She takes off for the bathroom, and I flop down on my bed. My back is still broken from hacking down a forest, not to mention rolling out a window.
A gentle knock erupts at my door before Neva pokes her head in. She glances around for signs of Reese, and I nod toward the bathroom.
“Did he hurt her?” Her eyes glisten with tears. She’s wearing a Winnie the Pooh oversized T-shirt, and her hair is combed back. Neva looks all of twelve, and a part of me is relieved she has the ability to morph back anytime she wants.
“Yes—almost,” I say, pulling up on my elbows. “I want you to stay away from him. He’s gutter trash.”
Neva averts her eyes as if she knows better.
“I know,” I grunt as I pick up my laptop. “He probably said the same thing about me.”
“He didn’t.” She looks nervously over at my bathroom. “He said he liked you. He said he liked Reese, that helovedher. He thought she was his—like he owned her or something. Look, Warren is a really nice guy once you get to know him.”
“He attacked her. He broke into her room and tried to force himself on her—inher. He’s not a nice guy. And I know him pretty damn well, Neva—so does Reese.”
“He was just wasted.”
“Neva.”
The water turns off, and any second now Reese is going to find me pelting my sister with a pillow to knock some sense into her. “He tried to fuck her without her permission.” I stare her down, confused as hell as to why she would stick up for his sorry ass. “You’re into him, aren’t you?” There’s no way I’ll even hint at the fact she might be in love with Warren. A thought comes to me, and I’m blindsided with rage. Warren said he was boning someone on the side, someone who was an expert at exactly what she was doing to him earlier. “Shit,” I seethe. “He’s using you, Neva.”
“You wish.” Her voice shakes. “Look, he had his reasons to overreact tonight. I filled him in on the fact she was whoring around behind his back withyouof all people.”
“What the hell is that suppose to mean?” I get up and charge at the door.
“It means she’s using you. She thinksyou’regutter trash. That’s all we’ve ever been to her. And you can forget your fantasy that Warren is using me. What we have is special.” She rushes out of the room and slams the door in my face.
Reese comes out just in time to cool my temper. Her hair is slicked back, and she’s wearing nothing but a towel. I lock the door to avert another Neva inspired disaster tonight.
Reese glides on my bed and pats a spot next to her so I comply.
“It’s my birthday.” She lays her head on my chest, and I pull her into my lap.
“I would have bought you a thousand gifts if I knew. Some best friend I am.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it.
“You’re all the gift I need.” She glances down and interlaces our fingers. “I have something to confess.”
“What’s that?”
“That night we went skinny dipping, and I asked you to be my fling?” She lowers her lids a moment.
“Yes.” My heart thumps against my chest like a caged gorilla.
“I think maybe I misled you.” Her eyes needle into mine, and she doesn’t let up her gaze.
Oh shit. I hope this goes in the right direction, but if not, I’ll love Reese no matter what. I’m just glad she’s safe.
“I wasn’t totally honest with you that night.” She gives my hand a squeeze as a smile plays on her lips. “You see, for as long as I can remember I’ve been madly, achingly, desperately in love with you, Ace Waterman.”
I blow out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. Every muscle in my body relaxes.
“I’m in love with you too, Reese. From the moment my hormones kicked into gear, I have been.” I brush my lips over her neck. “All that time, all this summer it’s been killing me not to tell you. I wanted to. Hell, I started to, but I would have bet my life this was a friends only deal, and I didn’t want to ruin anything for you. I would die if I lost you as a friend, Reese.” I stroke my fingers through her wet hair. “And I’m glad I didn’t.”
“I want to be with you, Ace.” She blinks back tears. “Out loud, in public, at home and at school. I want everyone to know that I’m with you and nobody else.” She tucks a smile into her cheek. “Is that taking things too far?”
“Not at all.” A dull laugh beats over my chest. “In fact, it’s not enough because I want the world”—I dot her cheek with a kiss—“the water, the forest, the fucking sky to know that we’re together. I want every person on the planet to know how much I love you, Reese.” My voice breaks with that last part, and I bite down hard on my lip.
“Really?” She shakes her head in disbelief, her eyes glossed with tears.
