Her hands landed on my biceps, pulling me closer rather than pushing me away. “And you think you’ve got me all figured out.”
I bent down and risked a kiss on her cheek. “I know I’ve got you figured out.”
“Why don’t you just listen to me? It’d be so much easier. I’m going to strangle you.” Her eyes narrowed, and she tugged me closer.
She was so adorable when she threatened me.
“I’m going to have to kiss you,” I told her as I wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her up to my height and kissing her square on the mouth.
“Stop kissing me when I’m fighting with you. I can’t think when you do that,” she grumbled.
“I know. I’m prepared to fight dirty if it means I can win.” She smacked at my hand that was tracing her jaw.
“I’m mad,” she exclaimed.
“I can fix that.”
I spent the next few minutes convincing her she didn’t want to choke me.
When I pulled back, her eyes had lost their murderous glint.
“I don’t look down on you. And when you stop being stubborn and realize that I’m here—for you—then you’ll realize I’m doing my best to understand why you left. Why you ran.”
She softened against me, looking at me with a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her lips. “Fine. You can help me wash my car. If you’re going to stay, you’re going to be useful.”
“That’s what my friends always call me: Useful Nate.”
Her lips quirked to the side. I bent down and grabbed a soapy sponge from the bucket. “Have you done the roof yet?”
I gestured in a big arcing motion, making sure to fling a trail of soapy water on her.
“Ack!” She jumped back.
“Or is it the tires that are still left?” I flung my arm the other way, making sure to soak her again.
“Nate!”
I stopped laughing long enough to appreciate the soap suds dripping from her hair and the dangerous glint in her eye—just before she sprayed me with the hose.
Very little car washing was done after that.
Chapter ThirteenRiley
“I’m going out with Jadyn tonight.”
I glanced up in surprise when I met Wren’s eyes. “Who’s that? I thought you were about to break up with Mason?”
“Oh, I broke up with him. Not worth my time.”
“But he was worth your time last week.”
“He was too immature. All he cared about was trucks.”
Shaking my head, I filled my water bottle. I’d been so consumed with Nate the past couple days that I had given little thought to Wren’s boy problems. Then, this morning, when Nate “helped” me wash the car, he completely derailed my break-up speech. And now, somehow, we were going to the bonfire together tonight. And then I would break up with him. Yes. Because I was falling for him fast, and I didn’t think my heart could stand to be abandoned again. “Is this Jadyn coming over here tonight?”
“No, we’re meeting some friends at the theater. You know I don’t like to bring them here.”
She wasn’t wrong for thinking that. I’d promised myself I’d never live in a trailer park again. The years I’d spent in a trailer park with my mom weren’t happy ones.
“What’s this boy like?”
Wren leaned back across the futon, tossing her purple nail polish in the air and catching it, again and again. Her voice took on a dreamy quality. “He’s perfect. So cute. I’m seriously so lucky that he picked me.”
I choked on my sparkling water. “Hold up there. You are not so lucky because he picked you. You don’t have to sit around and wait for a boy to pick you. That’s ridiculous. You have an entire life to live. Don’t spend it waiting on some boy to pick you.”
She nodded slowly. “So, about you and Nate...did he pick you?”
I cleared my throat and ignored her question. “What time are you going to be back?”
“Midnight.”
I raised my eyebrows.
She tugged at a lock of thick brown hair. “Eleven?”
I shook my head.
With a frustrated huff, she tucked her hair behind her ear. “Fine. I’ll be home by ten.”
“All right. You’re missing out on the bonfire tonight, though. Don’t forget to text me when you get there.” I picked up her phone off the counter and handed it to her. I swear she was the only teenage girl who didn’t like phones. I had to force her to use one. She thought they were a waste of time. But they weren’t a waste of my time. That phone was my connection to my baby sister; it let me know all was well with her.
Wren narrowed her eyes at me as she stomped past and out the door. “You’re so strict. All the other kids stay out until midnight. It’s Friday, after all!”
“Yes, it’s Friday, and you’re still fifteen. Are Jadyn’s parents picking you up?”
Wren tucked her phone into her back pocket. Hopefully, she remembered it was there before she sat down. “I’m meeting him there. See you later!”
She practically sprinted out the door before I could quiz her about the date she was going on. I didn’t exactly qualify as intimidating, so I didn’t know why it would matter if I met the boyfriend or not. It’s not like he would be scared of me.
“Call me when you need a ride!” I practically screamed after her. I didn’t mind her walking to the theater when it was still daylight. But when it got dark? That was a completely different matter. I’d had to take one too many walks in the dark as a child, and I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t make Wren do the same.
Wren: Can you pick me up at the theater?
I finished packing away my makeup I’d been taking flat-lay photos of. Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already time for the movie to be over. After I collapsed my ring light, I unlocked my phone and texted her back.
Riley: 5 min away.
I shut my laptop down, grabbed
