Page 7 of About That Pact

“Yeah. Just a minute.”

Jason made another plate of food and left them alone.

“I’ve been thinking about the favors.” Rafe wasn’t lying. His weekend had been filled with thoughts of Charlotte and the devious things he could ask her to do.

“What exactly have you been thinking?” Charlotte’s attitude poured off her, and it only made Rafe like her more.

“It means maybe I’ll make you do my laundry on vacation, or if I crash happy hour, you owe me a drink.” This was so far from where his imagination had taken him, but he wasn’t ready for war.

She slanted her head to the right, eying him suspiciously. “Why do I feel like it’s not going to be as easy as that?”

While he wished for something more, friendship was his goal, and he had to start somewhere.

Chapter 3

20 Years Ago

SIXTH GRADE WAS over. Finally. Charlotte was so ready for middle school. This past year, all her girlfriends went from being totally normal to boy crazy maniacs. Not her. She was as sane as they came.

Her friend Anna lived across the street, and they spent all their time together, but Charlotte was thinking she needed a new bestie. Anna couldn’t stop talking about her latest boyfriend, Cal. For the past month, they’d been holding hands on the playground and giving each other hugs goodbye before hopping off to their different buses. Normal stuff. Charlotte gave the noncommittal, “Uh-huh,” while Anna rattled on and on during their walk home from their bus stop. Sure, the conversation bored her, but she figured they could watch a movie later—once Anna was done gushing over boys.

“And I got my first kiss!” Anna shrieked.

This stopped Charlotte.

First kiss?

They were eleven. People were kissing at eleven?

Charlotte didn’t like having any of the boys around her because they either got her dirty or caused trouble. Worse, sometimes it was both. But Anna was already kissing someone? When did all this happen?

This was a big deal.

“Like, on the lips?” Charlotte was holding hope this was an on-the-cheek sort. She could deal with cheek kisses.

Anna clapped her hands and squealed. “Yes, on the lips for a full ten seconds! So close to making out.”

Ten seconds felt like a long time for a kiss.

Charlotte listened to the fantastic facts of Anna’s first kiss. Apparently, just about everyone in their grade has kissed someone. They got to Anna’s house, and she gave Charlotte a big hug.

“This is going to be the best summer ever. I just know it! Want to go to the movies this weekend?”

“Sure,” Charlotte responded, no longer thrilled about seeing a movie. How could she want to see a movie when she was still reeling over the kissfest happening at school?

“Cool beans! I want to see Bring It On.” Anna skipped off to her house.

Charlotte walked two more houses up until she got to her own, all the excitement sucked out of her. She should be happy it was summertime, but this whole kissing thing ruined it.

Her brother was already home, sitting on the couch with some of his friends. “Why do you look sad? School is over. I swear, you’re the only person who misses school.”

Jason had never been one to be mindful of grades. He was more in touch with having a good time. Charlotte didn’t recognize the two guys hanging with him. When they all chuckled, she stuck out her tongue and went to sit on the front porch. She’d had her fill of being around Jason, even if it had only been five minutes.

She was sitting in the rocking chair when a car dropped off another boy.

This boy she knew.

Rafe Bianchi walked across her yard. One look at him, and she maybe understood the excitement around kissing. He had dark hair and bright, green eyes. Even at eleven, she knew Rafe was cute. He was almost three years older than her, but he didn’t treat her like a kid.