Snapshot

40. Reese

“Where the fuck is my sister? We are going to be late.”

I shrug, not having the answer either. Winnie never takes a long time to get ready, but I guess tonight is a special occasion. I didn’t go to my freshman homecoming. Actually, this is the first time I’m going too. Elijah has gone the past two years, but he always brings a date, and I don’t feel like being uncomfortable in dress clothes and a third wheel all night. With Winnie not having a date, at least I’ll have someone to chill with.

Another ten minutes pass, and with each one, Elijah grows more impatient. In my opinion, the longer she takes, the less time we will have to be there.

“’Bout fucking time.”

I turn my attention to the front door, and my mouth drops. That’s Winnie? Looks like her, but doesn’t. Her long ginger hair is curled and pinned in various places. I’ve never seen her wear makeup before, but she is now. Holy fuck, she looks so… different.

“No fucking way my dad is letting her wearthat.” Elijah throws his door open, and I do the same.

I hadn’t even looked at her dress, too distracted by the rest of her, but he’s right.What the hell is she wearing? The dark-green dress complements her hair, at least that’s what I heard her mom and aunt say. It’s short, hits midthigh, and small spaghetti straps hold up a top that shows an uncomfortable amount of cleavage. It’s not even a lot. Girls at school show more on the daily, but this is Winnie. It’s not that the dress is inappropriate, per se. But it shows way more of her than I’m used to seeing. When did she grow up? I swear just yesterday, Winnie looked like the same pip-squeak as always, all legs and arms. Awkward and boney, but now… well, she looks like a young woman. I don’t like it, and I definitely don’t like that other guys will be seeing her like this. We have most of the guys in school too scared to even look her way, but I worry this night may change that.

“She’s not wearing that!”

“Oh, stop it.” Mrs. Lewis chuckles while scolding her son. “Your sister looks beautiful.”

“Sure, but—”

“But nothing.” Mr. Lewis wraps a loving arm around his daughter and squeezes.

Elijah and I stop at the bottom of the steps. My mouth is dry, not having anything to say, but I can’t take my eyes off her. I can’t believe this is the same girl who spit on my face two days ago. She technically didn’t mean to, but still. She had spit hanging from her mouth, Elijah laughed and startled her, and it dropped on my forehead.

And now here she stands, looking nothing like that girl but so much like her at the same time. It’s confusing.

“I’ll be right back.” Elijah slaps my chest and wiggles his eyebrows. He mentioned maybe getting a quickie in before the dance since his date’s parents are gone all weekend.

“Yeah, sure.”

He laughs, and the door slams behind him. The radio croons one of Winnie’s favorite songs, and I turn it up and glance back at her. She’s been quiet since we got into the car after the photos her parents insisted on at her house.

“You’re not singing,” I comment. She flicks a blank look my way but goes back to looking out the window like the moody teenager she normally isn’t.

“Win.” I reach back and shake her knee. Something I’ve done a million times, but normally, she’s not in a short dress. Thank fuck I didn’t see anything. It’s already awkward enough, and the weirdest part is I don’t know why it’s awkward, but I don’t like it. “What’s wrong?”

She shrugs.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. “Come on, Win. You know I hate the silent treatment.”

“Do you think I look weird?” The vulnerability in her voice is enough to make me feel like a pile of shit. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear her eyes are watery, too. Fuck.

“It’s not that you look weird. It’s just different, I guess. You know, we’re just not used to seeing you look likethat.”

She scoffs and crosses her arms. “What? Like a girl?”

“Yeah,” I deadpan. “Exactly.”

“Well, I’m glad you and my brother finally see it because I am a girl, Reese.”

My eyebrows bunch, and I turn back to the front. I mean, I always knew Winnie was a girl, but she’s like a girl now. Whatever the fuck that means, because I don’t know. All I do know is it’s weird, and I don’t know if I like it.

“Maybe a guy will finally ask me out.”

My fists clench automatically at the thought. I know how high school guys are, and I don’t want that for Winnie. I want better for her.

“Yeah, maybe,” I grumble.

