“You’re getting way ahead of yourself, little sister. Who cares if you’ve known Ace forever? He’s just some guy you grew up with. Nowhere does it say you have to give him your virginity in order to occupy your precious summer vacay. Keith and I took six full months before we went there, and, believe me—the sex was amazing because we took it slow. You should totally put this off and find a real guy to dive into bed with, not some boy who happened to grow up next door. God, does he even have a job?”
“Yes, he has a big net and goes around catching crazy bitches all day long. So, I guess you’d better watch your back.” I raise a brow. It’s easy for Kennedy to dismiss Ace. By the time she came into the family picture, Ace and I were already socially world’s apart, then came college.
“You’re funny, you know that?” She narrows her silver eyes over mine. “I think the heat is getting to you,” she hisses it out like a threat. “I told you not to lay out so long in the sun yesterday. Wear a hat when you go out. You’re on reserves with those brain cells of yours.”
“Now who’s the funny one? Besides, Ace is amazing.”
“You’re not serious, are you?” Kennedy takes a breath when I don’t answer. “Reese.” Her eyes close as if she’s come to the end of me. “Warren isn’t going to like this.”
“He’ll never know. Ace and I don’t plan on advertising our little fuck-fest. I’m not selling tickets to my deflowering session, so you don’t have to worry about Warren’s little heart getting splattered all over the wall. And, by the way, it’s made out of rusted iron, so I hardly think I could do any damage to begin with.” Last year when I cried on my mother’s birthday, he had the balls to ask if it was really necessary. I should have eviscerated him with my fingernails. Every now and again I still consider it.
“Warren’s a good guy.” She averts her eyes like she knows he’s not. “You just have to give him a chance.”
“No can do because I’m already giving more than a chance to Ace.” I stretch my arms high over my head. “I’m hoping toraceto that special place withAcepost haste.”
“Dear God.” She moans, taking back her coffee. “If you go Dr. Suess on me again, I might be moved to twist your head off.” She gets up and makes her way out of the room. “Get yourself laid already, would you?”
“That’s the plan,” I shout back.
Race. I shake my head while a smile blooms on my face.
That’s exactly what he’s made my heart do all these years.
The phone rings before I can finish downing Kennedy’s cigarette-laced coffee, and I pick it up just so I don’t have to listen to Beverly’s annoying voice on the answering machine, but, just as my crappy luck would have it, it’s Beverly herself. She spends a half-hour straight bitching about the rain in Italy. Beverly could never see the beauty in things like rain. Everything is a chore to her highness. Life is nothing more than one, long monotonous task. I swear, even with all my father’s money that woman will never be happy. I try to imagine Ace and me on some Italian gondola adrift in the Adriatic just as a light rain begins to mist. I’d kiss him right then. If a downpour followed I’m pretty sure the urgency in our kisses would only kick up a notch. I imagine peeling his sopping clothes off and taking him right there. Only, I suppose there’s an actual gondola driver who commandeers the vessel, and things could get uncomfortable for him, but in my fantasy it’s just the two of us, making wild love in the driving rain. And, now, I’ve added that very impractical thing to my ever-growing carnal bucket list.
I spot Ace across the lake in his bright-orange canoe, his oars moving at record pace as he glides across the water in one smooth track. I make up some lame excuse about burning toast and hang up on Beverly. I’m sure she called hoping to talk to Kennedy, but their relationship has been frigid these past few months ever since Beverly confessed to the fact she didn’t approve of Keith because of his mother’s questionable social standing. I doubt she’d care too much for Ace either since his mother ran out on his family when he was in junior high. His father barely makes ends meet working as the lake patrol. Then, again, Beverly couldn’t care less about my future.
I watch riveted as Ace wages a war over the water, his biceps popping in turn, his chest bronzed and slicked with heat.
That’s it. His perfect body is all the motivation I need as I run barefoot all the way to the edge of the lake. I give a wild wave until Ace finally lifts an oar out of the water.
A laugh bubbles from me as I slick my hair back into a messy bun.
From behind him, a pale, blue canoe appears, and my smile dissipates as Warren speeds his way over.
Ace cuts him off and maneuvers past him as if he weren’t putting in a real effort. I watch as his muscles twitch in tandem, his chest broadens, his abs cut in detail, and my mouth waters just looking at him. Ace is perfectly tanned and toned under the smoldering summer sun. He glides up on shore with Warren just a few seconds behind him.
“I win,” Ace pants through a smile. “That means I get the girl, right?” He gives a sly grin in my direction, and my stomach pinches tight. He’s so gorgeous with his dark hair, that body of chiseled steel. I’d have him right here on the sand if he let me.
“No one’s taking my girl.” Warren jumps out of his canoe and tosses his oar high on the grass just beyond the sand. He turns to Ace. “Let’s get some coffee. My treat.” He slaps me on the shoulder. “She’s a real bitch if I don’t put some caffeine in her.”
I choose to ignore Warren and his stupid remark. Normally I’d say something, but with Ace around it’s like Warren ceases to exist. Ace has the power to dissolve lesser men with simply the flash of his killer smile.
Ace raises his dark brows. His eyes bear into mine, and the memory of our bodies fusing together last night sends a chill racing up my spine. I don’t ever remember feeling so electrified with Warren.
We walk just past Ace’s family cabin, over to the Loveless General Store. Inside it smells like sundries and burnt coffee. The owner turned it into a quasi cafe a few years back, and it’s been a hit with both tourist and locals ever since.
Ace’s sister Neva sits behind the counter, and I spot Brylee Peters in the back hunched over her laptop. We were best friends growing up, along with Neva.
“Morning,” I say it loud and clear, but Neva doesn’t look up from her phone. Her hair is freshly died jet black with a tint of purple running through it like lightning pressed against a stormy night sky. I’d tell her it looks good, but she’ll probably think I’m mocking her, so I don’t bother. We were best friends up until after my mom died, then, out of the blue, Neva told me off, the end. All I know is she’s at the community college with her brother. Ace took two years off after high school and saved up just to attend.
“Just an iced mocha for me.” I give a shy smile, and Neva proceeds to ignore me. I glance over at Ace and catch him eyeing Warren’s arm still latched around my waist. Funny, I didn’t even notice he was holding me. “I think I’m going to say hi to Brylee.” I ditch the boys and head toward the back. I give a quick wave to Bry. It’s only then I notice she’s sitting with Gavin Jackson, Ace’s buddy that he chops wood with. It’s Gavin’s side business that helps put Ace through school.
“Look who’s here?” He springs up and pulls me in. Gavin smells good, clean like soap. He’s a blond god that has most of the girls in Loveless dropping to their knees, but Ace is the only one I’d ever engage in idol worship for.
“Girl!” Brylee springs to her feet and tackle hugs me until I stumble backward into a rock hard body. “I have missed you so damn much!”
“Whoa.” Ace raises our drinks out of the way before setting them on the table.
