Page 55 of Kiss Collector
“You’re not going to stay and see Dad for a minute?” he asks.
I feel Mom’s eyes on me, but I focus on Zeb, forcing a regretful expression onto my face. “No. I have to go now or I’ll be late.”
I grab my purse and dash out before anyone can make me feel worse.
Time to pick up my girls, meet some Garrison boys, and get my kiss on. Things have been strained between us since the Devonshire field party last night, but maybe it’ll be better tonight since we’ll be partying with people we don’t know. People who aren’t Dean. And maybe, if I’m lucky, Monica will fall for a Garrison guy and back off.
I’m happy the weather is nice enough to wear my tight capri jeans and a newish shirt that hangs low on my shoulders. But I’m not happy when I show up at Kenz’s and Vincent is with her. I forgot he was back and that I told her she could bring him along. She gets teary eyed when she hugs me, acting like a puppy who’s in trouble. I give her a smile so she’ll relax. They sit together in the third row of the minivan, holding hands and whispering, in their own little world.
I grumble about the car going too slow in front of me, and the fact that we’re hitting every single freaking red light. I smack the steering wheel with my palm.
“What’s wrong?” Monica looks at me from the front passenger seat.
“Nothing,” I lie. This is usually when we would blast the music and get silly, but I don’t feel like we can do that with a guy around. Not that Vin would care, but just the presence of a penis in the car is making me grumpy.
Lin scoots forward from the middle seat. I glance at her perfectly applied “dramatic cat” eyeliner and red lips in the rearview mirror.
“Parker is going to be there,” she says.
“Ooh!” Monica claps her hands. “The hot guy from your gym?” We’ve heard lots about the male gymnast but never met him before.
“Yes, and he’s so good, you guys. He competes at the national level. Anyway, he flirted with me the whole time John and I were together. Let’s see if he’s still interested now that I’m single.”
“He’d be stupid not to be,” Monica says, and I agree, though thatishow guys work. A girl out of reach is always more appealing.
I park in a tiny lot surrounded by trees, and we take a trail down to the sand. We kick off our shoes, and the sand is cool. It’s dusk now, still light enough to see everyone’s faces, but it’ll be dark soon. The first thing I notice is that all the Garrison girls are in spring dresses, like they just came from church. And we... are not. The huge group turns to watch us all at once, and I feel completely conspicuous.
Then one of the girls shouts, “Lin!” and comes running. Another girl and a short, muscular guy follow. Lin introduces us, and I forget their names immediately, except for Parker, who is just as cute as Lin said. He’s an inch taller than her, with broad shoulders and arms.
He hugs her with a big grin, and Monica gives me the look that says, “Yeah, he’s into her.” I bounce my brows in agreement. Winner.
Kenzie and Vincent bypass everyone and walk down to thewater together. I try not to be sad. I know I should be happy for her. The way he puts a hand protectively on her lower back is sweet, but all I can see is the potential heartache that’s to come and how she’s not really ours anymore, so I look away and follow Lin as she leads us down into the group.
It turns out the fancy girls are pretty nice. Definitely more welcoming than Hillside High girls. They offer us drinks, but I pass since I’m driving. My eyes scan the guys to see which ones are with girls, or have their eyes on girls already, and which are ripe for the picking. I see Monica eyeing a loud group at a picnic table, but they’re a little preppy for my liking, all in polo shirts and whatnot. I should have expected this. Oh, well. No time to be picky. I’m not looking for a boyfriend, after all. Just a pair of nice lips.
Once the sun dips low enough to darken the sky, and enough beer has been consumed, things start to get lively. Someone turns on a portable speaker connected to a phone that blasts punk rock, and it all sort of clicks. Laughter. The glimmer of lake water. Two drunk guys banging their heads like a couple of crazies in the middle of it all.
Vincent goes to stand in the drink line while Kenzie stands with Monica and me. Lin and Parker are straddling a picnic-bench seat, facing each other in close conversation. Monica nudges me, and I look up to see three guys walking our way, beer cans in hand, confidence plastered on their well-groomed faces.
“Hello, hello,” says a tall blond one. “I’m Ranger.”
“Hey,” Monica says. “I’m Monica. This is Zae and Kenzie.”
Ranger points to a super tall and thin guy in a buzz cut.“That’s Arik.” And then a polished, all-American boy with brown waves perfectly gelled. “And this is Bauer.”
I give a wave and smile.
“What school do you go to?” Bauer asks.
“Peakton,” I tell him.
Each one of them visibly reacts with surprise—raised eyebrows, pulled faces.
“What?” Monica asks.
Arik gives a short laugh. “I didn’t know there were any hot girls at Peakton.”
Now it’s our turn to scoff.