Thank fuck Elijah and his date come out not too long after. The air in the Bronco is thick with tension, and I’m gritting my teeth so hard they ache, still thinking about Winnie going out with some random guy. I was worried before she said anything, and then she mentioned wanting to get asked out. Why would she want that? I’ve been single my entire high school career, and it’s great. No drama, I’m free to do whatever I want on the weekends. I don’t know why she would want to have the worry about a boyfriend at her age. She’s still so young, despite how she looks tonight.

I could tell Elijah what she said, but I don’t think him biting her head off would fix anything. If anything, it would probably make things worse. It seems Winnie is pissed right now, and I think fighting with her would send her further down that path, and we don’t want that.

Elijah pulls the door behind me open, letting Calie climb in.

“Hey, guys!”

Calie is Elijah’s flavor of the week. Unlike his sister, Elijah dates a lot. This week it’s Calie Jones. Actually, he’s been dating her for a month now, I think, but I’m sure their course is almost up. She’s nice enough, I guess, but Elijah doesn’t like to stick to the same girl for long, so I don’t get too close.

“Hey, Calie.” I glance back but catch on Winnie instead. She eyes Calie with furrowed brows. Moving my eyes to Calie, I don’t understand what the look is for. She looks the same as she always does.

“Hey, Winnie. You look gorg!”

Winnie’s smile is the most forced I’ve ever seen from her. “Thanks, Calie. So do you. I love your dress.”

“Oh my gosh, thanks. They didn’t have my size, so it’s a tad small, but I made it work.”

“Yeah, she did.” Elijah pumps his eyebrows twice at me like his girlfriend isn’t currently giving his not even fifteen-year-old sister tips on how to make her tits look bigger.

I’m going to fucking stroke out by the end of the night.

High school dances are exactly what I thought they would be like. A bunch of girls trying to get guys’ attention, and guys doing their best to hide their boners as they grind against their date. I don’t know why I’m not like the other guys in my grade. It’s not like my dick is broken. I jack off like every other hormonal teenager, but the girls here don’t interest me.

Well, besides one. Fuck, no, I’m not into Winnie likethat. Holy shit, but she does interest me in the way that she’s the only one I enjoy being around for more than a class period.

The only one I would choose to spend my time with. Maybe that’s why I’m not like the other guys; I spend too much time with Winnie and not enough trying to get to know my peers.

Speak of the devil.

Winnie drops into the chair next to me after returning from grabbing more punch. She plops her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand and sighs. We’ve hardly moved from these spots, other than to refill our punch. I can tell she’s itching to dance, she just doesn’t have anyone to dance with since her brother is too busy making out with Calie in the back of the cafeteria.

“This blows.”

“Yup.”

She falls back in her chair and sighs even louder this time. “I wish you drove, at least then we could do something fun.”

Actually, that’s not a bad idea. “I’ll be right back.” I push to my feet and glance around, making sure some guy isn’t waiting to pounce on Winnie the moment she’s alone. When the coast looks clear, I hurry across the room. Interrupting my best friend, who looks like he’s about to fuck in front of everyone, I tap on his shoulder.

“Dude.”

“Huh? What?” He pulls away, breathing hard and covered in red lipstick.

“That’s not your shade. But give me your keys.”

“Dick, and why?”

I nod over my shoulder toward his sister, and he follows my gaze and frowns. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, other than this is really fucking boring. I’m going to drive us around or some shit.”

He takes a step out of Calie’s arms and digs in his pocket before dropping his dad’s keys in my hand. I forgot we took the Bronco tonight; I’ll have to be extra careful. I know how much Mr. Lewis loves it.

“You break my dad’s SUV, and I’m throwing you under the bus, no hesitation.”

Calie tugs on Elijah’s tie, dragging his attention back to her.

I ignore her, hoping my best friend can stay focused for five more seconds. “When should I pick you up?”

Elijah shrugs. “We can catch a ride to the party. You’re coming to that, right?”

Shit, I totally forgot about the after-party. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Well if not, just drop the car at home and tell my parents where I am, would ya?”

“Yeah, later.” I take a few steps and turn back to find them making out again. “Don’t forget to wrap it!”

He flips me off without coming up for air, and I back away chuckling.

Turning, I knit my brow, not seeing Winnie at the table any longer. My blood pressure spikes as I look around the crowded room.Come on, Win, where the fuck are you?

I scan the room again, just in case I missed her, and I spot her walking back into the cafeteria. Finally.

“Where the hell have you been?” I snap as soon as I’m close enough.

