I give a little laugh. It takes a lot to embarrass Brylee.
“Look”—she slumps down—“just promise me that at the end of this crazy summer, you’ll tell her how you really feel.” She closes her eyes a moment too long.
“I don’t know. Reese was pretty adamant we stay friends. I’d hate to ruin anything.”
“It won’t ruin anything. You never know, she might have been dying to hear it all along.”
“Do you know something?” My adrenaline spikes at the thought of Reese dying to hear anything that remotely resembles that.
“I know Warren texted her while I was over there. He still very much considers himself a contender.” She glances down at my dust-covered chest, my dirt-stained Levis. “Don’t let him out charm you. Make this a summer she’ll never forget, and who knows? She might go insane and beg you to make her yours forever.” Brylee bears into me like there’s an underlying threat in there somewhere.
Making Reese mine forever—I like the sound of that.
“And if she doesn’t feel the same?” I ask, still inspecting her for clues as to how Reese might really feel.
“Then you’ll both move on—the end. Reese would never cut you out of her life. You and I both know that.” She rubs my back as if she’s already consoling me. “I just want to see you happy for once, and, sometimes, telling someone how you really feel is a step in the right direction. You never know, she might be right there with you at the corner of delirious and happy.”
Delirious and happy. That’s exactly how Reese makes me feel.
Brylee gets up and starts heading back down the dusty road before turning around. “Oh, and heads up. Her Aunt Flo just came into town for a visit.”
“Who?”
“Her period.”
I crimp my lips. Did I want to know that?
“I prefer some chocolate, a warm blanket, and a movie on days like that.” She shrugs. “Just saying.”
“Chocolate, warm blanket, movie… got it.”
“Massages.Footmassages!” She drifts down the road. “S’mores!”
Aunt Flo, huh? That’s all right. I’m just thrilled to spend time with Reese, and, if I get to comfort her in the process, even better.
Guess I’m off to do some shopping.
In the evening while the residue of the sun still lights up the sky like a lamp, Reese knocks on the door.
“Come in,” I call from the kitchen. I’m just about done loading up an oversized picnic basket I dug out of the shed.
I step into the living room and find Neva glaring over at the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on—Reese Westfield. Her hair is slicked back in a ponytail. She has on a pair of grey sweats and her Yeats T-shirt. Her face is freshly scrubbed, and she looks about thirteen, and mighty fucking cute.
“Hey beautiful.” I wrap my arms around her waist and land a gentle kiss over her lips. Neva lets out a groan like she just witnessed a puppy massacre.
Screw Neva. What the hell does she care? She certainly doesn’t care about my opinion where it really matters. I told her months ago that the douche she’s dating is a loser, but she didn’t bother to listen.
“Fuck you both,” she belches it out like some demon on steroids.
“Um”—Reese cuts a quick glance to my sister—“hi yourself.” She starts in on a tempered smile as if she’s relieved our secret is out, at least at my house anyway.
“Ignore her,” I whisper. “I’ve got a surprise for you tonight.”
“Really?” Reese bounces on her toes. “I can’t wait.” She tilts her head to the side, gazing at me as if I told her I was going to take her to the moon. “You didn’t have to do that. You’re all I need.”
“Oh fucking gag me.” Neva jumps up like she’s pumped for a fight. “Why don’t you find some other idiot to cheat on your boyfriend with? Why is it you’re picking onmybrother? I doubt this is a coincidence. I think you’re lower than pig scum for what you’re trying to do.” She storms off down the hall and slams the door to her room.
“Nice seeing you, too,” Reese says it low for my ears only.
