After the phone incident the other day, Mom bought Zeb one of those pay-as-you-go ones from a gas station.
We go out and walk the mall, rating outfits in the windows and commenting on prices. When we get near the food court, Lin stops and pokes me in the ribs.
“Ow!” Lin is buff from throwing flyers on the cheer squad, so when she pokes it hurts.
“Is that Rex Morino?” she whispers.
Oh, no. I look over to see Rex with a handful of goons and some tough girls by the wall near the cookie stand. He’s looking right at us. My first instinct is to tuck and run, but I look straight forward and whisper, “Ignore him.” We start to walk, but Kenzie hisses, “He’s coming over!”
Sure enough, Rex is swaggering in our direction. I swallow hard and meet his eyes as he makes his way into our circle.
“’Sup, girls?” One of his dark eyes is hidden behind his black hair. He smirks, all sexy like. I look at his yummy lips for a second and then his eyes again.
“Nothin’.” I cross my arms.
“Zae, right?” he asks.
I want to choke him. We’ve only been going to school together for five freaking years. Does he even remember dancing with me in middle school?
“What was up with you last night?” He runs a hand through his hair.
I shrug. “Just having fun. Nothing I want to repeat.”
“Burn,” Monica says under her breath.
Rex laughs and puts a hand to his heart like I’ve hurt him. It’s true, though. I have no plans or desire to kiss him again, no matter how good it’d been. I’d gotten what I wanted, and now I’m ready to get it from someone else.
“Pretty sure you enjoyed it,” he says.
“Yep. I did.” It’s my turn to smile. “See you later, Rex.” I turn and catch the mirth and disbelief in my friends’ eyes.
We walk away and don’t give him a second glance. The girls can barely hold it together, tittering under their breath until we get around the corner and they let it all out. I can only laugh. I have no idea what’s come over me.
My eye catches a Help Wanted sign in the window of Clara’s Bowtique, a cute jewelry and accessory shop. “Hold on a sec,” I tell them.
We go in together, and while they browse, I approach the ancient-looking lady at the register.
“Hi,” I say. “I saw your sign. I’m still in school, though, so I can’t work during the day.”
“I need someone to work weekends and summer,” she says. She leans down and gets out an application, sliding it to me with a pen on top. “Do you have transportation?”
“Yeah,” I say.
“I prefer ‘Yes, ma’am.’”
My eyes go wide. “Oh, sorry. Yes, ma’am.” I almost laugh because I get awkward when I’m embarrassed.
She looks down at the application with her hands behind her back, and I realize she wants me to fill it out now. My friends are giving me funny looks, but I ignore them and fill out the application as quickly as I can. I’ve never had a job, so there’s a lot I have to leave blank.
“Zae?” the woman asks.
I nod, then quickly say, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Interesting name. I’m Mrs. McOllie, the owner. I will call you to set up an interview.”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s my spring break, so you can call any time.”
I hope she doesn’t call too early.
She gives a curt nod of dismissal, so I leave with my girls trailing behind me.
“Did you just apply for a job?” Kenzie asks.
“Yeah.”
“Cool,” Monica says. “I love that store. Do you think you’ll get a friends’ discount?”
I think about the strict old lady. “Doubtful.”
When we get back to the pizza place, the crowd has cleared out. I peek in the arcade to make sure Zeb is okay, and then we find a table with four plastic chairs. The baseball guys are still there, being loud and obnoxious as their family members buy out all the tiramisu to get the team every penny possible.
While Kenzie and Lin jump up to talk to Kyle, and Monica runs to the restroom, the chair next to me pulls out and my heart leaps as Dean Prescott slides into it. Dean! He rests his big linebacker forearms on the table, turning his gaze to me.
“Big weekend, huh?”
My mind immediately goes to the new apartment. “Yeah. Sucks.”
His eyebrows pinch with confusion and I want to kick myself. He has no idea about my moving. That means he’d heard about the stupid kiss with Rex. Crap.
“Oh,” I say. “No. That was . . .”
Man, it’s hot all of a sudden. His eyebrows lift, as if he’s waiting.
