Rule 1 - Delaney
Follow the rules.
Four years ago.
“Jeez, Delaney. How many Candygrams did you get?" April, my best friend and neighbor gaped as I stepped out of school, my arms full of valentines.
"A few." I grinned devilishly. Most girls were lucky to get even one heart-shaped sucker. I'd gotten thirteen.
"What else did you get?" she asked as we started our trek home, our boots crunching through fresh snow. I tucked my other valentines inside my coat.
"Hold on. Priest should be coming,"I said, pausing at the gates.
April rolled her eyes. "I don't see why your mom makes you walk with him. I walk by myself when you're not here. It's barely a mile."
"We've had this argument. My parents worry about creeps, so Priest has to come with me basically everywhere.” Even though I was fifteen now, practically an adult, I was still treated every bit like a child, and Priest was my babysitter.
"It sucks that you guys are related." April swooned as heexited the school; late again. "He's the hottest guy in eleventh grade."
"Stop." I pretended to gag. Priest and I had grown up together since we were toddlers when our parents met in a widow’s support group. Despite there being no blood ties, he was still my brother in every sense of the word. I glared at April as Priest sauntered over. "I won't let you come over anymore if you keep drooling."
"Fine, but I want to know who you got valentines from."
"Fine."
"What's fine?" Priest joined us, flicking his long hair out of his face, revealing his bright green eyes.
"Nothing." I shot April a cautious look and started walking. "Let's go."
"Okay, now tell me. Did Deshawn send you one? I heard he did."April hurried after me.
I glanced back at Priest, who had his ear buds in and phone out. He didn't want to hear my girl talk any more than I wanted to share my conversations with him.
"Which Deshawn? Mason or Lewis? Because yes." I said, and we both erupted into giggles.
"You little slut!" she squealed. "I hate you so much right now. Both? Who else?"
Smugly, I rattled off the names of the boys who gave me candygrams this year. We went through the merits of each one and whether I should date any of them or not.
“Who are you going to take to the dance?” April asked.
"I don't know. I'm not sure if I want to date guys my age." Heat warmed my face as I glanced back at Priest, making sure he wasn’t listening.
"Delaney Duvall!" She waved her mittened finger at me. "Who? I knew someone special gave you that big Valentine. Show me!"
"I actually got two special ones. But the big one?" Iwiggled my shoulders, hinting at what was just inside my coat. "That came from Marco Brandis."
"Marco Brandis! From the house at the end of the street? Delaney…he's like—old."
"Twenty-five," I admitted and pushed her forward.
"Your parents are gonna murder you!"
"Only if they find out." I glared at her. "And they won't."
"You can't possibly be thinking about this. When did you even start talking to him?" We turned on our block.
"We met at the hot dog place in the mall when Priest took me Christmas shopping."
