Page 97 of The Summer of Wild

"You look..." Wilder trails off as his eyes rake over my body in the driveway.

I smile as I twist to show him my backside. "I know."

He clears his throat. "You ready?"

"Yep," I nod as Wilder opens the passenger door. I place a hand on his chest and give his lips a chaste kiss before sliding into the seat, my heart beating wildly in my chest.

He walks around the front of the car, and I chuckle to myself as he adjusts his pants. Yeah, he's going to be hard all night long. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.

He keeps one hand on the steering wheel and the other firmly on my thigh as he drives to the outdoor concert venue at the Civic Center across town. I tangle my fingers with his as the sun dips beneath the horizon, coloring the sky magenta and violet.

I take a deep breath as I stare up at the stars. A few are shining brightly as daylight slips quietly away, giving the moon space to glow.

"What are you thinking about?" Wilder asks me.

I glance over at him and see that he's studying me. Even when he's driving, he's still watching me.

"I was looking at the stars," I tell him.

"Do you remember that camping trip we went on with Cash freshman year?" he asks as he squeezes my fingers.

"How could I forget?" I laugh. "We had to share two sleeping bags because Cash didn't tell me to bring one."

"Everyone knows you're supposed to bring a sleeping bag when they're invited on a camping trip," he argues playfully.

"We unzipped both of them," I recount. "And used one as padding on the hard ground and then I squished between the two of you to keep warm. We fought over the single sleeping bag on top of us all night long."

"Yeah," Wilder exhales. "Cash ended up stealing most of it."

"I remember," I roll my eyes.

"And you were shivering," he continues. "So, I wrapped an arm around you."

"You did?"

"I did," he confirms. "You stopped shivering after that."

"I thought you hated me," I swallow hard.

"I never hated you, Blondie."

"Even then?"

"Even then," he repeats.

"But Cash saw me first, right?"

Wilder licks his lips as we come to a halt in front of a stoplight. "Cash was there for me when no one else was."

"I know." My heart feels heavy like a sandbag. "So, we hide this thing between us from him forever?"

"I always wanted you," he ignores my question. "But it was never because Cash had you. I wanted you because I... I..."

He can't say the words out loud. The same words that always get caught in my throat. Words that will make whatever we're doing real.

When the summer started, I don't think either of us meant for this to. I didn't mean to fall for Wilder. I didn't mean to drive a wedge between his friendship with Cash. But I did.

"Me too," I clear my throat, hoping he knows I feel the same way. "Cash will come back one day, so I'm only going to say this once because I'm not sure I'll be able to work up the nerve to say it again. When Cash does return, please don't push me away. I know you have a lifetime of friendship with him, but I don't want to lose you. I... I've had years with you, too. I know it's not the same, but you're my only friend. The only person who gets me. I stopped enjoying my life when I started dating Cash. Fanny made me feel like... like I didn't deserve anything good. If Cash did something nice for me, it made her angry. She'd lash out and say things that made me feel bad for being happy. I felt bad that Cash loved me. Then, you came along. I forgot what it felt like to laugh before you, Wilder. If you choose him over me, I get it. If, however, there's a part of you that feels anything remotely like love for me, can you please consider picking me over him?"

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