Page 43 of Dozer

“We can’t be late,” she said.

Levi stilled next to us. Her gaze shifted between me and Dozer. “Can I catch a ride with you?”

“Absolutely. Let’s go.” I stepped away from Dozer, but he tugged me back into his arms.

He kissed my neck just below my ear. “I am sorry for being a dick yesterday. I’ll figure out a way to make it up to you.”

I chewed my lip. “What if I need a favor? I, ah, I need a boyfriend tomorrow.”

“Pip, let’s go.” Hana stood at the passenger door of my car with Levi.

“One minute.” I turned back to Dozer.

“Okay,” he said.

“Don’t you want to know the details?”

He shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Will I be with you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m good.”

“And my family. I’ll explain later.” I jogged toward my car. “Sorry,” I said to Hana and Levi. “We’re not going to be late.”

“Spill it,” Hana said once we were on our way.

I turned up the radio and started to sing.

“No way.” Hana spun around to peer at Levi in the backseat. “It’s time to clear the air between all of us.”

“The air is clear. I know I’ve been a jealous bitch. That’s not going to change.” Levi stared down at her hands clasped in her lap. “I’m not like you and Jazzy,” she said to Hana. “I’m like her.”

I glanced at Levi in the rearview mirror. “Me?”

“Yes. Dozer is my best friend,” she said to me in the mirror. “I’m not giving him up because Romeo isn’t enough for you.”

Hana rested a palm on Levi’s knee. “You might not think we understand, but we do. We don’t have to talk about the guys when we’re together.”

“You can talk about Dozer.”

The rest was left unsaid. Romeo wasn’t open for discussion.

Hana flipped back around to me. “Talk.”

“I don’t know. That was legit, and our first kiss. With his mood swings, who knows, it could be our last kiss.”

“Who’s a better kisser?”

Levi laughed. “According to Kiss’ kiss list, Romeo is the best kisser.”

“Kiss list?” Hana asked.

Levi glanced out the window. “Shae. We call her Kiss. She kissed all the guys and scored their efforts.”

“She kissed Blade?” Hana’s brow rose.

“Blade, Vance, Dozer, Romeo. Pretty sure she kissed most of the guys on the wrestling team in high school. I miss her. Now that she’s gone, I realize how much she was part of us.”

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