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Her door is thrust open and she’s out of the car in a flash.
I chuckle. “Figured so,” I mutter.
We meet at the hood of the car, then walk over to the small trailer together. Ally orders the same thing she always does—mango and strawberry with vanilla cream drizzled on top. I go for a blueberry this time. We carry our shaved ice to one of the benches and take a seat. We’re quiet for the first few minutes.
“I don’t like you seeing Aaron,” I tell Ally. “He’s too old for you.”
I feel her eyes on the side of my head. “We’re only friends.”
I give her my eyes. “You honestly don’t believe that, right?”
“I do because it’s true.”
I turn sideways so I’m straddling the bench. “Ally, come on. You can’t be that naïve. The guy’s had a hard-on for you since you started growing boobs.”
I’d laugh at the look on her face if the situation weren’t so serious. “I can’t believe you just said that,” she squeaks, her cheeks turning pink.
“Well,” I lift my shoulders, “it’s true. Boys his age think of only one thing. And I guarantee you every time Aaron is around you, he’s wondering what he has to do to get his hands under your clothes.”
She snorts. Dipping her spoon in her cup, she scoops up a bite and lifts it to her lips. “You’re wrong. Aaron is sweet.”
“He’s sweet because he thinks if he is, you’ll let him cop a feel.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “And how do you know that’s what he’s thinking?”
“I just do,” I grumble.
There’s no way in hell I’m telling her I know what Aaron’s thinking is because I’ve thought the same things. She’s thirteen fucking years old. It’s fucked up that the thought of what her smooth skin would feel like under my hands has my body reacting in ways it shouldn’t. Or how her mouth would taste. Or her hands….”
I mentally shake the thoughts away. I need my head examined. Andrew would slaughter my ass if he knew, with good reason.
“Whatever,” Ally mumbles and goes back to eating her shaved ice.
“What are you doing tonight?”
She keeps her head bent, but I see her eyes slide to me. “It just so happens, Aaron is supposed to come over and help me study for my science test on Monday.”
I have to force my hand to not crush the Styrofoam cup. “Does Andrew know?”
I don’t see Andrew letting a boy in his house. He’s more protective than I am.
“Not yet. I was planning on telling him tonight.”
No longer interested in my sugary drink, I get up and toss my cup in the barrel close to the bench before sitting back down.
“You’re going to Taylor’s party tonight, right?” she asks.
“Nah.” I stretch my legs out, my plans for the evening suddenly changing. “I’m behind on algebra.” I slide my eyes to her. She scrapes her spoon against the bottom of her cup, scooping up the last of her melted ice. “I was going to ask if you wanted to help.”
She looks up. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Because you’re usually really good with math. It’s you who normally helps me. Not the other way around.”
I shrug. “Not the crap I’m learning right now.” I cross my arms over my chest. “But if you’ve already got plans….” I trail off.
“No, no. That’s okay,” she says hastily. I keep my smile to myself, knowing she’d fall for my suggestion. “I can help, but you have to help me study for my science test.”
I hold my hand out to her. “Deal.”
She laughs as we shake.
Still holding her hand, I get up and pull her with me. I let her hand go, silently wishing things were different and I could keep it in my grasp.
There are too many years between us right now, but one day the difference won’t matter. I’ll bide my time until that day comes.
