Page 36 of My Life with the Walter Boys
She unscrewed the cap, and I realized what I liked so much about these girls. They knew about my family, that much was evident from the first time I met Heather, and they loved to gossip, yet they never once broached the subject. It had come up through offhand comments that I didn’t realize I was making, but these girls maneuvered around them gracefully, as if I hadn’t said anything.
“Why not?” I told Heather, dropping down next to her and tucking my legs underneath me.
“So,” she said, starting to apply the bright red liquid to my pinkie, “can you tell us a little more about that near kiss?”
I made a face. “Not this subject again,” I said, but I couldn’t pull away. Heather was bent over my hands, the tiny brush moving carefully. “I thought we were done talking about Cole.”
“Please, Jackie?” Riley begged. “Don’t you know how amazing this is? One of us has actually been near enough to Cole Walter to kiss him.”
I didn’t want to recollect that particular experience—I was embarrassed that I let it happen—but I knew they wouldn’t stop interrogating me until they heard every last detail. On the upside, the way Riley saidusmade me feel special.
“Okay, all right,” I groaned, giving in quickly. It was easier that way, just getting it over as fast as possible. “What do you want to know?”
Their questions came at me faster than I could answer.
“What did he smell like?”
“Was he holding your hand?”
“How close did your lips get?”
“Did he tuck your hair behind your ear?”
It was suddenly quiet, as both girls waited for me to say something.
“Um?” I answered, looking back and forth between the two.
“How about this,” Riley said in a serious voice, as if we needed to resolve some huge issue. “Why don’t we ask Jackie one question at a time?”
“Me first,” Heather said, looking up from her work. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad did you want him to kiss you?”
“Oh, that’s a good one,” Riley said, nodding her head at Heather.
“Ahhh?” I said with a frown.
Truthfully, I hadn’t the slightest idea. I mean, it wasn’t like I was staring at Cole’s lips, waiting for the moment he would kiss me. Everything just kind of happened. We were standing there, we were close, and something—an energy of some sort—was moving between us. I didn’t even know what was happening until it was all over. How was I supposed to rate a feeling like that?
“We’re waiting,” Riley said.
“I guess a five?” I said, hoping that wasn’t creepy high.
“Only?” Heather said, looking disappointed. “I would have thrown myself at him.”
At that moment, my bedroom door slammed open.
“Jackie wants to kiss Cole!” Benny shouted at the top of his lungs. My heart stopped when I saw him. How long had he been listening?
Alarmed, I shot to my feet. “That’s not true, Benny,” I said slowly. “Why would I want icky boy germs?” There was no way he was leaving my room shouting something like that. If Cole heard him…
“Jackie and Cole sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” He sang louder and louder, his voice cracking at the end.
“Benny Walter,” I said sternly. “If you don’t stop this instant—” I lost my words midsentence when I noticed what was on his head. “Oh my God, is that my bra?”
I tried to snatch it back, but Benny was faster, darting away like a minnow. He leaped onto my bed and started jumping up and down.
“I got your booby holder!” he taunted me.
Kim, who was still curled up on my comforter trying to read, glared up at him. “Hey, kid,” she said, sternly and forcefully. “You’re going to wreck my comic.”
