Page 19 of As Long As You Kiss Me

Chapter 5

“Do you have a crush on our history teacher too?” Kenzie asked Sully.

“What makes you say that?” Sully kept her face neutral.

“I saw you over there talking to him for a long time.”

“We’re old friends,” Sully clarified.

“Friends with benefits?” Ella chimed in.

“No. Nothing like that.” Unless you counted a kiss in a bar. But those girls didn’t need to know about that. They’d never let her hear the end of it.

“Well, I think you should go for him,” Kenzie said. “I think he likes you.”

“I’m sure he only sees me as nothing more than his best friend’s little sister.” Sully took a rag and wiped up a dot of melted ice cream from the counter.

“I don’t think so. Didn’t you see the way he was looking at you?” Kenzie asked.

She tossed the rag to the side. “He was looking at me in a normal way.”

“Yeah. Normal for a man in love,” Ella cooed.

She refrained from rolling her eyes. “What do you know about love anyway? You’re only fifteen.”

“Hey, I know plenty. I’ve had a boyfriend for two years,” Ella told her.

“Then you know more than I did at your age. When I was in high school, I never dated anyone because my brother kept scaring them off. He was a skinny kid, but he knew how to fight. Guys take that sort of thing pretty seriously.”

“I’d be so mad if I had a big brother who ruined my chances of having a boyfriend,” Ella said.

“What about you, Kenzie? Are you dating anyone?” Sully asked.

“Oh, yeah, she’s had a boyfriend since seventh grade.”

“You guys are making me look bad. I think you both have more dating experience than I do.”

“Weren’t you married before though?” Ella asked.

“Yes. But it didn’t last very long.”

“I think that counts way more than a high school relationship,” Kenzie insisted.

“Perhaps you’re right.” Sully took the rag and wiped down the rest of the counter. No one else was in the shop. “We need to restock the cups by the drink station.”

“I’ll do it,” Kenzie volunteered, heading to the storeroom where they kept the cups.

“Ella, can you get the broom and sweep? Let’s get this stuff done while we’re slow so you can go home earlier.”

“Sure.” Ella went into the back to grab the broom and dustpan.

The door to the shop opened, and Mason walked inside. Sully clutched at the counter in front of her, knuckles turning white.

“What are you doing here, Mason?”

“Why do you have to be so hostile? I’m allowed to have ice cream here, aren’t I?”

“Not when I told you to stay away from me. You’re not getting the message, and I thought I was pretty clear.”

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