Chapter 6
Devan
M y feet move faster and faster as gravity kicks in, increasing my speed as I run down the hill.
One glance over my shoulder and I see that Justin is gone, no longer on the top of the ridge.
Nearing Marilyn’s car, I’m fighting to breathe, working to slow my steps in the soft ground, and despite the cool temperatures, I’m sweating like crazy under the big hoodie.
My two friends are out of the car, waving their hands and screaming.
I think they are. Mostly, I hear the sound of my circulation thumping in my ears.
Wait, they’re coming at me. It’s going to be a two-on-one attack and subconsciously, I know I’m about to fall to the damp grass. Consciously, I’m too freaked out to care. My feet slide as their voices come into range.
“Are you okay?”
“What happened?”
“Why did you disappear?”
“What was with the SOS text?”
As I stop like a runner coming into home base, I take another look over my shoulder to be sure he isn’t watching. Suddenly, I’m on my behind, the sweatshirt and my jeans are covered in mud. My hysteria is on full display as I laugh so hard tears are coming down my cheeks.
Marilyn starts going on about friend code. “You tell someone. You know better…”
Still on the ground, I double over, breathing heavily, placing my hands on my thighs as I try to catch my breath.
“Oh my God, Devan,” Jill says, “tell us why you sent the SOS code?”
Lifting one finger, I give them the universal wait a second sign and work to regulate the speeding rhythm of my heart.
Standing up, I brush some of the mud and grass off my butt.
Next, I pull the hoodie over my head, exposing my perspiration-saturated skin and camisole to the frigid night air.
Goosebumps scatter across my skin as I lift my face to the stars, and a giant smile spreads across my face.
“Justin Sheers,” I pant out.
The two girls look at one another.
“What about Justin Sheers?” Marilyn finally asks.
“I kissed him. No, he kissed me.” I’m waving my hands. “Oh God, we kissed one another.” As my words speed up, so does the twisting in my core and the tightening of my nipples—that could have to do with the cool temperatures. Nevertheless, my body is on fire.
Jill and Marilyn are now with me, holding onto my arms, their grips tightening. “What? The Justin Sheers?” Jill questions.
“Ricky’s best friend,” Marilyn adds.
Opening my eyes wide, I nod. “Yeah, that could be a problem.”
“Wait,” Jill says, shaking her head, “tell us every detail even if we’ll be jealous.”
“You’re engaged,” I remind her.
“Yeah, and I love Todd…but seriously…Justin Sheers is older, sexy, and all gruff and grumpy.” Her eyes open wide. “Does he know how to kiss?”
OMG.
“Yes.” My cheeks heat up. “Best kiss of my life.”
“Did he know he was kissing Ricky’s little sister?” Marilyn asks.
Pressing my lips together, I slowly shake my head.
“Oh, girl,” they both scream.
I motion toward the car. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to be found out.”
As the car doors slam and the sounds of nature disappear, I lay my head against the back seat and exhale. When I open my eyes, both of my friends are turned my direction.
“Details,” Marilyn says.
I explain what happened by the pond, how he introduced himself—as if I didn’t know him.
And how I never gave him my name; he called me BK.
As I speak, I wonder again if I imagined the whole thing.
Justin was sexy and sweet, not the boy who used to pick on me when I was young.
As I tell the part about the intensity of his stare, my insides twist. Recalling his intoxicating scent, my nipples bead.
Describing the sensation of his kiss, I know my panties are growing damp.
“I seriously didn’t know people could kiss like that,” I say with a sigh. “It was like the Fourth of July and Christmas morning all rolled into one.”
Jill sits back against the window and pretends to fan herself. Marilyn’s head is shaking.
“I thought you never liked Ricky’s friends,” my roommate says.
“I didn’t like the way they picked on me. They always made me feel like a tagalong kid even when I was older.” I think back and grin. “And honestly, I always thought Justin was kind of a…grumpy know-it-all.”
“Apparently, he was hiding his secret sexy side from you,” Jill says with one raised eyebrow.
“From all of us,” Marilyn adds.
I sit taller, the small hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention as I turn my focus toward her. “You don’t like him?”
