Page 12 of The Kissing Part
Mackenzie rolls her eyes. “You’ve been warned.”
“Think you can handle Harper this time around?” I tease.
“Go see your long-lost love,” he says blandly.
“This is a job,” I bite out. “I’m doing this for the company.”
“Right,” Nathan says.
“Thank you!” Mackenzie carols.
* * *
As I drive to the city, my mind whirls with thoughts of Shayla. She crashed into my life once again, and just like the first time, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. Somehow I agreed to live with her because of course I will. My conscience couldn’t take it if anything happened to her. Am I crazy?
I blame Mackenzie for bringing the business into it, saying we need this job, and that Shayla specifically wanted me.
She wanted me. Only me.
Just before I left, I texted Shayla that I’d be taking the job for two weeks. I expected an enthusiastic response. What I got was:ok.
Really? Just ok? Guess this is no big deal to her, which is fine. No messy entanglements.
Is Shayla safe at work? Did Frankie go with her? Did he stick around last night?
I stop at a red light and debate texting Frankie. No, it’s fine. Of course Shayla wouldn’t leave herself vulnerable in the city.
Guilt stabs at me. I should’ve gone with her last night.
Shayla looked so-o-o damn good. It was like no time passed at all when she looked into my eyes. She’s not one of those actors who use plastic surgery to enhance their looks. She’s got the same face, same luscious lips, and bright blue eyes, fresh-faced like sunshine. I inwardly groan.Stop thinking about Shayla. No good can come of this.
I’ve got to get out of this deal. Two weeks is way too long. Why would I want money from the business that stole her away from me? The memories come flooding back.
4
Nine years ago…
Shayla stands on the end of the diving board in her sexy yellow bikini and blows me a kiss. My heart thumps harder. I don’t dare catch the kiss with my younger sister by a year and a half, Harper, here as a witness, but I can’t help my grin.
Shayla dives smoothly into the deep end with barely a splash. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. Smart too. She reads Russian literature for fun. I can’t believe my luck that Mom invited her to spend the summer with us in Connecticut. Even though she’s only sixteen, she has her own house in LA because she’s legally an emancipated minor. That means she declared herself independent from her mom. Her dad died long ago. Shayla’s an actor like Mom. The only rule for her to stay with us is no alcohol and no drugs, which is fine. We don’t need that shit to have fun.
She pops out of the water by me and beams. “Hey,you.”
“Hey,you,” I say warmly. My whole body feels warm whenever she’s near.
“Cannonball!” Harper shouts right before she soaks us.
“Harper!” Shayla yells.
As soon as Harper pops up, I splash her. She sputters and splashes me back. Harper’s always getting between me and Shayla. Okay, so they were friends first. They’re both sixteen. I’m seventeen. But Harper knows Shayla and I have a thing now. Everyone knows. It’s cool with my parents. Though Mom warned me that Shayla will likely be leaving if she gets another gig, and Dad warned me not to have sex with her because Shayla’s working on being more her authentic self, and sex would complicate things.
I don’t think sex would complicate things. It’s not like we haven’t done other stuff. Dad can be real weird about girls sometimes. Like he insists me and my brother, Rafael, act like “gentlemen” to women and girls, which means opening their door, letting them go first, helping them on with their coat. All this dumb stuff that Harper loves making us do. We have to practice on her.
Harper and Shayla hang on to the side of the pool, talking a mile a minute. I swim over to join them just as Harper says, “That’s so cool!”
“What’s so cool?” I ask.
Harper gets out of the pool, wringing her long brown hair out. “Shayla’s stepping in for Kat Lopez in the lead role forAngel Heart.”Angel Heartis a webcomic that was turned into a series of graphic novels. It’s huge. A dark fantasy involving angels and demons.
