Page 46 of We Already Dug the Grave

“No.” I shrugged. “I guess…I’m glad you’re here.”

“Oh, you mean you aren’t going to tell me to shut up?”

“The night is young,” I said.

His smiled. His kiss would taste like peppermint…

The realization sent a wave of heat prickling up my neck, and experience said my face would soon blush the color of one of my aunt’s hothouse tomatoes if I didn’t cool it. Jesus. Get a grip. Don’t stare at his mouth. I looked away, eyes darting around the party—at the baseball seniors roughhousing near the keg, some theater girls line-dancing, the stoners lounging—looking anywhere but at Casey. Eventually my gaze drifted to my sister, who was still alone, now staring down at her shoes.

Casey followed my gaze. “Speaking of Frances, what’s she doing here?”

“Hattie-May made her come with me.” I sighed. “I think she’s hoping time together will fix us.”

“Maybe Aunt Hattie is right. By the end of the night, I bet y’all are back to normal.”

“I don’t know. She’s so pissed at me.”

“Hey.” Casey pulled me even closer, wrapping me in a hug. Last year, it would’ve meant nothing, but tonight, I longed for it to mean everything. “Is she still being weird about her new school?”

I shrugged.

“Y’all will work it out. Whatever happened, y’all are sisters. She loves you.”

I looked at where Frances was standing alone, then back at Casey. “I just want to forget about it all for a little while.”

“Okay.” Casey leaned close, and his lips found my cheek, leaving behind a featherlight kiss. I’d thought every nerve ending in my body had already come alive when Casey’s arms had wrapped around me, but I’d been wrong. When his lips touched my skin, I ignited like a human firecracker.

I peered into his eyes, our noses touching. Warmth spread up my neck, reddening my cheeks, only now I didn’t care.

I wanted to kiss him more than I’d wanted anything, but the memory of our teeth bumping and everyone laughing… I was unable to move.

This felt different than last time. Like the stakes were somehow higher.

It felt important, like something you didn’t come back from. Not a kiss for spin the bottle. This felt real.

We’d been strained, but this…this could change everything for the better.

My heart pounded out the seconds. Everything was so messed up between me and Frances, but this—with Casey—it could be good if I let it. If I stopped running away and dodging it out of fear. It could be freeing and easy. And dammit, I wanted something easy.

Screw it. I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his. It was sweet, simple. Nice.

Then.

It happened.

The internal door opened and I was falling, falling, falling.

The smell of soil. The itch of leaves.

Chills erupted over my body. I’d never felt so cold in my life.

I gasped, pulling away. It had been so long since I’d lost control. Had it always felt this way? Equal parts wonderful and terrible.

Casey’s eyes popped open. “I’m sorry. I…I hope I didn’t—”

“No.” I shook my head emphatically. “No, you didn’t do anything… I…”

Casey’s brows arched.