With my heart rate sitting lower than it was only minutes ago, I spin on my heels and retake the route I just sprinted. My steps are nowhere near as fast as they were moments ago. I kick up more dirt than I tread.
Halfway back, I flip the bird at the person hackling me from the second-story window of my family house. Joey laughs off my voiceless threat as if it has no steam. “If you don’t get your ass back there right now, I’m gonna get out of this bed and kick your ass back there.”
“She’s not alone,” I reply to him, acting as if he can’t see Melody and Connor from his window.
His bedroom is a little further back than mine, but he still has a prime view of the Greggs’ round yard. The usually unsightly vista is the reason he suggested for Mr. Gregg to have a pool installed in its place. He thought the visual would be more entertaining if it included water and bikini-clad bodies. Since the many requests came from Joey, Mr. Gregg took his humor in stride. I honestly don’t know how he would have responded if Madden had endorsed Joey’s requests.
“She’s with Connor.”
Joey peers at me as if I’m an idiot. “Duh. But did you ever stop to wonder why she’s grown a sudden interest in Socks… in the round yard of all places?”
I freeze halfway across the dewy ground, truly stumped. Melody loathes horses, but she absolutely hates spiders, which the round yard has a lot of this time of year.
After a couple of seconds of deliberation, I act as daft as I feel. “Isn’t a round yard the ideal place to learn how to ride a horse?”
“Or…” If Joey pauses on me one more time today, a bad heart is going to be the least of his problems. “It’s the perfect location to force a douche-canoe to admit he has feelings for her.” He thrusts his hand at my bedroom window. It has a direct view of both the round yard and Melody’s bedroom. I’ve taken advantage of the latter view multiple times the past two years. I swear Melody purposely teases me by keeping her curtains partially cracked open each evening. “You made out you weren’t jealous yesterday. She’s determined to prove you wrong.”
“Seriously? That’s ludicrous.” Not as ridiculous as how high my hope is surging but stupid, nonetheless.
Although I’m not technically asking a question, Joey nods. “Look at her?” As I spin, he says, “She’s not paying Connor an ounce of attention… because she’s too busy peering at your bedroom window, waiting for you to spot them, and praying you’ll respond how she’s hoping.”
He’s right. Although I can see Melody as clear as day, she hasn’t spotted my gawk because she’s looking in the wrong direction. When she’s not retightening her grip on Socks’ reins, her eyes are locked on my bedroom window.
As suspicions tighten the knot in my gut, I return my eyes to Joey. “How do you know what she’s thinking? Were you a girl in a past life?” My jaw spasms when no amount of distance can hide the guilt in his eyes. “You set me up!” Since I’m not asking a question, it doesn’t sound like one.
“No,” he denies, shaking his head. “I helped Melody plot a ruse to force you out of your comfort zone.”
I race toward the house, preparing to strangle him. Two feet from the patio, Joey’s warning stops both my feet and my heart. “If you walk away now, you risk the chance of losing her for good.”
I jump off the patio stairs before raising my head. “It isn’t that simple, Joey. There’s a whole heap of other shit sitting between us.”
Nothing but agitated restlessness echoes in my tone. I care for Melody, so much so, letting her walk away from me yesterday was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I did it so she’d know how far I’m willing to go for her. I’d hurt myself if it saves her from being hurt.
Never one to back down in a fight, Joey asks, “Like what, BJ? What’s standing between you?”
“Mr. Gregg, for one.”
My attitude takes a step back when he says, “And where is he now? Connor is practically coating his daughter in drool, yet he’s nowhere to be found.”
He has a valid point.
“He’s also been aware of your fascination with Melody for years, but not once has he discouraged you against it.” He twists his lips that are curved with both amusement and straightforwardness. “I haven’t had a one-on-one with Mr. Gregg in years, but I don’t think he’d ever shy away from telling someone if he doesn’t like them or their ideas. The numerous debates he’s had with our father the past decade is proof of this. If he has an issue with you dating his daughter, pipsqueak, you would know about it by now.”
He has another good point, but I hate backing down. Backpedaling is for the weak. But what if Joey is right? If I lose Melody over this, I’ll never forgive myself.
Realizing every tactical response is better handled in numbers, I return my focus to Joey and ask, “What should I do?”
His smile is extra blinding in the mid-morning sun, but it has nothing on the brightness of his golden locks. “Do exactly what you were planning to do two minutes ago. Kiss. Her.” His smile drops an inch. “You should probably help her off Socks first, though. He could make things awkward…” His words trail off as the color drains from his cheeks. I’ve never seen his face as white as it is now, and he hasn’t been outside in over six months.
“Joey?” Goosebumps break across my skin when he falls away from his bedroom window with a groan. Even from this distance, I can see he’s grabbing his chest. “Joey!”
I sprint into our house, my pulse as high as my panic. He’s a jokester, but this is one thing he’d never joke about. He would never put our mother in a situation that would cause her additional stress. Unlike Phoenix and Madden, he isn’t an asshole.
Despite almost barreling over my mom in the kitchen, I make it into Joey’s room in a record-breaking six seconds. He’s still clutching his chest, his eyes are closed, and his body is limp.
While taking in his lifeless form, I do what every teenage boy does when they’re panicked.
I freak the fuck out.