I let out a nervous laugh. “Nothing.”
“Yeah.” He sits back in the chair now and the plastic groans. “Probably not best to rebound with that dude.”
“I’m not. I’m really not. I don’t even like him.”
Once again his eyebrows go up, and his lips purse like he doesn’t believe me.
“I don’t! I swear.”
He laughs and reaches out to tug a curl of my brown hair. “Just be careful.”
I open my mouth to argue as Monica returns and sits down, facing him. “Dean! Hey, boy.”
“Hey, girl.” He’s grinning at her the way boys can’t help but grin at Monica. A twinge of jealousy jabs my gut at how easily Monica was able to shift his attention. She’s the total package with her high cheekbones, curvy body, and commercial-worthy hair. All my friends have appeal. Lin’s got an hourglass shape with a tiny waist, plus a soft, triangular face. Kenzie’s super cute with nice, full lips and even has a dimple. My friends claim to envy my long legs and brown eyes with flecks of light gold. I feel pretty when my natural curls are on point, but I guess everyone’s their worst critic.
“What are y’all up to for spring break?” he asks.
“If there’s a party, we’re there,” I tell him. “Know of any?”
He pushes his phone toward me. “Gimme your number and I’ll hit you up if I hear anything.”
A thrill shoots through me as I pick up his big phone in its rugged case, so much heavier than mine. I smile at his Washington Redskins wallpaper. My family are huge fans. We watch all their games together. Or . . . we used to. My smile falls.
“Go, ’Skins,” I say as I program my number in and slide the phone back.
“That’s right.” He grins and stands, giving Monica a nod, then leaves us to join two other guys from the football team at the counter.
“God, I haven’t talked to him in forever,” Monica says.
“I really hope he texts me,” I whisper.
Her eyes light up. “Ooh, he’s totally kissable.”
“He’s mine.” I’m trying to joke, but it feels like it comes across territorial, especially when she gives me that teasing look.
“I thought you said we could share?”
I shrug, looking over at him, laughing with his friends in line.
“Oh,” she says. “You like him?”
“No.” I’m never going to like a boy again. But then a lingering thought slips out . . . “I mean, if he’s the one writing the poetry, then . . . I don’t know.” Ugh, I shouldn’t have said that. Yes, Dean seems like a nice guy, but he’s got the Y chromosome, so he would eventually hurt me like any other boy. God, that is so depressing.
Monica’s eyebrows shoot up. “I forgot about that! Do you think it’s him?”
“I have no idea,” I say honestly. “Maybe?”
My eyes move back toward the ordering counter where they roam over Dean’s form. Over his defensive linebacker body that makes my average height feel petite. Over his square jaw, which is a manly contrast to his dimpled cheeks. Over his light-brown eyes and wavy brown hair. And those lips. Perfectly formed. Nice teeth, too. I even thought he was cute back in the day when he had braces.
I’m going to kiss him. That will prove to him just how much I’m not falling for Rex Morino. At some point soon, Dean Prescott’s lips will be min
e.
Chapter Twelve
In the mall parking lot, I pull out right behind Kyle, who has the top off his Jeep, even though it’s not quite warm enough for that yet. His vehicle is full of guys who need to put their seat belts on. Kenzie opens my sunroof, and she and Lin stick their torsos through, calling out to them.
“Hiiiii, Kyyyyyle!” they sing simultaneously. Kyle holds up a fist and the other guys stand, turning around to face the van. They’re all banging their chests like Tarzan, and my friends are laughing uproariously.
Zebby hollers from the back, “What is wrong with you people?”
Monica is falling over in the middle seat, and I can’t help but join the laughter. Then Kyle tries to show off by gunning his engine and flying up on a grassy median. I gasp as the guys barely grab hold to keep from falling out.
“Y’all sit down!” I grab Lin and pull. “They almost died!”
“They did not!” Kenzie says with laughter, but she gets back in. Her cheeks are tinted from the wind.
