Malcolm mumbles under his breath as he walks out the front door. He leaves it open, and a cold gust of wind blows in, carrying a few crispy autumn leaves into the foyer. I watch him climb into his bright orange truck and ask, “What’s up with him?”
“He’s just jealous,” Benny whispers in my ear before kissing it, his mouth lingering against my neck.
“And lonely,” Emma says, hoisting the box up onto her hip, “Now come on!” She scurries out after Malcolm and tosses the box in the bed of his truck.
“Alright”—Benny rubs my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze, before standing— “let’s hurry before we get left.”
He peels his Glendale polo off over his head and I swear the man is made of chiseled stone. His abs tighten and relax as he twists and pulls his block party t-shirt over his head. I don’t know if I have ever seen such perfectly sculpted lines on a man’s stomach before. My legs feel tingly as he finishes adjusting his shirt and smooths out his hair.
I’m staring when my mouth decides to try and go rogue. “You are so . . .” I trail off when he gives me an intrigued grin.
“What?” He blushes and slides his hands in his back pockets.
I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my chin on his chest. “So . . .” I pause intentionally. “Alluring . . .” I flutter my eyelashes at him before letting out a full body laugh.
His cheeks go bright red as he throws his head back and groans. “Come on . . .” He grabs my hand and drags me towards the door. I’m still laughing as we climb into Malcolm’s truck and he backs down Emma’s long driveway.
The block party is chaos in the most fun way possible. The entire strip from the school parking lot down to the end of the street where Wafflin’ sits is packed full of activities. From bouncy castles, to business tables, and food trucks, it was a mini state fair right there on Glendale block . . . and we were on clipboard duty.
“This sucks! I want to do the dunk tank,” Kate whines next to me as we man the sports booth in front of Three Sisters’ Cleaning. She keeps looking up and over the crowds of people down towards Wafflin’ where the dunk tank is set-up. Malcolm and Benny are having a blast convincing people to try and knock them in the water, then swapping places, then attempting to hit the bullseye themselves. A little kid misses at trying to dunk Malcolm, Benny scoops him up and carries him over to the bullseye. I see Malcolm point at them and yell, “DON’T!”But Benny ignores him, the kid slams the bullseye, sending Malcolm into the water. Everyone watching cheers and Benny fist bumps the kid before he runs back to his parents.
“You’re so in love with him, it’s kind of gross.” Kate rolls her eyes at me as I stare at Benny with heart eyes.
“We haven’t said that yet.” I laugh as I wave over the crowd at Benny. He’s positioning himself on the dunkseat and blows an obnoxious kiss at me, which I pretend to catch then blow him one back. As soon as he reaches up to pretend to catch his, he’s in the water. Malcolm is leaning against the bullseye and tips a salute to me and Kate.
“Silly boys.” Kate laughs, her cheeks pink and eyes glistening as she glances back and forth to the dunk tank. She fumbles around with the pens at our table. “I hate how much I love them.”
“They’re the best, aren’t they?” I watch Benny climb out of the tank and chase Malcolm around the tank like little boys playing tag. Just sheer joy as people watch and laugh at their antics.
“Break time, ladies! You’re needed at the main stage in five minutes.” Margaret, the librarian, walks up to our booth and sits at our table.
“Our break isn’t for another hour.” I look at my watch then at Kate, she shrugs equally confused.
“Don’t ask me.” She pulls out her phone and begins playing Candy Crush. “Now, go on!”
I grab Kate’s hand and rush towards the main stage, immediately looking for Emma. She probably needs us for a new task, and I don’t want to be the reason she is stressed more than she already is. We get to the stage and Emma isn’t there, so we watch as the cheer squad finishes up their state routine, chants, and kicks. A football player, whose name I can’t remember, walks onstage and sets up a microphone before taking a bow for his hard work, the crowd genuinely cheering for his efforts.
Birdie steps up to the microphone and taps it. “Excuse me,” her voice is shrill and I try to maintain my composure. I’m really working on liking this kid, but it won’t come easy.
“Here we go.” I turn to the sarcastic voice that popped up next to me and see Sarah, standing with Garrett, both sharing a huge pink cotton candy.
“What?” I ask them, giving Sarah a side hug, and squeeze Garrett’s arm, as we all watch the stage.
“Homecoming crowning.” Garrett smiles at me then, back to the stage.
“We already know it’s going to be Birdie and Ethan, why are we here?” Sarah scoffs then shoves a big piece of pink cloud into her mouth.
Garrett nudges her with his elbow. “We don’t know that, now hush!”
“You have all voted, and now it’s time to crown our Homecoming King and Queen!” Birdie says into the microphone, her voice an octave higher than what sounds natural.
“Did we miss it?” Benny asks, wrapping an arm around my waist. He sticks a thumb in my front pocket, and I hear Garrett and Sarah whisper, “Damn.”
That’s right kids, Mr. B is smooth as hell.
“Not yet, where’s Malcolm?” Kate looks around eagerly. Her cheeks look red again and I have to fight back the wandering my brain does about them two and theirfriendship.
“He’s coming,” Benny says at the same time Malcolm says, “Here.” Drying his hair and beard with a towel as he shoves Benny in the arm. They both chuckle like little kids and the sound warms my heart. He's joined us in the crowd, towel drying his hair and beard. Malcolm shoves Benny's arm for chuckling at him, causing Benny's grip around my waist to tighten, pulling me closer to him. They’re bicker back and forth behind me, and their boyish glee warms my heart.
