“Come on, let’s go find Marilyn and Ashley.” Jenna grabs my hand and pulls us through the crowd.
Hugs find us on our way as classmates say goodbye, and I realize it may be the last time I see some of them. After a few minutes we finally break out into the walkway and right into Ashley and Marilyn.
More squealing and hugs and jumping before we make our way to our parents.
“I can’t wait for tonight!” Jenna says.
“You’re just hoping to hook up with Sam,” I say with a wag of my eyebrows.
“I hear he’s endowed.” Ashley grins, causing Jenna to fan herself.
“Kira!” Mom calls out.
I stop and take a step away. “Gotta go. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“Want us to pick you up?” Marilyn asks. “Or is Brayden taking you?”
Ugh. Bringing him up makes me almost wish I’d kept quiet that there was anything between us.
“No. Austin is, right?” Ashley winks at me.
Jenna sighs. “Lucky girl.”
“Lucky?”
Marilyn rolls her eyes. “Kira, you have two of the hottest guys our school has seen chasing you.”
“Sshhh!” I hush them. The devil’s ears are perking up. I can tell by the way his stupid face is lighting up.
They giggle and make their way out while I squeeze through.
When I reach my family, Mom is almost in tears, Ryan trying to console her, while Steve shakes his head.
“I’m okay.” She beams at me, her bottom lip quivering as she reaches for me and pulls me into her arms. “I’m so proud of you.”
Ryan ruffles my hair. “Good job, kid.”
I slap at him, but I can’t connect thanks to Mom’s iron grip. “Jerk!”
Mom finally lets go, and I try and fix the rats nest he’s created. Ryan laughs and I swat at his stomach, hitting hard. He grabs my wrist and pulls me until I collide with his chest for a hard hug. My feet leave the ground as he picks me up.
“Congrats, baby sis. Love you.”
I should beat on him to let me go, but I’ve missed this, missed him, my brother. “Love you, too.”
There’s a familiar chuckle beside me as he sets me back down that makes me tingle.
Fucker.
I turn to Brayden, unable to stop myself. His green eyes are bright, almost sparkling.
“Congratulations.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Thanks.”
I’m almost clear of touching him, but when he steps forward, arms open, I grimace inside. Not wanting to cause a scene, I allow his arms to circle me. It’s brief, his restraint obvious in the tension of his muscles, but it’s more than enough to cause my heart to speed up.
“What are your plans tonight?” Mom asks as we turn toward the parking lot.
“There’s a party.”
I promised Mom we’d have a family dinner. Though to me family is her, Ryan, and I’ll add in Dana. Steve’s not my dad, and even though I’ve lived with him for three years, we’ve never gotten very close.
Then there’s Brayden, the complicated thorn in my side.
Thankfully dinner goes off without complication. A.k.a. Brayden behaved himself.
When we pull into the driveway, I jump out and run upstairs to change. I kick the door behind me and grab the hem of my dress to pull it above my head and toss it in the hamper.
“Is Austin going to be there?” Brayden asks from the door, scaring the crap out of me.
“Jesus!” I whip my head around as I nearly jump out of my skin.
As his tongue swipes across his lips, I realize I’m only wearing a strapless bra and a thong. Oh well. I don’t even bother to cover myself.
“Shut the door, asshole!”
His eyes darken, and he steps in and starts to close the door.
I narrow my gaze on him and stomp forward. “That’s not what I meant.” I push on his chest until he’s back in the hallway and slam the door in his face.
Fucker.
“Is Austin going?” I can hear his anger through the barrier between us.
“Why do you care?” I shuffle through my dresser for a bra, wanting to get out of this strapless.
“You know why.”
I roll my eyes, then move to my closet. “He lives down the street, so I’m sure he’ll be there.”
“Did you invite him?”
I already picked out an outfit for tonight, but his presence has me all over the place.
“Not directly.” My fingers work the clasp of the strapless and it falls to the floor. I peek out the door. “Everyone will be there. Ryan said he’s going.”
“I know.” His voice sounds strained, but I think I just gave him some side-boob view, maybe even some nip.
Am I trying to tease him? Always.
Suffer, asshole.
“Are you going?” Damn curiosity.
“Yes.”
I pull the dress I picked out over my head. “Why?”
“Because you are.”
His answer irks me and gives me the damn happy vibes.
“This is the year-end graduation party. The biggest party of the year. Don’t expect me to pay you any attention at all.”
“Wow. When did I become the clinger?”
“When you started stalking me.” I throw a flip-flop at the door.
He chuckles. “It’s not stalking if I love you.”