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I can’t help it. Tears spring to my eyes. Jesse used to be my friend who was mostly Joel’s annoying older brother, but now he’s truly one of my best friends, and he’s been there for me through the hard stuff. I’m really going to miss him.
He pulls me into his arms. “I probably don’t need to tell you, but take care of yourself. And don’t forget howawesomeyou are.”
And I know that’s a sex joke somehow or another.
I let out a laugh and smack his shoulder before saying seriously, “I’m gonna miss you, J.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna miss you, too,” he says as he pulls back. He takes me in, then looks over at Aaron. “You gonna punch me again if I kiss her?”
“Test your luck,” Aaron says. His eyes are narrowed, but he’s smiling.
Jesse gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, then turns to Aaron and smacks him on the shoulder. He leans into him and whispers something to him I can’t hear.
Aaron rolls his eyes. “Thanks for that.”
Jesse turns back to me and winks at me, then pats Joel on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow, little brother.”
Joel gives him a nod and Jesse heads in the back door, giving us a wave as he goes.
And then there were six.
We look between ourselves.
Then Joel breaks into that troublemaking grin of his. “You know what time it is…”
“SPY!” he and I yell at the same time.
Everyone else kinda agrees and kinda rolls their eyes, but we get to it, and ever since my sneaky victory last summer, we all check the pieces of paper to make sure no one is cheating. Then we draw and get started.
“Well, Rae Rae, it’s down to you and me,” Joel says over the walkies, taunting me. He’s the spy this time. And I have to admit, I love when it’s down to Joel and me.
But… he’s kicking my ass this game. I have no idea how, but I swear he seems to know where I’m going before I get there. I’ve been sneaking around, but I keep hearing footsteps and narrowly escaping.
Finally, I make it to the far side of my garage, hoping that if I can get up to the deck, I’ll be safe. It’s one of the best vantage points in the whole game. Of course, since we’re playing with squirt guns again, it doesn’t have quite as much advantage.
I sit quietly and listen for any sound that might give him away. When I don’t hear anything, I sneak around the garage toward the driveway, looking around carefully.
I’m two steps onto the driveway when I hear, “Freeze, Rae Rae.”
I spin around to see Joel.
We stare at each other for half a second, then we both reach for our squirt guns.
I’m faster on the draw and shoot him.
“And that’s game,” I say with a smirk.
But he gives me a devious smile and says, “Not quite.”
I narrow my eyes. “What?”
“Well, things aren’t quite what they seem.”
I roll my eyes. “Is this like the part of the Bond movie where the villain reveals the master plan?”
He shakes his head and moves in a step closer. “Not exactly. But did you happen to notice how it felt like I waseverywheretonight?”
I stare at him. “...yes. Where are you going with this?”