As Kyle continues his off-roading adventure through the mall parking lot, I see lights flashing behind us, and I yank the van to the side. A mall cop zooms past me and gets near the curb, yelling on his speaker for Kyle to stop and pull over. We drive past them, and the five of us cannot stop laughing at the look of dread on Kyle’s face, and how the other three guys are scrambling to get their seat belts on. I can’t wait to make fun of them at the baseball party tomorrow. We’re dying the whole way home as I drop the girls off.
It’s weird how Zeb’s mirth and mine completely dissolve when we enter the apartment. The place is soul sucking, with its lack of space and character. Not to mention the random boxes still sitting around.
Zeb immediately goes to the couch, and my shoulders slump. This will never be home.
Monica’s staring at her phone as we get ready in Kenzie’s frilly room. It’s been decorated in mauve and eyelet lace since forever. “Holy crap, Rex Morino just started following me, so I followed him back, and he freaking immediately messaged me to ask for your number!”
“Don’t give it to him!” I say, swiping blush over my cheek as Monica works on French braiding my hair down both sides.
“I won’t. Jeez, you’re really doing a number on his ego. It’s like he can’t believe any girl wouldn’t want to be with him.”
Kenzie claps her hands in glee. “This is so awesome!”
“It’s just the thrill of the chase,” I say, not sharing her amusement. “Boys want what they can’t have, and what they do have is never good enough.” My sad attitude puts a damper on our pregame excitement, and I feel bad. I used to be all positive, all the time. But that was the me who let herself get hurt.
“Alright, then,” Kenzie says. She turns on the radio to a country station and pulls a pair of bona fide cowgirl boots out of her closet. Pointy toes, one-inch heels, brown leather with embellishment designs around the edges. She pulls a matching cowgirl hat from an upper shelf and puts it on. With her hair jutting out, snug jeans, and a pink-and-white checkered shirt, this girl needs to be in a music video.
Lin lets out a “Yee-haw!” and I say, “Well, howdy, little lady.”
Monica makes her spin for us. “Where have you been hiding this stuff?”
“My grandma got it for me when I went to San Antonio at Christmas.” Kenz admires the boots on her feet. “It’s only the second time I’ve worn them.”
I put a hand on my hip. “Exactly how long have you been a closet country girl?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s all my mom listens to, and it sort of grows on you. I know y’all aren’t into it, but I’m hoping we can have fun anyway.”
Honestly, I don’t care where we’re going or what kind of music will be playing. I’m just glad to be with my girls, hunting guys, collecting kisses.
My French braids are complete, and my red, glossy lips match the red-and-black-plaid shirt I’m wearing with leggings.
“I feel like a lumberjack,” I say, looking down.
“You’re a hot lumber Jill,” Kenzie assures me. “Just own it.”
Monica sticks the leopard-print cowgirl hat on her head, and it complements her dark eye makeup perfectly. Lin’s shiny black pigtails hang over her shoulders, her jean skirt hugs her hips, and her ankle boots are rocking. Kenzie smiles at what she’s created. We’re ready to go.
Chapter Thirteen
Sunday Night
The pavilion is a forty-five-minute drive in a town that’s on the cusp between northern Virginia’s built-up suburbia and mid-Virginia’s sprawling countryside. We listen to Kenz’s music the whole way. Some of the songs are catchy and sexy and sassy. We end up singing along before we know it. By the time we roll up, I feel like we’ve been country girls for ages, and I’m ready to do this.
Kenz was not lying. The first thing we notice in the parking lot are the hordes of young people everywhere. We smile at the big groups who are tailgating as we pass, and everyone returns the smiles. Some linger on us longer than others, and we soak up the looks.
Lin says, “There are, for real, hot guys in hats everywhere!”
“Right?” Kenzie laughs. “I told you! And legit Wrangler jeans!” I catch sight of the Ws on the pockets of the guys moseying in front of us.
A natural buzz builds among the four of us, and we’re giddy as we walk up hundreds of steps and enter the lawn of the pavilion. Kenzie buys us all sodas and we find a spot to sit on the grassy hill looking down at the stage. The way we’re laughing and carrying on, people around us probably think we slipped a little something in our drinks.
