Chapter 3
Ryan
Sittingin the back field of Nate and Cassidy’s property on the front hood of the Bronco with a beer in hand felt right. It was what Cam would have wanted us to do. Even though it was hotter than heck, a bonfire roared. All of our friends were parked in a circle with music blasting from our truck speakers. The girls were in summer dresses or cutoff jean shorts, and boots, all dancing and singing along with each other. The guys were gathered in small groups shooting the shit, most in jeans and white t-shirts with big belt buckles. No one was wearing black suits, ties, formal dresses, or dress shoes; Cameron would have beenproud.
“This is lovin’ at its finest, brother,” he would have said while clanking his beer tomine.
I chugged down the last of my Natty Light, crushed the can, and then chucked it into the blaze a few yards away from me. I hopped down and made my way over to Nate’s Dodge Dakota, where our cooler of beer wasstashed.
“Where’d you get this anyway?” Nate pointed down at the cans on ice as I grabbed one and slammed the lid shut with the heel of myboot.
“It was the last of Cam’s stash he had hidden in the back of the shed,” Iadmitted.
Cracking the brew open, I took in a deep breath of the stale beer smell. All I needed was a fat lip of Skoal Wintergreen chewing tobacco and a little bit of Abercrombie cologne to smell Cameronagain.
“Ryan!” Cass was climbing onto the Bronco’s hood. Right as her boot slipped, she called over to me, “Help!”
I jogged over to her side, putting my hand right on her ass cheek to push her up. “You all right there, little lady?” I asked as I hopped up next toher.
She nodded quickly while staring at the blazing bonfire. “This was a good idea. I’m really going to miss him and these types of nights, yaknow.”
I put my arm around her slender shoulders, tucking her into my side. “Promise me we’ll always have these nights. Cam would want us to continue thetradition.”
She sloppily kissed my neck. “Pinkypromise.”
I took Cassidy’s outstretched pinky, hooking it with mine, and then kissed the back of her fingers. Our eyes locked, and I saw something in her that I had never seen before. I knew she had always had a little thing for me, but this was different. It wasn’t a crush or even lust; Cassidy was looking at me like I had always wanted her to look at me. It was so dumb—she was my best friend’s little sister—but I had been in love with her for over a year, ever since she meant to kiss my cheek with excitement the day she finally got her braces off. She’d missed and our lips had briefly connected. It was the smallest of moments, but it meant everything tome.
With our hands still locked together, I set my beer down behind us. Brushing her hair behind her ear, I watched as the glow of the fire danced across her soft cheeks and flickered in hereyes.
She leaned in and I met her halfway. Our lips dusted against each other’s, unhurried and delicate. My hand cradled the side of her face as I scooted in a little closer. Cass’s free hand pulled at the side of my shirt as her lips parted and the subtlest of moans released fromher.
Pulling away, I searched her eyes. “How much have you had to drink?” I askedher.
“Enough.” She batted her eyelashes before pressing her lips together and leaning in for anotherkiss.
“It’s not a good idea.” I pulled her into my arms instead of giving in to every desire Ihad.
She pushed me away, hurt washing over her face. “I knew you couldn’t ever want me.” Tears were already welling up in hereyes.
“I don’t want to do anything with you that you might not remember, or worse, that you might regret in the morning. If you still want to kiss me when you wake up tomorrow, then I am all yours.” I kissed her forehead as she melted into myarms.
“Deal.”
