Page 18 of Riding the Curve

Ryleigh grumbled under his breath, tossing his towel over the cooler. “This hangout is just for grown-ups.”

Henley’s body jolted up. Her freckled nose scrunched as her lips pressed into a thin line. “Oh really?” She stood all the way up, pretending to search for something.

Ryleigh’s hands fell to his hips, his patience running thin.

“Hmm, I don’t see any grown-ups around. Do you?” She crossed her arms and gave Ryleigh a devious smirk. His face turned beet red. Knowing there was an inevitable smackdown that was about to happen, I braced myself.

My money was on Henley.

“If you don’t let me go down to the lake with you, I’ll tell mom you’ve snuck out the past two nights to hang out with Jill.”

Ryleigh’s mouth gaped wide next to me, and I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped free at the sight. She was getting better at giving us hell.

Hen 1, Ryleigh 0.

“You wouldn’t dare!” he growled.

Green Converse-covered feet danced their way right up to her brother as she shoved her little finger into his chest. “Wanna bet?”

Ryleigh’s clenched fists told me he was about to lose his shit, so before he did, I stepped in. I might be enjoying watching this all fall out, but I was the man’s best friend, after all. I’d always have his back.

“You can swim with us, but only we get the swing,” I said.

An approving smile shone on Ryleigh’s lips as he crossed his arms over his chest, awaiting his sister’s response.

“No deal! You both know that’s my favorite part!”

“Hmm, well I guess I’ll just have to spill to my Mama that her favorite apron that she’s been looking all over for has been confiscated by the ‘not-so-innocent’ Henley Rae Cole.”

She gasped. “H-how did you . . . ?”

“I have eyes everywhere,” I said, shrugging nonchalantly. A smile ticked on my lips as her mouth opened wide in horror. “Plus, when our mothers went to put the food you all cooked the other night on the table, I caught you sneaking it into your backpack.”

Me 1, Hen 1.

She paced back and forth before finally pausing with a heavy sigh. My grin grew wider as I watched her shoulders slump in defeat. “Fine.”

Ryleigh whistled low, ruffling the hair on top of her head with his palm. “She never surrenders that fast with me. That was impressive. Be glad you’re an only child, dude.”

With a firm pat to my back, he sprinted down the dock and leapt into the lake with a ceremonial cannon ball. Henley tossed me a scowl before trotting further down the shore. Satisfied with how far away from us she was, I watched her gracefully dive in.

After a few hours and one last swing into the lake, Ryleigh and I decided to head back to his house. Ryleigh scanned the lake for his sister, and his gaze landed on her walking toward the tree swing we’d left vacant. “Nope, no swinging. The sun’s getting ready to set, it’s time to head home, Hen.”

“Ryleigh, you’ve both hogged it all day! I’ve been good. I s-stayed away all day.” Her bottom lip wobbled, and I could hear the disappointment in her shaky voice.

“Kids, it’s time to come help with dinner.” Their mother’s voice swung out from the truck she drove out here to collect us with.

“Mom’s calling!” Ryleigh shouted across to Hen.

Tears slid down her reddened cheeks. Shifting my gaze toward Ryleigh, I wasn’t surprised to see his shoulders slump, guilt etching wrinkles in his forehead.

Ryleigh hated seeing her cry, just as much as I did. “I’m sorry, Hen. It’s time to go home,” he said gently. “We can work on convincing mom to let us come back down here tomorrow after school.”

They might bicker like cats and dogs, but they both looked out for each other with a fierceness I’d always admired. Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. One that would watch out for my back and be there for me whenever I was struggling. I sometimes thought that was why I’d become so attached to Ryleigh; he was the closest thing I’d ever had to a brother.

Mrs. Cole honked the horn twice, shaking Henley from her stupor. Erasing any evidence of her damp cheeks with her palms, she made her way toward Ryleigh’s outstretched arm.

Ryleigh looked deflated. Suddenly, I had this urgency to fix the sadness for them both. To help Ry feel less guilty for the decision I had made about the swing earlier. But also, to make Hen happy again. Just like she did to everyone else around her. Like the countless times she’d made my Mama laugh, even while battling her health issues.