Page 111 of Love in Riverbend
Wait, they’re coming at me. It’s going to be a two-on-one attack and subconsciously, I know I’m about to fall to the damp grass. Consciously, I’m too freaked out to care. My feet slide as their voices come into range.
“Are you okay?”
“What happened?”
“Why did you disappear?”
“What was with the SOS text?”
As I stop like a runner coming into home base, I take another look over my shoulder to be sure he isn’t watching. Suddenly, I’m on my behind, the sweatshirt and my jeans are covered in mud. My hysteria is on full display as I laugh so hard tears are coming down my cheeks.
Marilyn starts going on about friend code. “You tell someone. You know better…”
Still on the ground, I double over, breathing heavily, placing my hands on my thighs as I try to catch my breath.
“Oh my God, Devan,” Jill says, “tell us why you sent the SOS code?”
Lifting one finger, I give them the universal wait a second sign and work to regulate the speeding rhythm of my heart. Standing up, I brush some of the mud and grass off my butt. Next, I pull the hoodie over my head, exposing my perspiration-saturated skin and camisole to the frigid night air. Goosebumps scatter across my skin as I lift my face to the stars, and a giant smile spreads across my face.
“Justin Sheers,” I pant out.
The two girls look at one another.
“What about Justin Sheers?” Marilyn finally asks.
“I kissed him. No, he kissed me.” I’m waving my hands. “Oh God, we kissed one another.” As my words speed up, so does the twisting in my core and the tightening of my nipples—that could have to do with the cool temperatures. Nevertheless, my body is on fire.
Jill and Marilyn are now with me, holding onto my arms, their grips tightening. “What? The Justin Sheers?” Jill questions.
“Ricky’s best friend,” Marilyn adds.
Opening my eyes wide, I nod. “Yeah, that could be a problem.”
“Wait,” Jill says, shaking her head, “tell us every detail even if we’ll be jealous.”
“You’re engaged,” I remind her.
“Yeah, and I love Todd…but seriously…Justin Sheers is older, sexy, and all gruff and grumpy.” Her eyes open wide. “Does he know how to kiss?”
OMG.
“Yes.” My cheeks heat up. “Best kiss of my life.”
“Did he know he was kissing Ricky’s little sister?” Marilyn asks.
Pressing my lips together, I slowly shake my head.
“Oh, girl,” they both scream.
I motion toward the car. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to be found out.”
As the car doors slam and the sounds of nature disappear, I lay my head against the back seat and exhale. When I open my eyes, both of my friends are turned my direction.
“Details,” Marilyn says.
I explain what happened by the pond, how he introduced himself—as if I didn’t know him. And how I never gave him my name; he called me BK. As I speak, I wonder again if I imagined the whole thing. Justin was sexy and sweet, not the boy who used to pick on me when I was young. As I tell the part about the intensity of his stare, my insides twist. Recalling his intoxicating scent, my nipples bead. Describing the sensation of his kiss, I know my panties are growing damp.
“I seriously didn’t know people could kiss like that,” I say with a sigh. “It was like the Fourth of July and Christmas morning all rolled into one.”
