I turn and see all three Combs boys and a stranger by their side, Campbell not so discreetly staring at Bea. Collins steps up between his brothers, arms crossed over one another on his broad chest, and my vision immediately locks in on the corded muscles of his arms that slither up and under a tight white tee. Clearing my throat and wiping the back of my hand across my mouth—certain I have crumbs or grease lining my lips—I notice Collins eyes following my movement, a look on his face I can’t quite put my finger on.
“Hey, guys,” I manage to say, gesturing their way and looking at my best friend with a panicked expression. “Bea, these are my neighbors—the twins, Campbell and Crandall—and their brother, Collins. Sorry, I don’t know you, but I’m Johnnie.” Iforce a smile and peer over at the strange man lingering behind the brothers.
He doesn’t say a word, but he, and his inky dark hair falling into his eyes, looks annoyed. He’s very attractive, but something unnerves me, and I shiver slightly. Noticing goose bumps, I run my hands over my arms.
I’m suddenly aware of the heat rising from the pavement below, and I look out across the water, the pink sky fading into an orange glow seeping beneath the horizon. The promise of cooler air in its wake.
Dark-haired new guy makes his way toward Bea and me with an extended hand.
“Nice to meet you, ladies. I’m Lee. We all grew up together. The Combs boys, my sister, and I. Figured I’d come to town and visit, it’s been a minute.”
I shake his hand, catching a whiff of stale cigarettes. When I look up and notice Collins’ eyes glued to where I’m shaking Lee’s hand, I can see his jaw tick, and I quickly recoil.
“We were just heading back to our place, ladies…care to join us?” Campbell turns his hat from forward to backward as he awaits a response.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Simultaneous answers from Bea and I leave me rolling my eyes, noticing the heart eyes she’s beaming his way.
Good lord, obvious much?
On the walk back to the trailer park, Bea and Campbell are off in their own world, Crandall and the extra tag-along seem to be in a heated conversation, and Collins and I are walking in silence. I’ve always been shy, but around him I feel all twisted more than normal. Like anything I say will come out sounding dumb, so I figure the less words, the better.
“So, what exactly brings you to Laken, Johnnie? I figured you were just visiting, but you haven’t left.”
He looks over at me with hesitation, like he’s worried about prying. He comes off very secure and confident but I notice the small details, reading him like we’ve known each other forever. The weird thing is, he seems to be the same with me. Like he knows what I’m thinking, it’s kind of alluring.
He’salluring.
I clear my throat and shake away the million thoughts running rampant in my head.
“Actually, I’ve always lived in Laken. I grew up here. Across town. My parents and I lived over in Golden Acres, it’s a subdivision on the golf course.”
“Okay, so where are they and why are you staying with Nan?” Once again, he talks with conviction but his eyes tell a different story.
“My dad got a job offer in Texas, but I didn’t want to leave before my senior year. That means I get to be roommates with Nan. My parents sold our house and left for San Antonio. So, here I am.
“You’re still in high school? How old are you?”
“Umm. Yeah, I’ll be eighteen in a few weeks, my birthday is June twenty-seventh. So, not too long. How old did you think I was? How old are you?” I give him a shy smile; not sure I want the answer to either of those questions.
Just then my foot slips off the sidewalk curb and Collins’ hand jolts out, grabbing my hip with his forearm pressed across my lower back. The heat from his skin darts directly to my cheeks and proceeds to radiate all the way down toward my Vans at the speed of light. My heart jumps and when I stop and stiffen, he promptly moves away, easing me toward the inside of the sidewalk, taking the side closest to the road. It’s like an instinct for him to protect me.
“Whoa, turbo. Don’t go breaking an ankle on my watch. Nan will have my ass. Not gonna lie, I’m kind of scared of her.” I look over as his gaze stays straight ahead and his lips tilt up.
A giggle escapes me, turning his smirk into something resembling laughter, a puff of air escaping his nose.
God, he’s cute.
“Anyway, Grace…” He smirks. “I’m nineteen. I graduated last year. And I had no idea how old you were, but I guess I just assumed you were around the same age as me.”
We’re sitting in the small living room of the Combs boys’ trailer a while later. I’m thoroughly enjoying the banter between Collins and me. It feels like the longer I sit here and talk to him, the less awkward I feel, moving into a place of comfort with him. He’s funny, always making me laugh. Changing his voice constantly to add dramatics to everything he says, making up words that don’t exist like they’ve been in the dictionary since the beginning of time. And making foolish facial expressions to really sell a story. I’ve never met anyone like him. The thing that surprises me most, is that he seems to actually enjoy talking to me. Usually, if I’m in the same room as my best friend, it’s a given she’ll receive all the attention. I’m always left feeling invisible. But the way Collins is looking at me right now, it’s like I’m the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen.
Heseesme.
And the feeling is certainly mutual.