it through satin. “Best of friends, by the way. He pushed you right off the pedestal.”
Brylee knocks into my shoulder to protest the idea.
“You only like him better because he’s got a power line hanging between his legs.”
“Power line?” I suppose this is the part where I tell her I can’t wait for him to electrocute me, but I hold back. “You’re right.” I lie back on my pillow and think about what tonight is going to be like. “He said we’re going to take it slow.”
“As in?” She glides up beside me.
“We’ve been kissing.” I shrug. “Tonight, he says he’s moving his mouth to more interesting places.” I press my lips together tight. “He promised me a happy ending.”
“Get the hell out.” She sticks her face in my pillow and laughs up a storm before emerging.
“Swear to God if you pee in my bed, you’re boiling the sheets.”
Brylee hacks out an air laugh before coming to. “Too late,” she whispers, wiping her eyes with my comforter.
“So…is there anything I should know, or do in preparation for the big event?” I’m only asking because Brylee’s had her fair share of earth-shattering moments. Brylee has never been too shy in the kiss and tell department.
She nods, considering this for a moment. “Shave everything from the neck down.”
“What?” I balk at her razor-sharp advice. “Oh wait, the only thing I don’t shave is my—”
“Exactly. Boys are more likely to explore the fun zone if it looks less like a jungle they might need a roadmap to get out of alive.”
“Oh really,” I say it curt. “Do you think he’s going to shave hisfun zoneusing the same brand of logic? I think not. It’s totally sexist to suggest I lose the bush. By the way, nary a sharpened blade will get near my sweet spot.”
“Suit yourself.” She slaps her thighs as she sits up. “But when he pulls out a weed whacker to maneuver his way around your not-so-fun zone, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
