Page 17 of Paper Hearts

“Uh, sure.” I step inside their home with her, and she smiles. “And we can spy on your sisters.”

I laugh. “If you’re ready for that.” I know there’s a fire by the lake tonight, same as every night, and my sisters always go out there and hang out with the boys, oblivious to my parents. Or maybe they know and don’t do anything to stop them. I’m not sure.

Wanting slushies, Arya and I walk inside, and I notice Ender on the couch, sprawled out with his feet up, and Myles, Roman and Walker are next to him. They must have come in through the back because I didn’t see them pass us.

“Hads got out of the house?” Ender grins, rolling a baseball around in his hand. Gone is the cowboy hat and boots and he’s left in board shorts—all muscles and tan lines I want to lick.

Gross, Hads.

“I did.” I stare at his chest, stomach, long legs, and my heart beats faster.

“Bro, you’re up.” Myles throws a controller at Ender’s head.

Ender catches it without effort and smacks Myles with his other hand. “You died.”

Myles stares at the large flat-screen TV mounted on the black wall. “Damn.”

My eyes scan the room I’ve never seen before. Everything is dark—black walls, gray shades, black lounge chairs and a lighted bar area with a slushy and popcorn machine mounted on the stone countertop near the back wall. There’s a large coffee table situated in front of the lounge chairs. Around the boys are bags of chips and cans of Pepsi along with a few beer cans. I don’t know what to make of the beer. I’ve never even tasted it before, but I don’t think I will like it. Brenna told me it’s bitter. I wonder if Ender drank them. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.

Lana comes into the room, her eyes narrowing on her oldest son. “Ender, I swear to God, if you’re drinking beer, I’m going to knock you in the damn head.”

“Not mine,” he says, casually, handing off the game controller to Myles.

Lana rolls her eyes as if she doesn’t believe him and leaves.

A new game begins and ends, and Walker loses to Myles at whatever game they’re playing. Arya laughs. “You suck.”

Walker shoves his hand in her face. “Like you can do any better, short shit.”

Arya growls, her fists clenched. “I’m going to be taller than you, butt-face.”

“Not likely.”

They start yelling at each other, and Ender slams his fist into Walker’s shoulder. “Don’t touch my sister.”

Walker doesn’t listen and continues to taunt Arya. “You’re such a bitch,” he tells her, trying to put her in a headlock. She fights back, but it’s no use.

“Hey,” Ender barks over the commotion at Roman, who is trying to hold Arya still so the guys can pick on her. He stops and stares at Ender’s loud bark. “I said knock it off. Don’t touch my sister.”

They stop immediately, and it’s clear Ender controls most everyone and everything around him. As if I had any doubt. I know when I’m in the same room with him my brain tells me to back away and my heart says fall, he’ll catch you. But will he?

After we make slushies, Lana kicks us outside so she can make supper, which leaves us down by the lake, as are most kids. There’s at least twenty of us at the swimming hole, Becca and Harper included. Part of me is annoyed they’re down there. Don’t they have better things to do?

That’s when Ender takes my slushy from my hand and starts drinking it. “Why do you keep doing that?” I ask, glaring at him and reaching for it. “First my soda, now my slushy? I took a lot of time mixing those flavors.”

“It’s good.” He grins and holds it out of my reach. He stares down at me, still holding my slushy in his hand. “And I do it because it pisses you off and I like you mad.”

My shoulders tighten as I watch his lips close around the straw and he sucks in a drink. “Why would you like me mad?”

There’s a playful twinkle to his eyes as he swallows and licks his cherry-red lips. “You’re pretty when you’re mad.”

“Are you going to drink it all again?” My heart beats so loud I think maybe he can hear it. I lift my eyes to his arm. It’s muscular like the rest of him.

“Maybe.” He breathes in and then with a Southern drawl I haven’t heard yet, whispers, “Why?”

“Because it’s mine.”

“Nah, I don’t think I will.” His eyes search mine and I notice he’s closer than before. Our chests are practically touching.

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