Should Have Called Dibs (The Friends Group #1)

Chapter 1 The Boys Next Door

Fall

The moving trucks pulled up yesterday at the old McHenry place.

Most of the summer construction trucks and crews have come and gone.

Still, no one in town seems to know who has purchased the house.

The only firm detail anyone seems to know is that the new purchasers had bought the house via the online listing.

I am only interested because I hope a girl my age will move in next door.

The McHenrys had been a nice older couple, but I’m looking forward to someone my age living next door.

However, it seems my curiosity will have to wait; the only people unpacking the moving truck look like the employees of the moving company.

I have burned enough of this nice summer day—normally August calls for burning hot weather here in Oklahoma, but today offers a breeze with some clouds.

With a deep sigh, I get up from the porch swing overlooking the front yard and head towards the backyard.

I love being outside: I love being busy.

My mom jokingly tells her friends I will outgrow my “tomboy” stage soon.

She just isn’t sure when “soon” is going to happen, but she says when it does, she is ready to give me all her tips and tricks.

I always joke back that it wasn’t like I don’t wear any makeup or get dressed up here and there for church or school, I just don’t overly fuss about it.

I’m not bothered by the fact that all the “cutest” boys at school are my friends and not my potential next boyfriends.

I’ve had crushes for sure, but when you aren’t afraid to play tough in the school yard or talk about the stats from the football game, you become more friend material than girlfriend material.

Also, there is the problem of my older brother scaring off any boy, including all his friends on the football team, my whole life.

As I make my way to the backyard, I pull my dirty blonde hair out of the way.

I figure I may as well practice some goals and do some drills.

The school year is fast approaching, and I need to be on my A game if I want to be starting varsity on the soccer team this season.

I imagine I am running over and past other players on my way to score the game-winning goal.

Normally, my brother and I have shooting contests, or he runs me through some drills.

As the starting quarterback with his senior pre-season practice already in full swing, he’s spending most of his time at the high school, with the guys, or with his girlfriend Steph.

Our backyard games have been minimal this summer due to all the changes, and I imagine things will continue to change as his graduation date grows closer.

I drown out the movers next door, soon losing myself in my backyard soccer game.

I take a shot, in my mind scoring the game-winning goal.

I throw my arms into the air, celebrating.

I don’t fight the smile that follows. As I celebrate, a movement catches my eye from the backyard of the old McHenry house.

OMG, someone just saw me fake celebrating.

I can’t help as a blush stains my cheeks in embarrassment.

I notice the guy walking in the backyard doesn’t look like he is one of the movers.

He appears to be around mine or Miles’s age.

He is tall, probably around 6’1 to 6’3, with blond hair.

It seems like he is upset or frustrated as he paces across the backyard.

I realize that I’m standing in the middle of my yard, staring at the mystery guy next door.

Trying to cover my actions, I start walking over to the fence separating the yards.

I figure if I can cover my mistake with being welcoming maybe he will not think too much about my staring.

My movements towards the fence must catch his attention, as he looks up at me.

I can’t help but be stunned by his sky-blue eyes.

Well, crap, now I can feel the heat of the blush washing over my whole face, warmer than before.

Instead, I wave and half-shout my “hello.” He walks over, seeming to be in no rush, until he stands on the other side of the fence.

He looks me up and down, then gives me a side smile before finally replying, “Hi.” Before I second guess my actions I reach over the fence and offer my hand.

He looks at it, this time gracing me with a full smile, before taking my offered hand.

I feel goosebumps run over my skin, but I leave my hand in his as I state, “My name is Annie Campbell. Welcome to the neighborhood.” He gives me a quick wink before removing his hand and replies, “Daniel Davis, and yeah, that’s us: the new kids again.

” “Us,” I start to reply, but before I can finish the comment, he states, “Yeah, me and Drew.” I smile as I ask, “Is Drew your sister?” He gives a big laugh and replies, “He is going to love that you just referred to him as a girl.” I’m so embarrassed, going another shade of red as I sputter out my apology of “sorry.” He just laughs again.

I’m staring again, but I can’t seem to stop.

He is nice to look at with his blond hair, blue eyes, strong jaw, and full lips.

I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss him.

If my face could go redder from thoughts of kissing him, it would, but I’m relieved for once that my face is already red from my last blush and so it can’t get any redder from the thought of kissing him.

Then out of the corner of my eye, a new figure appears on the porch.

Oh wow, this must be Drew. I can tell they are brothers, but where Daniel is all light shades, Drew is just a shade darker.

Brown hair, dark blue eyes, and tanned skin.

He is already wearing a big grin, and I can just make out the dimple on his left cheek.

He is headed our way, his long legs eating up the distance quickly.

He runs a hand through his brown hair before saying, “Hello, I’m Drew Davis.

” I reintroduce myself to Drew, thinking the whole time that these Davis brothers are going to cause a whole lot of trouble when school starts.

I try not to feel weird about the fact my stomach is already having little flutters.

Or maybe I’m the one in trouble, because they are both tempting me and I only just met them.