I take the envelope from him, slide out a dark brown folder, and open it. There’s Scott looking sharp in his black tux with his arms around a tall blonde stranger. “This is me?”
He nods his head. “One of you.” He stares for a moment. “I think I like this one better.”
I manage an embarrassed smile. “That was the best night. You were so sweet. Thought of everything.”
“What did you like best?”
“The brownies—no, the dancing.” I get redder remembering how we slow danced.
“Too bad Colby is such a creep.”
I lean against the doorway with one leg bent up, like a stork. “It did make it exciting.”
“But we didn’t get to dance again.”
“That’s right—you owe me a nice long slow dance.” I can say that now. I have Derek. I can tease Scott. We’re friends.
“Okay.” He doesn’t look at me like a friend. He looks at me like Derek does. He seems taller. Could he finally be growing? And he’s been at the beach. His hair is blonder, and he’s got a great tan. Scott messes with his iPod, moves in really close, hands me an ear bud—the first slow song we danced to plays. He puts the other end in his ear. “Dance with me, Beth.” He smiles like he’s playing around, but the intensity I read deep in the blue of his eyes says something else.
His arms go around me. He pulls me tight and lays his face on my chest. Shoot, he’s wearing that same aftershave he had on prom night. I can’t resist touching his shoulders. His bare leg brushes mine while we move to the music.
I close my eyes, and the lyrics take me back to that night:Remember when you first held me?
And I believed love could be?
Your lips awoke my senses.
You melted my defenses.
“You need to tell me something, Bethie.” Scott raises his face. “I’ll never bug you about it again, but it’s driving me crazy. Promise you won’t get mad?”
“At you? I’m never mad at you.” I stroke his head like at prom. Derek won’t mind. Scott’s my friend.
“Why didn’t you let me kiss you good night? One kiss. What’s so awful?”
Man, it’s hot out. Sticky. “You wanted to kiss me?” I really need a fan. How can he still do this to me? I have a boyfriend. I’m not starving anymore.
“Wasn’t that obvious? Why did you run like that?”
I don’t answer. Whispers of the words I wrote after my escape float through my memory.Can’t you see how much you have changed?
Frightened to move? Yeah, I’m the same.
Insides yearning—can I walk away again?
“Bethie?” Scott stops moving and takes me by the shoulders. The little boy is gone from his face. He’s a full-fledged guy—not cute anymore. He’s handsome.
I bend down and whisper, “I thought it would gross you out.” It feels good to finally say it. “All night I wanted to attack you.”
“Attack me?”
I nod. I need to let go of him—get away from his mouth too close to mine. And those shoulders. I need to run from those shoulders.
“I don’t understand.” His voice is low—sexy—irresistible. “Do you think you can show me?” He closes his eyes and presses upward on his toes, reaching his lips to meet mine.
I forget everything. We’re back at the prom. He wants me. He always wanted me—even when I was ugly. He’s not grossed out. He’s turned on. I inhale him, clutch his shoulders, close my eyes, and let my lips brush his.Could you want me? If it’s a joke,
Please don’t haunt me—dreams in smoke.
Crap. I’m kissing my best friend.
And he kisses me back. Major kisses me back. It’s not smooth and tender like Derek. Scott’s lips are hard on mine—way intense. Too much teeth. But I ache for more when he finally releases me.
He traces my lips with his fingers. “Virgin lips meet virgin lips. I’ve been waiting since fourth grade to do that.”
I bend my head to kiss him again and then pull back with a start. Derek. I have to tell Scott. I try to start, but he meets my mouth more than halfway. He’s better at it this time. I try to push him off, but he fights back, presses his body to mine. I stop resisting. Get way too into it.
He finally lets me loose.
“Scott, Scottie.” I’m breathless from kissing him and feeling so bad at what I’m going to say. “We need to stop this.”
He smiles and hugs me. “Yeah. I had late lunch break. I gotta get back. But I’m off at five. I’ll come over, and we can do that some more. Maybe it won’t rain, and we can go to the beach.”
“Just shut up a minute. My lips—aren’t—virgin lips.”
“Not anymore.” He tries to kiss me again, but I pull back this time, pull his arms off so he’s not holding me.
“I met a guy at the Choral Olympics.”
“Wait. What?” He grabs me by the shoulders and glares. “What happened? What are you saying?”
I shrink back from him. “I got some bad news. He was sweet and . . . it just happened.”
“But I’m your—”
“Friend.”
“No. Beth. No. Not anymore. I’m sick of that. I’ve loved you forever. This creep—whoever he is—doesn’t care about the real Beth. Not like I do. You don’t have to fake it with me. I want to be your boyfriend. You want it, too. I can tell.” His hands slip from my shoulders to my back, and he draws me closer.
“But what about—”
“I don’t care if you kissed a thousand guys in Switzerland.” He starts to lay his face down on my shoulder but jerks back up. “That’s all you did with him, right?”
“Scott! ”
“It doesn’t matter.” His arms tighten around me—brick hard. “Right now it’s you and me. Today. Tomorrow. And the day after that and the day after that. It’s always been you and me. It’s just taken us a while to grow into this part of it.” He kisses me, and he’s got so much love on his lips that it makes me cry.
I pull away from his mouth, sniff, and wipe my eyes. “The thing is . . . this guy and I are—” How can I do this to Scott? I have to, though. I’m with Derek. I want to be with Derek.
“Over. No big deal. I’m not upset.” His arms relax, and one hand moves up to stroke my hair.
I need to get away from him. We’re both sticky and hot. It’s so gross out. But I can’t let go. I clench my teeth and say, “We’re sort of involved.”
“Crap, Beth.” Scott’s hand freezes. “What are you saying?”
“I’m in the middle of this. I care, Scott. I really do, but—”
My cell phone rings. The sound floats out my bedroom window and coats us. I know it’s Derek. And even with Scott holding me, giving me his heart, a thrill of Derek desire shoots through me.
Scott looks up, curses. “I’m here, Beth. I’m real. That isn’t.” His mouth is on mine again. Warm. Hungry. So vulnerable.
But my cell keeps ringing.
I pull myself free of Scott.
“Please, Bethie. Don’t.”
I whisper, “I’m sorry, Scottie,” and race for my cell phone.
I get to my room too late. I look out at the cracked sidewalk with grass dying in the gaps. Scott’s car is still there. I pull down the window blind. The doorbell rings. I don’t answer.
I take my cell phone into my bathroom, shut the door and lock it, perch on the seat of my toilet like a giant bird roosting, staring at the phone.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
I’m so stupid. I flip open the phone, pull up the missed call, and hit the green button.
“Beth?” I close my eyes at the sound of Derek’s voice. “Were you still asleep?”