“I’ve got about another dozen scenarios designed to do just that.” I plant a kiss just shy of her lips. “In a good way, of course.”
“Well, then”—she pulls me in as if she’s trying to meld our bodies together—“you’re welcome to make my skin crawl anytime you like.”
I pause just shy of the door and give a sad smile into her. Reese is perfect. She has everything, and her future sparkles like gold, even I can see that. I don’t get what she wants with me, but I’m glad I’m the one holding her right now and not Warren.
“Come here.” I pull her in gently by the cheeks and land my lips over hers. My body shakes, my insides detonate, and I lose it. I plunge my tongue into her mouth in a hungry bout of passion. Maybe I am the forbidden fruit, but at this point, Reese is too, and if all we get is this one quick burst in our lives, I plan on enjoying the hell out of it.
“Take me to the boathouse,” she whispers directly into my ear, and my dick ticks like a bomb.
“That’s the plan.” I skim her cheek with my lips. “But first I need to get something. I’ll be quick.” I turn around and spot Dad heading to his room from the murky screen. “Maybe wait here. I should probably tell him about Neva.”
“Shit.” She covers her mouth.
“It wasn’t your fault.” I brush my thumb over her cheek.
“But it was.” Her forehead breaks out in a series of worry lines, and her mood takes a nosedive.
“Neva is always asking for it. I’m sure you wouldn’t hit her unprovoked. Hang out one second, I’ll be right back.” I land a careful kiss over her lips. “I want to make sure tonight at the boathouse is memorable.”
She pulls me back in by the chin. “What’s the game plan?”
“I’ll give you a hint, it involves strategic body placement.”
Her tongue touches over her lip. “I like the sound of that.”
“I figured you would.” I pull another kiss off her, and my stomach bottoms out just thinking of the ways I plan on loving Reese on the Fourth. “And trust me, you and I will both be winners tonight.”
Her face breaks out in a hotter-than-hell smile with a promise in her eyes. I don’t want to let her down. If a good time is what she wants, that’s what I’m going to give her.
I dart into the house to hunt down Dad and give a brief knock at his door. The sound of mumbling penetrates through the wall, so I walk in. The light from the TV illuminates the room a dull grey while he nurses a beer in bed.
“Neva fell. She hurt her jaw.”
“Aw, shit.” He wipes his face down with his hand. “She out there?” He hops out of bed and jumps into his jeans.
“No. A friend took her to the E.R. to get cleaned up. She should be home any minute.”
“Sounds good.” He fishes his phone off the nightstand. “I’ll see how she’s doing.”
I head to my room and snatch the jar of marbles that have been sitting on the top shelf of my desk for the better part of a decade and blow off a thick layer of dust. The last time I messed with these was the week Mom took off. I spent the rest of that year moping in front of the TV, and, after that, they just sat and rotted. An entire slew of memories rush at me as I head back out to Reese. I give a wry smile. I knew she and Neva used to sneak into my bedroom the second I turned my back.
A quiet rumble of voices emit from the front, and I see Reese standing there looking defensive. I whip open the screen to find Neva and Warren glaring at her.
“Oh, hi.” Reese startles when she sees me. “I was just coming to see if Neva was all right, and they pulled up as soon as I got here.”
Nice save. Still not sure why she feels the need to lie. It’s just Warren. Neva already knows.
“What happened?” I step into my sister, but all I can make out is the giant bag of ice, covering her mouth.
Warren pats her on the shoulder. “She’ll live. Nothing but a bruise.”
“Thank God.” Reese lets out a breath of relief, and her chest expands in that skintight dress of hers.
“Like you care.” Neva bumps into her hard with her shoulder before barreling into the house. Looks like Neva is ready to take their rivalry to a physical level, not that Reese didn’t, but I’m sure it was warranted.
Warren shakes his head after Neva.
I take him in with his lavender Polo—the collar popped out, his plaid shorts, his penny loafers with the penny shiny side up, and I want to deck him for no reason.
