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“We’re in a couple of classes together,” I tell him. “English, too.”
“Is that right? Well, it’s fate we met then, isn’t it?”
“I guess so,” I giggle and if my face gets any redder, it will be on fire.
“Hey, little brother,” Mitch says, and when I look back at Reed, he’s not smiling like he usually is. In fact, his face looks tense.
“Mitch.”
I notice the tension that is suddenly weighing down the air around us. It’s coming off Reed in waves.
“My little brother bothering you, Callie?” Mitch asks.
“I—”
“Callie and I were talking, Mitch. You’re the one interrupting,” Reed responds grumpily.
“Woah, little brother, I’m just here to welcome Callie to our school. It’s the least I can do since we’re in the same class. It can be hard getting used to new schools,” Mitch reasons, and boy is he not wrong. “Which brings me to my reason for coming over. A bunch of us are getting together at Locaster Lake Friday after school. You want to join us?”
“I—I’d like that. Although, I have no idea where Locaster Lake is,” I admit, so excited I could scream because Mitch is practically asking me out. Sure, it’s with other people, but still.
“You can go with me, Dizzy.”
“You sure?” I ask Reed because I get the distinct feeling he doesn’t want to go.
“What are you going to do? Put her on the handlebars of your bike, Reed? I’ll pick up Callie and you can ride with us.” Mitch asks.
My gaze moves between the two. Reed blushes and I can tell he’s uncomfortable.
“Dad can drop us off,” he mutters.
I feel like I’m in a push and pull between the brothers. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I clear my throat. “I can drive us,” I volunteer, hoping to defuse whatever family drama is playing out.
“You sure?” Reed asks.
“Yeah, no problem.
“Looks like you lucked out, little brother. I’ll see you there, Callie.”
“Looking forward to it,” I admit, smiling at him. I feel Reed’s intense gaze on me, so I stop short of flirting back. There’s some kind of competition going on between them and as great as both of them are, I definitely don’t want to get in the middle of it. Still, I want to go to the party. Maybe taking part will make people stop staring at me.
Dad will probably give me hell—and Dad’s hell is not fun. He’s convinced I’m going to wind up pregnant before I graduate. Last year, when I asked to go on a double date with some friends from school, he took a belt to me and sent me to my room without supper. The next morning, Mom begged me not to go. She said that if I did, it would just make him angrier. I ended up not going, and from that moment on, I found ways around asking my father if I could go out. I usually would ask to stay all night with a friend and go from their house. Dad didn’t mind me staying with a friend. I guess he figured my best friend was a girl and couldn’t knock me up. Plus, he got the added bonus of getting me out of his sight. Now that Mom seems to be getting sicker, it’s hard to even do that. He wants me to be there to do everything for Mom. Which, I don’t mind. I love my mom. Still, this is my senior year and going to a party by the lake is something I really want to do. Not to mention I’ve got two good looking guys talking to me. That might be a complication, but geez, I can be friends with Reed and Mitch…
Right?
4 Reed
I ride my bike over to Callie’s house, feeling like a chump. I hate that she has to drive us. That’s just a reminder to her that I’m younger and I can tell that she doesn’t like that. Maybe I’m reading into it. It’s a first date, though, and I’d like her to see me as someone she could depend on to be the man she wants.
God, that sounds lame as hell, but it doesn’t change things. I may only be seventeen, but one look at Callie Street and I knew she was special. I round the curve and see her house ahead, red brick with a brown station wagon in the drive, just like she said. Excitement churns through me and I can feel anticipation rising. This is going to be the start of something special, I know it. I’ve never reacted to another girl the way I do with Callie.
That must mean something.
“Hey,” Callie says as I ride up. She looks hot as hell in faded jeans and a thin, soft pink sweater. She’s got a rocking body, but it’s the way her eyes sparkle that really draws me in.