The music starts with a kick-ass female artist singing about throwing her man’s no-good, cheating tail out the door. I’m immediately on my feet, arm raised, learning every word of the song. Kenzie shouts the lyrics and we dance, shaking our hips and punching the sky as the singer’s ex-boyfriend undergoes a series of mishaps: being fed to the crocs in the lake, getting tossed onto the old railroad tracks, losing all his hair to a newbie barber. I’m ridiculously entertained.
As the next song comes on, one we recognize from the car ride, we move into a circle to dance and sing the words at the top of our lungs. I spot a group of guys a little way behind us, sitting in a row on the ground. It’s almost comical how they’re each on their bottoms, legs bent, boots down, arms draped over their knees or leaning back, each of them totally at ease. But what I notice first is that every pair of their eyes is watching us. I freeze, which makes Monica start to turn, but I grab her hand to stop her.
“We’re being watched. Don’t all look at once . . . but definitely look.”
Kenzie is first to sneak a peek. “Oh my gosh,” she says, turning back to us. “The one in the brown hat is mine because we’re matchy.”
I dart my gaze stealthily. Brown Hat Boy is kind of small and wiry muscled, a good fit for her petite form. Before I can look away, my eyes are drawn to the guy next to him.
Black Hat Boy. Yes, that’s his name.
He’s got a Styrofoam cup dangling from his hand, which is lazily draped on his knee, and he totally watches me as he brings the drink to his mouth and sips. His eyes look dark from here, and his jaw is a rugged, sexy line. I give him a wry grin and slowly turn away, feeling the heat of his attention.
“Black hat,” I say under my breath.
“I knew you would go for him,” Kenzie tells me with a giggle. “He looks bad. You should just wreck every bad boy, Zae.”
“With pleasure.”
We pucker our fingers and touch them for a kiss.
“They don’t have girls with them,” Lin says. “That’s good.”
“Okay, they are kind of hot,” Monica admits reluctantly. “But I don’t want a hat boy. I like the guy on the end with the black ponytail. He looks Native American or something.” She stares hard until Lin elbows her. “Sorry, but look at him! He’s got that lost-in-thought look, like he’s . . . deep.”
Lin bursts out laughing, clutching her stomach like Monica said som
ething dirty. It makes me laugh, too.
“Shut up,” Monica says. “Which one do you want?”
Lin shrugs, and I can tell she’s still kind of nervous after her breakup with John.
“Wait and see once we meet them,” I tell her.
“Should we go now?” Kenzie asks.
I look at her like she’s lost her mind. “We definitely do not go now. We have their attention. If we move too fast, they’ll think we’re desperate.”
“But you moved fast with Rex,” she points out.
“That was different. I know him. He would have never come to me, and I didn’t want to play games. We don’t know these guys. Let’s flirt from a distance, act like we don’t care too much, and make them come to us. Tonight, a little gaming is in order.”
Kenzie sips her soda daintily and peers over at Brown Hat Boy. She gives him a naughty sort of smile with the straw between her lips, and I’m hit with a burst of pride as she looks back at the stage and says, “Oh, we are so winning this game.”
For the next half hour we dance to the sounds of guitars and fast fiddling. We’re careful to keep the boys in our sights and to cast glances and smiles in their direction. The pavilion fills up even more as the sun begins to drop and the lights illuminate the sky. The guys are forced to stand.
“Oh, they’ve got a stash,” Monica says. “I just saw Black Hat Boy pull something out of his pocket and pour it in his drink. The others moved around him to block him.”
Nice.
“I knew he was the bad one,” Kenzie says, giving me a grin.
I peek over now and see that the guys are passing the drink around. Ponytail Boy shakes his head.
“Aw, my deep thinker is a good boy.” Monica sighs. “That’s sweet. I hope he’s not too good to kiss a stranger, though.”
“Well, there’s six of them,” Lin points out. “Two extra dudes, just in case.”
“Okay, now we really sound like guys.” I laugh.
A new band comes onstage, and they start with one of the songs we learned and loved in the car. We all holler and raise our hands, dancing and belting out the words again. Everyone on the stage looks like mini action figures from here, but that’s okay. The music is amplified and shakes the earth beneath our feet.
Kiss Collector Page 7