Page 23 of Kiss Collector
The moment we hit the driveway out front, my friends are shrieking questions at me, jumping up and down, flipping out.
“What the heck was that badassness?”
“Holy freaking shit, Zae!”
“Are youcrazy?”
For the first time all week, I let out a real laugh. There’s something freeing about not giving a crap.
“I think it’s time we turned the tables, girls.”
We stop at my car and I lean against it. They stand in front of me, a wall of shocked faces. “Boys use girls all the time. They want things from us, but they don’t want to give anything in return. They hurt us and lie to us and make fools of us, and I don’t know about you guys, but I’m over it.”
“How are we supposed to turn the tables?” Lin asks.
I smile. “We use them for one of our favorite things.”
They stare at me, baffled, as if I hadn’t just demonstrated my intentions on the most infamous bad boy we know.
“Kissing!” I clarify. “This spring break, we kiss as many boys as we can. We don’t fall for them. We don’t care about them. We kiss them and we compare them and we bring them to their knees.”
Kenzie giggles and covers her mouth.
“That is genius.” Monica’s eyes dance as she imagines it. Moonlight glints off her thick cocoa hair, courtesy of her mother’s Salvadoran genes.
Only Lin frowns. “I don’t think I can.”
I move forward and take her hands. Tonight she’s hurting and still in denial that it’s over with John. But one thing I know about Lin is that she’s competitive.
“You can, Lin. Let’s make it a contest to see which one of us can kiss the most boys before the end of spring break.” Nine days.
Kenz and Monica both let out little squees and clap their hands at the idea. Lin still frowns, but it’s tinged with frustration now.
“I don’t know if I can do this.” Her voice is a little slurred.
“Take all the time you need,” I tell her. “Meanwhile, we’ll be racking up our numbers. If I can kiss Rex Morino, then you can kiss anyone you want.”
Her eyes widen in indignation, knowing I’m cornering her.
“The contest began tonight,” I say. “And I’m in the lead.”
“Hey, no fair!” Kenzie says.
“Yeah,” Lin cries. “You can’t count Rex. We didn’t even know it was a contest yet!” She nearly falls over putting her hands to her hips.
I smile to myself as I climb in the van, knowing I have her now. Monica gives me her fist and I touch it to mine. Our fingers explode.
I turn to Lin. “So, if I erase Rex’s kiss and we’re on even ground, you’re in?”
She cuts her sexy gaze to me and crosses her arms. “Fine.”
I smile and say, “Everyone buckle up.” In the compacted space, I can smell the alcohol on them. The seat belts click and I put the minivan in drive.
“I’m not gonna lie, Zae,” Monica says. “That was hot. You freaking owned him. You should have seen him staring at you when you walked away!”
Cruel pride parades through me.
“Is he a good kisser?” Kenzie leans toward me from the front passenger seat.
