I pull into the driveway and park in the garage, because it’s habit from years of being friends with Damon. Long before Annie became part of us, binding us together even tighter, we were brothers.
Annie slides from the bike and takes off her helmet. She sets it on Damon’s bike like it belongs there, likeshebelongs there. “Okay, that’s the setup, but what happened that caused you to take on the dare? And whose idea was it?”
I get off my motorcycle and put my helmet on the handlebar before scrubbing my hand over my hair. I give Annie a smug smirk, and she raises an eyebrow.
“No guesses?” I ask.
“I don’t think either of them would go forShakespeare in the Parkas a way to dare you to do something.” She leans against the wall of the garage and folds her arms over her chest. At least I’ve got her mind on something else for a little while.
“You’re mostly correct. From what I remember, and I wouldn’t trust my memory of that night, we were saying things we never got to do because of school or hockey or just because we were too lazy to add anything to our schedule.” I close in on Annie and lean my hands on either side of her head.
She smirks up at me. “And you’ve never had a chance to act?”
I loom over her, but she doesn’t cower, and I wouldn’t expect her to. If anything, her body almost aligns itself to mine, like we’re meant to be two parts of one whole. “Someone said they always wanted to bungee jump. I think Cam said he always wanted to go to a Renaissance Fair.”
Annie perks up like she wants to go too. “Ohh?—”
“Because of the bodices that show off women’s breasts.” I smirk.
She shakes her head. “Yeah, now I don’t want to go.”
“Damon had read about a theater company doingShakespeare in the Parkthis summer, which was the closest to the Renaissance Fair he thought Cam would get. Cam thought he’d be excellent with a codpiece and long-winded poetry about Juliet. Damon said he bet I’d be better at it than Cam. Cam said I’d never do it. That I would never wear tights. Damon thought I could definitely...” I pause before I say fuck Juliet.
Annie laughs and arches an eyebrow. “Let me guess, fuck one of your costars?”
I lean down and kiss her softly as an apology. “At least you’re the first director I’ve banged.”
“Yay for me,” Annie deadpans.
“Anyway, one thing led to another and they dared me to do it. To get the part and to spend my summer doing Shakespeare while fucking costars.” I shrug.
“This was a lot less exciting than it could have been.” Annie grabs my loosened tie and tugs me down so our faces are level. “We need to work on your delivery and figure out a way to really sell this story. Maybe amp it up with a sordid tale of bed hopping.”
“You want to help me grow into a better actor?” I pull her into me and kiss her.
When she wraps her arms around my neck, I deepen the kiss and lift her against the wall so I can straighten. Her legs wrap around my waist. I can’t stay tonight, which sucks. As soon as I know someone is home with Annie, I should really leave.
But I don’t want to stop kissing her, tasting her lips, sliding my tongue against hers.
Cam will be over later, but I don’t want to leave Annie. I want to bring her upstairs and take my time with her. Show her how much I love her. Make her laugh and smile and sigh with pleasure. Keep away the thoughts of what’s closing in on us.
When I pry myself away, Annie’s stormy blue eyes are dark with desire. Her lips fuller from our kiss. It would be so easy to just be inside her and forget about going home for a night of talking with my parents over everything they feel they’ve done wrong to each other and me over the years.
“Are you sure you can’t stay too?” Annie asks. Her fingers skate down my tie. Fuck, do I want to. She bites her lip, making me groan.
I press my forehead to hers. “Not tonight. We’re rebalancing our chakras.”
She chuckles, but releases me. I step away and pick up her backpack to bring into the house for her. She takes my hand andwe walk up to the house. The lights are on. I didn’t pay attention to what cars were here.
When we walk in, Heather is on the couch with Adam. She stands up and crosses over to Annie and pulls her into her arms.
“The school called. Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it? You can stay home if you want. I’ll stay with you. We can make it a pajama and movie day.” Heather pulls back and tucks Annie’s hair behind her ears. “What do you think?”
Annie glances at me before stepping away from Heather. “I’m good, Mom. It’s not anything truly embarrassing. And yes, it’s awkward and mean, but I’m fine.”
“The school wanted to report it to the police.” Adam stands behind Heather. “We went in to make sure the police knew what was going on.”
Annie swallows and looks at me before asking, “Do I need to talk to the police?”