Winnie’s eyes blow wide, and she looks around like she’s not sure who I’m talking to.

“You, Winnie, where have you been?”

“I went to the bathroom, Reese. Why, what’s wrong?”

What is wrong? And why didn’t the bathroom pop into my head? “Sorry.” I let out another deep breath, hoping it eases some of the tension between my shoulders. Winnie watches me, a curious and confused look on her face. “I’m just tense.”

“I’ve noticed. You have been all night.”

Yeah, but I don’t know why.

“Are you ready to go? Eli gave me the keys. I figure we can run through the Scoop and get some ice cream.”

Her eyes brighten, and I grin as I throw my arm over her shoulder and lead her outside.

“Double mint chip in a waffle bowl and a double rocky road in a waffle cone, please.” I pass the employee my card, and she takes it, disappearing through the little window. The Scoop isn’t a walk-in place, it’s only drive-through, but they have the best ice cream, and their parking lot overlooks the bay.

Winnie has been quiet since we got into the car and only mumbles a small “thank you” when I pass her the ice cream. I’m halfway through my cone when the silence makes me snap.

“What’s wrong?”

She shifts awkwardly, surprised by my tone, I’m guessing. But she has to know her being this quiet is bothering me. It’s not normal. Winnie usually never shuts up. Her dad often jokes that she was born talking.

“Nothing.”

“Come on, Win. You’re killing me here.”

She blows out a harsh breath. “I’m just tired of being different.”

Different? “What do you mean?”

She drops her bowl onto the dash and brings her knees up to her chest. I don’t have the heart to tell her she maybe shouldn’t do that in a dress, but I just won’t look.

“All my classmates had dates tonight.” That’s what is bothering her? Honestly, I expected more, but I can kind of understand.

“Do I not make a good date?” I gently nudge her knee, and she groans. Okay, not a joking time, apparently.

“I didn’t even get to dance.”

Ahh. That makes more sense now. Winnie loves to dance. She’s not really good at it, but she likes it.

I lean back in my seat and finish the rest of my cone. I’m looking around for a way to cheer Winnie up when I spot the radio and an idea pops into my head. I grab her phone and scroll to her music. It takes a while, but eventually, I land on “Sorry” by Buckcherry. A popular slow dance song, but it’s just a great song in general.

I turn up the volume as high as it will go, roll down all the windows, and jump down, heading around to grab her.

“What are you doing?”

I tug open her door and lift my hand. “May I have this dance?”

Winnie glances at the phone, and then her face lights up as she laughs. She presses play and grabs my hand.

“I’d be honored.”

I help her to the ground and lead her a few feet from the truck. Spinning, I’m hesitant to place my hand on her hips, but she’s not hesitant at all to wrap hers around the back of my neck. As much as she can with her height, anyway. I hit my growth spurt this past summer, but I don’t think the same can be said for Winnie.

“I’m not very good at this,” I admit. We’re just shifting back and forth, nothing like those movies Winnie and her mom watch.

“I don’t care.” Winnie rests her head against my chest. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, Reese. Thank you.”

Hinder comes on next, another favorite. “This is a good playlist, Win.”

She giggles, and it shakes my chest. “Well, this is my Reese playlist, so I’m not surprised you think that.”

Her Reese playlist? “You have a whole playlist dedicated to me?”

“Mm-hmm. I know my parents’ oldies can get, well, old, for some people, so I made you a playlist to listen to when it is. It’s songs I’ve heard you hum, play in your truck, or they just remind me of you.”

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

Winnie pulls back and smiles at me. “I’m glad.”

After another song, Winnie is shivering, so I help her back into the Bronco, roll up the windows, and crank the heat.

“Sorry, I didn’t wear a jacket either.”

“It’s f-f-fine.”

Damn, she’s shivering. I swallow and lift my arm. She eyes the space I opened for her, and without another beat, she crawls over, and I lower my hand around her. We’ve sat like this before, but for some reason, it feels different now.

My stomach is fluttering like butterflies were released inside, but that makes no sense because this is Winnie.

I do my best to shake the feeling away and settle into the seat. Focusing on Nickelback playing low in the background. She really does know what I like.

“Thank you. For everything.”

I drop a kiss to her forehead. Something I’ve done a million times as well. “Anytime, Win.”