Page 40 of Wild Eyes
“Oh, come on. I’m a great kisser. Everyone says so. Trust me. You won’t want to forget it.”
She shakes her head at me, but now her eyes twinkle with amusement rather than unshed tears. “It felt like kissing a corpse. You didn’t even move.”
“So, this might come as a surprise to you, butyoukissedme. I was in shock. Cut me some slack.”
“West!” She drops her head back and stares up at the pale blue morning sky.
“Dragged me outside and practically mauled me. Like a bear.”
Her shoulders shake as a silent laugh racks her body.
“And being the gentleman that I am, I took one for the team.Then you just shoved your tongue down my throat and preyed on all this—” I gesture over myself like I’m a prize you can win on a game show.
Skylar wheezes a hollow threat. “I’m going to kill you.”
But it’s Cherry who scares me with her echo. “Kill you. Kill you.”
That’s what sends us both into a fit of giggles.
Her murderous bird and all the diffused tension.
She wipes tears from the corners of her eyes, and while I think they may have originated as sad, they spill from her eyes as tears of laughter.
I must be a simple guy to please because knowing I helped change them gives me pleasure. It fills me with pride and satisfaction.
“So, about that favor?”
“What is it?” she asks, straightening and trying to gather her wits.
“Everyone bailed on me, and I need help with coaching Emmy’s soccer game in”—I tug my phone from my back pocket and check the time—“ten minutes.”
“I’m…” She hesitates. “Not a soccer coach.”
“No shit. But guess what?” I lift my coffee mug in her direction. “Me fucking neither.”
“I—”
“Do you know how to tie shoelaces?”
Her brow furrows, and now she’s back to looking offended.
“Jesus, Skylar, it was a joke, not an insult. I know you can tie shoelaces. Let’s go.” I turn and wave her along. The blanket rustles as she moves it.
“But I need some time to get ready. I haven’t washed my face or put on my makeup?—”
“I don’t care. We’ve got a game to get to. Let’s go, Coach Plain Face!”
Skylar responds with a disbelieving laugh. I get the sense no one has ribbed this girl in her entire life. She’s in for a rude awakening, being friends with me.
The door to the bunkhouse creaks open and Cherry squawks, “Kill you!” one last time.
“I dare you, Cherry,” I shout back, hearing Skylar’s soft laughter and thethunkof the door as she shuts it behind her.
Then, “Hey! Wait up, Coach Thick Thighs! I need a ride.”
And all I do is groan and slow my steps, because despite my best intentions and internal pep talk, my head is way down in the gutter where Coach Plain Face is concerned.
CHAPTER TEN
