by Sally Henson
I open the door and step down to the rocky ground and hear his truck door shut.
He drives by with his arm in the air. No, “See ya, Cam.” or “Screw off, Cam.” Nothing.
I think about flipping him the bird but restrain myself and settle for a five-fingered wave. Regan’s probably upset enough without me showing my true feelings at the moment. I make my way to her side and watch him drive away.
She’s making a tough show, but I can see the silent sobs rattle her shoulders. It sets my guts on fire to see her like this.
When he’s out of sight, I reach my arm around her and pull her into me. She folds willingly, and so does her control.
“Shhh,” I whisper. “I’m here. It’s going to be okay.” I stroke her long brown hair and smell his cologne. It makes me want to jump in the water and wash it off of her, but I clench my teeth and deal with it.
I could tell when she fell apart last semester Lane was hiding something. And then his bikini babe antics pushed her over the edge. That was a bad time.
Haylee got it out of me that I had a crush on Regan last summer. Haylee was fun. I like fun. But then she turned visceral on Regan and me both after that. It didn’t matter how many times I said I was over it, that it was the past, she became the jealous Witch of the West. Talking trash behind Regan’s back. Exploiting Tobi’s vulnerability when she was exhausted all the time.
I tried, but Haylee wouldn’t let it go.
I continue to stroke her hair and rub her back like my mom used to do to me when I was little and didn’t feel good. “It’s going to be okay,” I murmur again.
Regan didn’t deserve Haylee’s crap. She doesn’t deserve what Lane did to her. What he’s putting her through now. Better she finds out now, when she’s still in high school, that Lane’s not all that.
“I’m here, Rey, baby. I’m here.” I kiss the top of her head, doing my best to soothe her.
She stills, pushing against my chest.
I loosen my grip, but she doesn’t move any further.
“Wh-what di-id y-you say?” she hiccups in such a pathetic way, it makes me want to load her in my truck and drive to Florida myself.
“I said, I’m here.”
“Wh-hat did y-you call me?” she asks. This time with fewer hiccups.
What did I say? I’m here…Oh! “Um,” I bumble, backpedaling.
It just came out. How do I fix this? Rey, baby. Rhymes with…ah, who gives a flip? I like it. I’m gonna own it. I let out a chuckle and repeat her new name, “Rey, baby.”
She leans back into me, pressing her forehead to my chest and shaking her head. A puff of air resembling something like a laugh comes out of her.
“What?” I ask, using an innocent tone.
She mumbles, “You’re so ridiculous.”
“I know. That’s why you love me,” I say, bringing her closer and rubbing her back.
She’s silent. Too silent.
“I love him. Loved. Love. I don’t know which,” she whispers against my tear-soaked shirt.
I hug her even tighter and whisper back, “I know.”
Frig, she’s breaking my heart. I hold my breath for a long three seconds and blow it out nice and slow. I wish Tobi could help me out here, but she had to call the vet out for an emergency.
“You know what?” I ask, waiting for her to respond or acknowledge me.
“What?”
“I think we need to make this the best summer we’ve ever had. Me and you. We’ll do crazy shit, see things we’ve never seen, have more fun than we’ve ever had.”
I feel her cheek rise into a smile. Her chest shakes with silent chuckles.
“What do you say? Tobi can come along if she wants.” I add Tobi in to nudge her into saying yes. Regan needs some fun. A good time. I’m the king of both.
She doesn’t say anything, so I keep going, “We’re seventeen, Rey, baby.” My wit is rewarded another chuckle. “You’ve had too much crap for too long. Too much serious.”
She pulls back but keeps her head down and says, “I’ll be right back.” She stumbles toward the side-by-side and gets something out of the glove compartment while she takes a seat.
I follow her and slide in the driver’s side.
She wipes at her nose. This girl is a mess, but I’m not going to tell her that.
I reach over and nudge her shoulder. “You’re not the only one who could use it. We can’t re-do our junior year. So let’s close that book and open another. Write our own stories.”
She sniffs and smiles. It grows as she stares at me with her intense eyes. “Why not?” she says.
“Yeah?” I ask. I’m a little shocked. It usually takes me longer to convince her to do something.
“Yeah,” she says and waves her hands around. “Let’s do crazy shit and have fun this summer.”
A deep belly laugh rolls out of me. I have never, in my entire life, heard Regan Stone utter one curse word. Not that shit should really be considered one. But she totally does and that makes her agreement one-hundred times more satisfying.
After I catch my breath from laughing and her giggles subside, we seal the deal. “Spit shake.” I spit in my hand and then reach out, waiting for her to do the same.
She wrinkles her nose. It’s less cute than usual because her eyes are a little puffy. “Gross.”
“Come on,” I grumble. Only because she’s likely expecting it. “You have to. You can’t go back on a spit shake agreement.”
