Page 19 of The Sweet Spot

“I’m pretty?” I bat my eyelashes, expecting a laugh.

“Pretty hot,” she clarifies, and the suddenly serious look she shoots me goes straight to my dick.

Yeah, I’ve got plans for this girl. Maybe not tonight, but soon.

We come to a stop. I take her hand when we get off the glider, pulling her down the stairs to where everyone else is waiting. I took Wren on that ride to get her alone, but also to give Kellan a chance to talk to Saira. They’re chatting it up, so maybe the plan worked.

Meanwhile, Logan’s being sulky. He didn’t want to come to the boardwalk today at all. He wanted to do bong rips and go eat at some hipster sushi joint in downtown Santa Cruz before heading over to the party. He was outvoted partly because no one felt like sushi and partly because I wanted to try and find Wren.

Also—and he’d never admit this—he’s annoyed the cute girl chose me. I’ve known Logan my whole life, and he’s always been a competitive little shit. Not that it matters, because while Logan might be fighting with his girl,they’re not broken up. He’s not even single.

So, fuck him.

Saira grins when she sees us, breaking away from the cozy little conversation she’s got going with Kellan. “Thanks for taking her, because I sure as hell couldn’t do it again.”

“Nah,” I say, squeezing Wren’s hand. “It was fun.”

* * *

We ride the Giant Dipper—all of us. The Shockwave. The Cliff Hanger—twice. The Fireball. We buy massive bags of cotton candy and share it with the girls, resulting in a sticky mess.

“Wait, the photo booth!” cries Wren, pointing. “C’mon!”

“It’s tradition,” Saira explains as they disappear into the booth.

“I’m ready when you are, bro,” Logan says, yawning and stretching. He’s a little mellower, now that he and Kellan went and smoked in the parking lot, but he’s still being a dick. “To get out of here that is, not take pictures.”

Matt belches, throwing his now empty beer cup into a nearby bin. “Let’s party, bitches.”

Kellan leans against a post, texting. “Hold on, I’m checking the address. I think they moved again…and I really don’t want to show up at the wronghouse.”

I’m wondering if Wren and Saira would actually come to the party when they finally emerge from the booth. “Do you wanna…” Wren swallows, seeming shy. “Go in with me? My phone’s dead, so I don’t have any pics from tonight.”

She’s so cute—how could I say no? “Let’s do it.” Ignoring Matt, Logan and Kellan, I squeeze into the booth and pull Wren onto my lap.

Squeaking in surprise, Wren yanks the curtain closed and shifts so that we can both see the screen. We smile for the first one, and then she sticks out her tongue, so I do too. Pretty typical. But then, because it’s dark and hidden and I want to, I turn her chin toward me and kiss her. Despite the cotton candy clinging to her lips, there’s nothing sweet about this kiss. I want her, and I’ve hung out with her enough over the past few hours to know the chemistry between us is real.

And man, does she respond. She moans quietly, a small, soft sound that flips a switch in me. Yanking her body closer, I squeeze her thigh and lick deeply into her mouth, running my tongue along her tongue, tasting and discovering her. I’m distantly aware that the camera must be finished taking pictures, but I don’t stop kissing Wren. I don’t want to.

But Wren pulls away eventually, her chest rising and falling like we just did a hell of a lot more than kiss. Her hair’s a mess, her lips wet and swollen from me sucking and biting on them. Bending toward me, she kisses me again, taking control this time, sweeping her tongue through my mouth like she’s taking what she needs. It makes me think of other things, other scenarios where she’s on her back, her legs wrapped around me. I can imagine how warm she’d be.

The sound of snickering floats into the booth. Wren shifts on my lap aswe allow the kiss to fade. She feels my erection; I know she does. I see it in her wild eyes, the way they widen when I hold her still, so she’ll stop squirming.

Logan cuts his eyes away as we tumble out of the booth. I feel drunker than I did before we went in, light-headed and ridiculous over this girl as she reaches for the photo strips coming out of the dispenser. I can’t help but smile when I see them. They go from cute to low-key pornographic pretty quick.

Saira covers her mouth, giggling as she peeks at the photo strip over Wren’s shoulder.

I’m staring at Wren, wondering what the next move is, when she looks up at me. Her sparkling eyes flicker to something behind me, and then the color drains from her face.

The sounds of scuffling tear through the loudness. I spin around right as Kellan plows into me, as if he was shoved.

“You wanna go, motherfucker?” Matt snarls, launching his fist into some dude’s face.

Shit.

The crowd parts. There are three of them to our four, but they’re mean, ugly and drunk as hell. Why am I not surprised? Matt is always starting shit. Doesn’t matter, though. He’s my boy. Pulling up beside Kellan, I sock the tallest one in the face before he can advance on anyone. We tussle for a second before a couple of other guys jump into the fray to separate our group from theirs.

Everyone’s yelling and pushing. Adrenaline courses violently through myveins, making me shake, and my heart’s pounding so fast I can barely see straight. I can’t remember the last time I fought, not like this.

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