Page 5 of Risking it All

“Will do.” Ariel started her car, the Jonas Brothers blared from her speakers, and Relic groaned. Ariel laughed as she must have heard it, too, then gave me a wink as she turned up the volume and sang along.

Once upon a time, I also used to sing along. I used to love being in the car. Loved the feeling of freedom that came with being on the road. Loved the control of pushing the gas or hitting the brake. Loved choosing the music and getting lost in the drive. I used to even love being the passenger in Ariel’s car and the party that happened as we sang and danced to our favorite songs. But now, a thick cord of apprehension strangled me. Every time we stopped at a light, I looked to the right, to the left, to the side mirror, and even turned to look out the back to catch anyone approaching.

At the third stoplight, I turned again to look behind just as a pause happened between songs. Relic met my eyes and said, “You’re friends with Gianna, right?”

Not sure if he was asking me or Ariel, I glanced at my best friend. She had a smirk on her face and stared straight ahead like she hadn’t heard the question.

“Yes,” I answered. Besides Ariel, Gianna was my closest friend. Since sixth grade, we’d had the same classes, belonged to the same clubs, and had played volleyball together. Plus, we hung out together the most on the weekends. Things have felt strained since what happened, though, as if she no longer knew what to say and neither did I.

“There’s a party at Brayden Gentry’s house tomorrow night,” Relic continued. “You going with her?”

“Are we talking the same Gianna?” The same girl who had a meltdown when someone spilled soda during a sleepover in eighth grade? “Volleyball Gianna? And are we talking the same type of party?” I assumed not the watching movies and eating pizza type.

“Same one,” Ariel confirmed as the light turned green and she seamlessly shifted gears. “She told you she’s now dating Brayden Gentry.”

They began dating a month ago. “What’s that have to do with her going to a party?” I asked. Not that there was a problem with a party, but it seemed out of character for the girl I knew four months ago.

“She’s changed.” The heavy way Ariel said “changed” told me more than that simple statement. My stomach bottomed out.

Guess I wasn’t the only one who had changed, and I didn’t know if that was good or bad. Gianna and I were two peas in a pod. A good time for us included chilling with friends, listening to music, watching movies, or going ice skating or bowling. Sheused to also turn her nose up to Brayden Gentry, saying she thought he was a jerk, but that had obviously changed, too.

“Not that I didn’t enjoy listening to that current event catch up,” said Relic, “but you didn’t answer if you’re going.”

“I’m not,” Ariel replied. “I’m leaving for Europe tomorrow.”

“I hate it when my plans for Paris get in the way of a party.”

Ariel smiled, as nothing ever rattled her. “Right?” She slowed as we approached the neighborhood market. “Where do I go from here?”

“Drop me off in the parking lot.”

Ariel pulled in, placed the car in Park, then exited to let him out. After Relic slid out, he rested his hand on the top of the car, leaned his head in, and my heart stuttered when his breathtaking blue eyes met mine. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Ariel was the one who offered and drove.”

“Yeah, but the ride was all you. Come to Brayden’s tomorrow night.” He had a smooth voice, a convincing one, and he spoke as if he really wanted me to be there just for him. “First beer will be on me.”

He left without waiting for an answer, and Ariel’s ear-to-ear smile was so full of spice I nearly choked on it. “I do believe you were just asked out, Macie Hutchins.”

“No, I wasn’t. He’s being polite.”

“Relic doesn’t know what polite is. In fact, I don’t think he’s ever heard the word before. He knows when he’s hungry, he knows when he wants to eat, and I think he’d like you as a snack. I may be going to Europe, but it sounds like you’re the one who’s going to have the summer of a lifetime.”

“Summer of a lifetime,” I scoffed.

“You have decisions to make. Relic only goes to parties to make out with girls, and he specifically asked you to be his date.”

“I’m not the girl who goes to parties, and I’m definitely not the girl who goes to parties to make out with boys.”

“Why not?” Ariel challenged. My whole life, she’s tried to push me out of my comfort zone. “You deserve some kissing. In fact, you deserve the entire universe.”

I stared at the world passing us by. “What’s it like?”

“Kissing?” Ariel asked for clarification.

“Yes.”

“Like being the firework bursting in the clear sky on a hot July night. Especially those first few seconds of hesitation before a kiss. Where the expectation and gravitational pull makes you so aware of yourself. Of your skin over your muscles, of how your clothing whispers against your skin, of the way your heart thunders in your chest. Kissing is such a high, Macie, and I bet Relic’s the best kisser. If you want a phenomenal first kiss, he’d be the one to share it with.”

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