“I obviously don’t know him.” She quickly changes her tone. “But, honey, if you’re this excited, I’m happy for you.”
“And a bit nervous,” Jill says. “Seriously, Justin wanted your name and number. I bet ten dollars he tells Ricky about the woman he met.”
“BK,” Marilyn says with a whimsical melody to her voice.
Jill’s eyes widen. “Can you imagine when the pieces fall into place?”
The elation I was feeling only seconds earlier turns into something more akin to dread.
“You’re right.” I inhale. “Let’s leave Riverbend tonight.
We can all go to Todd’s place in Indy or back to Muncie.
I’ll call Mr. Sams tomorrow and tell him I’m a no for the job.
It’s official. I can never show my face in Riverbend again. ”
Jill laughs. “That’s a bit drastic.”
“Yeah,” Marilyn says, “I’m glad Devan’s not dramatic or anything.”
The clock in the dashboard catches my attention. “It’s just ten o’clock, and I made you both leave the party. I’m sorry I’m lame.”
“Not lame,” Marilyn says as she starts the car. “The hog roast was okay but not great. It was starting to break up anyway. I say we go to Bob’s or Decoy Ducks.”
Those are the two bars in Riverbend. Neither is as nice as big-city bars. They are more authentic as they probably have been for decades. Imagine wood paneling, neon signs with different beer slogans, pool tables, and of course, sticky floors. That said, they both are packed on the weekends.
“I’ll go back to Marilyn’s,” I volunteer. “You two go out.”
“Not happening,” Jill says. “I have an idea.”
After a stop at Marilyn’s house to change out of my muddy jeans and get a new sweatshirt, and another stop at the liquor store—the only way to get cold seltzers in Indiana—we find ourselves back on the same dark road where we met an hour ago. “Is this crazy?” I ask with a giggle.
Our plan is to sneak back on the Gordon farm, climb into the hayloft, drink berry seltzers, and reminisce. The great thing about that hayloft is how there’s an open area in the roof. We can watch the stars and stay warm, away from the cool breeze.
The party should be about over. It’s past eleven, and too late for all the families with children. The older people will be home by now, watching the local news station. There may be a few stragglers. However, if we’re quiet, we shouldn’t be seen or heard.
The side of the barn facing the direction of the pond has a door that goes straight into the higher loft. From the other side of the barn, where all the festivities were, no one will ever see us.
“I’m more visible,” I say as we climb the hill to the place where I left Justin.
“What do you mean?” Jill asks.
“My hoodie is red. Both of yours are black.”
“Stay quiet,” Marilyn scolds, “and no one will see us.”
As we reach the precipice of the ridge between the pond and the Gordons’ barn, we all stop. We’re too far away to distinguish faces. Nevertheless, there are multiple figures standing near the simmering remains of the bonfire.
My mouth goes dry as I study each body shape. I’m no expert after only one kiss, but I’d bet my first paycheck that one of those people is Justin. The blood drains to my feet as I imagine another to be Ricky.
“Devan,” Marilyn whispers as she slows and reaches for my elbow. “Are you all right?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think this is a good idea.” I jut my chin toward the fire below. “I’m pretty sure one of those people is Ricky, and if I’m right, there’s a good chance another one is Justin.”
“They won’t see us,” Jill says. “And maybe we can hear if they’re talking about you.”
About me .
“I’m going to be sick.”
Jill reaches for my hand and tugs me forward. “No, you’re not. Come on.”
Reluctantly, I do as my friends bid and move toward the backside of the barn. We stay low to the ground, hiding in the shadows. If it wasn’t for the gigantic knot forming in the pit of my stomach, this adventure would be fun.
My breathing catches as I realize why I’m afraid.
I don’t want to be caught.
More than that, I don’t want to be caught by Ricky and his friends and be made fun of, be made to feel like a child. That would be horrible. Even worse would be seeing the look on Justin’s face when he recognizes me.
My mind conjures up the image of an angry Justin Sheers, one who is upset with me. I have no doubt that in my scenario, our one kiss would be a secret we’d both agree to take to the grave. That would also mean it would forever remain only one kiss.