I scanned the crowd and a tingling sensation spread over me the moment my eyes grazed Dane’s face.
“What are they playing?” I asked, trying to figure out the strategy.
“Shinny,” Beth said as she and Rhys joined us. “You use the sticks to move the beanbag ball around to score points. They play it on the ice in winter, too.”
“Why aren’t any girls playing?”
“It’s too rough,” Brennon explained. “The girls play a similar game, with less blood; it’s called double ball.”
“I bet they do,” I said as the girls waved at my brother and Brennon.
Rhys stared up at the sky awkwardly. Good to see some things would never change.
The ball came hurtling our way. Instead of ducking like a normal person I reached out and palmed it. It stung, but I forced a pleasant smile.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Rhys hissed as I stepped forward.
“I told you. I need to talk to him.” I squared my shoulders as I watched Dane cross the field toward us.
“Okay, but not like this,” Rhys said as he tugged at my elbow, but I wouldn’t budge. I couldn’t take my eyes off Dane. Sweat and dirt never looked so good.
As Dane got closer, I noticed the dark glint in his eyes. “Are you not getting enough attention or something?”
It felt like I’d just walked right into his fist, punching my own lights out. I was such an idiot. Here I’d hoped he’d go back to being the boy I’d met at the junkyard or, better yet, the boy from my dream last night.
This Dane was acting like a complete prick.
Lauren breezed past me onto the field, standing next to Dane, a smug look about her flawless face. “Where are your clothes?”
“What are you talking about?” I glanced down at the peasant dress I’d pulled from my mother’s closet. I thought it was a little small, so I wore my black shorts underneath.
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re wearing an undergarment.”
“Right,” I murmured, suddenly feeling naked.
“I think it’s stylish.” Beth stepped next to me.
“Look,” Lauren snickered. “Batty Beth has two whole friends now.”
“Don’t call her that,” Rhys said in a low tone as he glared at Lauren.
I was stunned to hear him speak up like that; usually he only mouthed off to me. Lauren turned her attention on my brother and I stepped in front of her. “What’s your problem? Am I missing something here?”
“As if she doesn’t know.” Lauren’s bright hazel eyes burned into me. “You don’t scare me, Ash Larkin.”
“Okaaay?” I laughed uncomfortably. “I wasn’t trying to—”
“Ash, don’t bother,” Beth whispered. “It’s not worth it.”
“It’s about your nocturnal activities,” Dane said, a tiny smile curling the corner of his mouth.
Whispers erupted behind me. I turned and felt the enemy flush invade my cheeks. I didn’t realize we had an audience for this. It wasn’t just kids. People of all ages pressed in around us like they didn’t want to miss a single word.
Did Dane know what happened to me last night—that I’d dreamed about kissing him? Did they all know?
Dane rested his shinny stick on his shoulder. “This morning, Lauren woke up with a corn-husk doll lying next to her pillow.”
“And?” I raised my eyebrows.
“It’s the mark of death.” Lauren flicked her wrist, and a delicate light blue fan spread out in her hand. “I know you did it,” she said as she fanned herself.
“Please.” I burst out laughing. “I don’t know how to make a corn doll. I can’t even make a wreath!”
There was a part of me that wondered if I could have done it in my sleep. Anything was possible.
“You girls can work this out later. Now, if you don’t mind, we have a game to finish,” Dane said as he turned his back on me to join the other players waiting on the field.
In a burst of frustration, I threw the shinny ball at the back of his head; Lauren caught it. As she handed the ball to Dane, I noticed her arm brush against his chest. I wanted to rip it from her body.
“What do you want?” Dane turned with an exasperated sigh.
“I want to play,” I blurted.
He looked at me, incredulously. “You want to play shinny?”
“Sure. Why not? You and Lauren against me and my brother.”
“What?” Rhys’s eyes went wide.
Dane grinned. “First team to score three goals wins,” he said before he made his way up the field.
I motioned for Rhys to join me.
“No, no, no.” He waved me off as he backed away.
“Come on.” I pulled him forward. “It’ll be fun.”
“I don’t play sports. Remember?”
God, how could I forget? My mom made him join my soccer team in first grade. Got his first bloody nose and started puking all over the place, setting off a chain reaction of epic proportions. Took them a week to clean up all the regurgitated Cheerios and orange slices from the field.