“Okay.” He dips into a nod.
“Okay?” I look up at him from under my lashes. “As in right now?” I tease. “You think Warren would want to watch?”
Ace rumbles out a laugh. “I bet he would.” He closes his eyes a moment. His dark brows create clean lines that frame his face. “Boathouse. You and me, Fourth of July.”
“Really?” My entire body seizes at the thought of finally being with Ace in that special way. “That’s just in a few days.” My toes curl at the thought.
“I know,” he says it low, sad. “Are you okay with that?” He glances down at my bikini bottom as if it were the forbidden zone.
“I’m more than okay. I’d let you have me now if you wanted.” It comes out far too quiet and serious, pulling us down to a place I’m sure we don’t want to be. “It could be my official break up with Warren. You know, a performance piece.” I pinch a quick smile.
Ace and I share a quiet laugh.
“That might be the ultimate F.U.” He rocks into me. “But I think the Fourth is perfect. That gives us a few days to finish being Reese and Ace, and then we can start something new.”
“Something new.” I nod into the idea. “I like the thought of starting something new, but we’ll always be Reese and Ace.”
“No,” he says it sad, measured. “This is going to change everything between us. Nothing will ever be the same, Reese.”
I hold his serious gaze as if it were made of blown glass.
“It’s going to be incredible,” I whisper.
“It will.”
The afternoon wanes into evening, and all the hard bodies, and those of the silicone-enhanced variety, are still busy partying on the edge of the lake. Kennedy has the entire event catered by the best Mexican restaurant in town, and it smells like heaven as they grill the street tacos right here on the sand.
Brylee dances next to me and pulls me in until I’m moving to the music right alongside her. Ace and Gavin had to leave earlier to head to work, but they said they’d be back by evening, and now I’m stalking the shoreline like a predator for the hottest boy in Loveless. I haven’t said a word to Brylee about my special date on the Fourth because Warren planted himself between us for the better half of the afternoon. But, he’s gone now, and I can’t wait another second.
“Guess who’s going to see some real fireworks this Friday?” I swivel my hips against hers like I’m flirting.
She pauses for a second as she narrows her gaze into me. “If I didn’t know better, Westfield, I’d think you were hitting on me.” Brylee shakes out her blonde mane before wiggling her chest in my face. “So is that when we’re going to take the plunge and migrate to the other team?” She chest bumps me, throwing me off balance.
“Not you and me.” I avert my eyes as I sway to the music. “Me and someonespecial.”
“No way!” Brylee squeals so loud that an entire group of got-the-clappa’s turn to look at us.
“Yes, way.” I motion for her to keep it down.
“So is that how you do it? You pencil it in?” She smears it with sarcasm. “Sex on Friday.” She holds up a finger to say something else, and Neva pops up behind her looking like a zombie.
Shit!
I straighten.
Honest to God, Neva scares the crap out of me, but what scares me even more is Brylee’s inebriated need to repeat what I just said.
“Who’s having sex on Friday?” Neva doesn’t bother to keep her voice down just as Warren comes up behind her. “Oh, let me guess.” She leans in, and I can smell the Jack Daniels on her breath. “You and—”
Double shit!
Without putting much thought into it, I clock her.
The crowd gasps. Neva knocks me to the ground and begins railing away at my face with her fist. I try to bat her off, but Neva sits hard on my stomach and takes the air from my lungs with one severe bounce. She gives my hair a good yank just as I feel her body lifting off mine. Warren plucks her away, but she lands a foot in my eye before I can move.
“Shit!” Ace pulls me up and draws me into him, and my entire body sighs with relief. I wrap my arms around him, burying my throbbing face into his chest.
Neva lets out a scream, and we look over.