She holds her pinky out. “That’s what pinky promises are for.”
I shake my head. “No way. Pinky promises are for babies. Spit shake is for when you’re serious.”
She tries to keep a straight face but busts out. “You are seriously the most ridiculous person I know.”
I quirk my eyebrow and give her a smirk. “You’ve already said that. And thank you.”
She rolls her eyes, keeping her smile in place. “Fine.” She sighs.
I watch her flip her palm over and stare at it for a second.
Regan looks up at me through her lashes. “I’m jumping in and washing your spit off as soon as we’re done.”
I shrug as if I don’t care, but I’ll be glad to get the smell of her ex off of her.
She spits in her hand.
I quickly grab hers before she can back out and squish our spit together. Her nose wrinkles again. “Ugh. Okay. That’s enough.”
“No backing out,” I remind her. “We should get started right away. What should we do first?”
She hops out of the ATV and takes off for the water. “Wash your spit off my hand.”
I watch her jump in, clothes and all, and move that direction.
She bobs above the water and shivers. “It’s still a little cool.”
I like seeing that smile on her face. I think I know what one of my crazy things will be. “We should make a list of things we want to do. Like a summer bucket list.”
Her eyes widen. “Yeah. We need to do that. Jump in and wash my spit off first.”
“Nope. I’m not washing your spit off.” I hold my palm out for her to see and then bring it to my mouth and lick it.
She gasps. “Gross!”
I hold a finger up. “First thing on my list.” I pause for effect. “I tasted your spit.” It’s true I wanted to taste her spit, but imagined it would be with her tongue in my mouth.
“Ridiculous.”
“You need to come up with a better nickname than that. Rey baby is awesome. I expect awesome.” A mischievous grin covers my face. “That’s it! Mr. Awesome.”
She laughs, throwing her head back. “I am NOT calling you Mr. Awesome.”
I peel my shirt off and slip off my shoes. “You just did.”
She splashes water in my direction.
I run and land a cannon ball next to her.
We both come up for air, laughing. The coolness of the water must have acted like a compress because the puffiness around her eyes is gone. They’re clear and playful. The way I l
ike to see her. That great smile of hers is on display too.
By the time summer is over, Regan Stone is going to be a confident girl who knows what she wants, and goes for it like a bad-ass. And we’ll have as much fun as possible along the way.
So what if I’m destined for the farm? She’s destined for greatness, and I won’t let her miss out on her future.
The G5’s story continues...
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Also by Sally Henson
More Than Best Friends Series
More Than His Best Friend (a prequel)
More Than A Kiss
More Than Each Other
More Than A Secret
Cameron (a More Than Best Friends companion novel)
Spark (a More Than Best Friends short story)
Flirting With The Enemy a sweet YA stand alone (Boys of Summer multi-author series)
The Kissing Tutor a sweet YA stand alone (Sweet Water High multi-author series)
Acknowledgments
Humbly, I give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for your permission to write and for all whom You have sent to support and contribute to this project.
Thank you, for being a ravenous fan of the More Than Best Friends Series. Your love of this ongoing story of Regan’s life is such a blessing.
Special thanks to my amazing beta readers: Amanda H., Amy E., and Nikki A.. You rock!
Kristyn Pearson, I love you. You are amazing.
My critique partner, sound board, co-conspirator Kelsie Stelting...I appreciate you so much.
Mom and Dad, thank you for your unconditional love and support.
A special thank you to my family. Your love and support fill my heart. I love you so much.
About the Author
Sally Henson is an emerging author of crime romance. This is Sally’s seventeenth book.
Hi! I’m Sally.
I grew up in the rural Midwest wandering through the woods and creeks of the countryside, just like Regan. That experience has been a tremendous influence on my writing, lending credibility to the voice of my characters. I combine the ingredients of reality with a dreamer’s imagination to create sweet and delectable fiction.
Want to interact with me in real time? I have a private reader group on Facebook ... Regan Stone Readers.
I’m on Instagram of Facebook too!
The Talk
When I planned More Than A Secret, at the very beginning, Regan was the one leaving Lane behind. I didn’t want her to give up on her dreams, and I seriously cried when she did. But her dad ended up being more of a problem than I anticipated.
I know!
Mr. Stone has some serious problems.
Also, Regan went and fell in love with Lane. For real. And the swoon worthy, total book boyfriend material, Lane Oliver Cary went and broke her heart.
If he would have just come clean with her, everything would have worked out. BUT he didn’t.
Ugh! Boys can be so dumb sometimes.
She is seventeen with some great friends who really love her. Tobi and Cameron are the best! So she’s got that going for her.
As you read, I hope you found all the little nuggets in this story that hints to what is to come. You might not have even realized that it was a hint until you’re read about it in the future (wink).
Until the next installment of More Than Best Friends...