Page 56 of The Second Kiss
“Your car is running. It’s dark and I need to get going.” Jacob says as I sweep the last of the crumbs from the seat.
I climb awkwardly out of the car and stand in front of him, not daring to look him in the eye. “I’m sorry Jacob. I’ll wash the sweatshirt and get it back to you.”
He shakes his head, obviously still mad. “Keep the sweatshirt.”
“Thanks for everything tonight.” I hope he understands that I mean more than just fixing my car.
His lips relax into a smile. He uses his thumb to wipe off a bit of lemon filling off my cheek. “You're welcome, but call me first if you have any more issues with your car. I don’t like who you had to get a ride from.”
twenty-seven
Third Wheel
On the Friday that starts Christmas break, we go to a drive-in a few towns over. They’re having an all-night Christmas movie marathon. Taryn backs out at the last minute, so it ends up being just me, Gage and Jasmine.
It doesn’t take long to figure out that a drive-in during winter is a dumb idea. It’s cold and raining, so we can’t sit on the hood of the car and hang out like we do when we go in the summer. Gage and Jasmine are getting cozy in her front seat while I’m stuck in the back. I’m not jealous of their developingrelationship. Gage and I will never be anything but friends. I just hate the feeling of being the third wheel.
Gage leans over to kiss Jasmine, completely blocking my view. A sharp rap on the window stops him.
Jasmine turns her head. “Raymond!” She opens the door and throws herself into the arms of a muscular guy with dark hair that’s cropped short.
An expression of pure jealousy spreads over Gage’s face.
Jasmine and Raymond are talking to each other in rapid Spanish. Gage looks at me and raises his eyebrows. I shake my head. Jasmine wraps her arm around his waist and turns to face us. “Jess, Gage, this is my cousin, Raymond. He’s a Marine. He just got back from Iraq.”
Gage’s face melts in relief at the word cousin. He sticks out his hand. “Iraq, huh? See any action?”
Martin looks down at Gage, like he's an annoying kid. “A little.”
Jasmine still has her arm around Raymond. “Don’t let him kid you. Ray was right there when they took Baghdad.”
“I bet you have some great stories,” Gage says.
Raymond shrugs. “A few.”
“Why don’t you join us?” Jasmine indicates her car. “You can sit in the back with Jess.”
Raymond looks at the backseat of Jasmine’s car and laughs. My legs barely fit in the little space. He would have to fold himself in half. “I think I’ll pass. I was heading to the snack bar when I saw your car. Can I get you guys popcorn or something?”
I’m dying to get out of the cramped backseat and away from Gage and Jasmine, even for a few minutes. “I’ll come with you. I need to stretch my legs.”
Jasmine moves away from the door. Raymond takes my hand and helps me out. When I’m out of the way, Jasmine slides back into the seat beside Gage. He puts his arm around her. “I’d like adrink and some popcorn.” He says it as if I’m a waitress. “Don’t hurry back though.”
The snack bar is a little cement building with a grungy counter on one side and disgusting bathrooms on the other. The only person here is a bored teenage girl behind the snack counter.
Raymond steps up to the counter. “Two popcorns and two sodas. Do you want anything?”
I shake my head. “Hot chocolate?”
"Sure." He reaches into his pocket, pays for the food and then pulls out a cigarette.
“You can’t smoke that in here,” the girl behind the counter says.
“Sorry.” Raymond turns to me. “Do you want to go back to Jaz’s car, or do you want to hang out with me?"
“I guess I’ll hang out with you. That car was making me claustrophobic.”
Raymond chuckles. “I can imagine.” He leans against the side of the building under the awning so he’s out of the rain and lights his cigarette. “It looks like we're in the same boat. My buddy has a girl with him tonight. I went to the snack bar to get away from them. My girlfriend is in San Diego for the holidays.”
