Page 17 of Thick & Thin

“What the fuck is going on? Why are y’all fighting?”

My eyes went to Colton’s, daring him to say a word. He grinned, laying his hand over hers against his chest.

“Just two rowdy boys with too much testosterone and beer,” he answered.

He smirked at me again, pushing a tiny droplet of blood from the corner of his thin lips.

Colton and I had been close our freshman year, but over the years, his true colors had begun to show. He was shady and out for himself. He lied a ton, and something about him made me feel like girls wouldn’t be safe alone with him. The only reason I even dealt with him because he was on the team, and Coach had made me promise to keep it clean.

Well, football was over. I no longer had to play the nice guy when it came to Colton.

“I think you’ve had enough,” Jenny said, her brows pulled low in aggravation.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew something was up.

When I didn’t respond, she pinched her lips and put a hand on her hip.

“We’re leaving, Josh. Give me your keys.”

She was the only person in the world with balls big enough to talk to me that way, except for my dad. Although, now that I was taller than him, even he was careful with his words. Not that I would ever raise a hand to my pop. I was raised better than that.

I nodded, surprising everyone around us when I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my keys. She lifted her hand palm up, and I dropped my keys into her hand.

“What can I say?” I shrugged as though everything was no big deal. “I do what she says because she can probably kick my ass,” I joked, lightening the mood.

The small group that had formed around us laughed.

All except Colton, who glared at me when I followed Jenny past him and out the door and into the parking lot.

Once I climbed into the passenger’s side of my truck, I put on my seat belt and closed my eyes. Hopefully, I didn’t pass out before we got to my place.

5

Jenny

I wasn’t sure whyColton and Josh were fighting, but I had always known Josh wasn’t Colton’s biggest fan. He had told me before that Colton gave him a bad feeling, and I understood what he meant. Every time I was alone with Colton, he made me feel itchy. It was as if I needed more clothes on even though I wore more clothes than your average girl. I couldn’t imagine how I would feel if I were like Brandy and the rest of the girls at school who loved to leave nothing to the imagination.

Thankfully, once I broke the two of them up, Josh was easy to handle. He’d had way too much to drink. The red glaze in his eyes and the lean in his step gave him away. Which meant it was time to get him home.

Once we were in the truck and headed out of the city, he closed his eyes and got quiet. I couldn’t tell if he was passed out or not, but I didn’t bother turning on the radio just in case he was trying to sleep it off.

With the driver’s side window down just enough to let in a bit of the cool night air, I drove with my right arm resting on the steering wheel as I took in the familiar backroads to Josh’s house. Once I dropped him off, I would go home and get some sleep. It had been a long day, and I was exhausted.

I took advantage of him sleeping, looking over at Josh when I could and taking in his lax features. Soon, we would be apart—touching base over the phone and Skyping when we had time. It was going to be hell.

He shifted in his seat, his face turning my way, and the softness of his relaxed mouth called to me. I felt dirty for even thinking it, but I wanted to kiss him.

Just one kiss.

It would get me through, but then again, it could ruin things completely. I was sure it would ruin the friendship we had. And while I dreamed of a single kiss from Josh, I wasn’t willing to toss away a lifetime of friendship for it.

Stopping at the final stop sign before we got to his house, I paused longer than necessary. The roads were mostly empty, and no one was behind us. Watching him sleep, I breathed the moment in, marking my memory with his face. His smile. His eyes. Everything that made him the most beautiful human being I knew inside and out.

His dark lashes rested against his high cheekbones. His lips were parted, his hot breath rushing over his plump bottom lip with every breath he took and released. His large hand was resting atop his flat stomach, hidden behind his T-shirt. Jeans covered his long legs, rips and tears in the knees letting a peek of his hairy leg show.

I loved him so deeply in so many ways.

I loved him so hard it hurt and took my breath away.

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