Page 19 of That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend

He leans in closer. “Can you hear me now?”

“Stop messing with me. What did you say?”

“What do you want me to say, Kasey Graham?”

Uncle Cubby takes a sharp turn, and out of nowhere, I’m knocked off balance. Thanks to my extra-awkward crouching, I fall directly onto Beau. He manages to catch me with one arm and hold us steady with the other. Wow. Grownup Beau is strong. I tip my chin until our noses are practically touching, and I can almost taste the peppermint on his breath. When his lips part—just a sliver—my heart begins to pound. The air is warm around us. The sky is filled with stars. Beau is staring at me in the moonlight, his gaze roaming my face. When my whole body starts to tremble, he must feel the shaking. Maybe he’s waiting for my signal, letting me decide.

Slowly, ever so slowly, I find myself inching toward him. Closer and closer until his lips brush mine. Oh so soft. Oh so sweet.Oh my stars.

I’m kissing Beauregard Slater.

Like an explorer researching a map, he moves his mouth downward, gently feathering his lips along my jawline. He’s blazing a trail of heat on my skin now, but it’s his tenderness that sets me on fire. I’m so lost in the banging of my heart, I have to remind myself to breathe. But when I pause to suck in air, Beau breaks free from me.

“Kasey.” He pulls away, darting his gaze up at the cabin of the truck. Why did he stop? His eyes are wide and expectant as he stares at the back window above us. But what exactly is he expecting?

A chill runs up my spine.

Beau must be setting me up again. Brady’s probably about to open the window and pelt me with another bucket full of water balloons. How could I fall for their games again? They must think I’m so easy to play. Then. Now. Always.

The cold reality crashes over me. Beau isn’t interested. I’ll bet he only let our kiss happen so he could turn around and reject me. Now he can feel like he’s come out on top once and for all. Beau Slater. The ultimate winner. He always wanted to beat me. Newspaper editor. Class president. Yearbook. Valedictorian. After all these years, I should’ve known better than anyone that Beau doesn’t follow the rules. Heat floods my face, and I’m about to shove him away.

And that’s when the gunshots start.

ChapterSeven

BEAU

Quick as a flash, I whip Kasey down and cover her whole body with mine. Not because I’m taking advantage of her. I’d never do that. My only goal is to protect her from whatever’s shooting at us. So we’re pressed against one another, and I feel her heart banging at my chest. But I don’t have time to get scared, because out of nowhere another round of fireworks explodes. That’s right. Fireworks. In the sky.

Yeah. Good job, dummy.

Kasey squirms underneath me. “Wait. Was that—what is happening?”

“I’m so sorry.” I roll off her, shaking my head. “I thought for sure I heard bullets back there, but the village must be testing out the fireworks for the 4th.”

Kasey props herself up on an elbow and stares at me. I can’t blame her. I just made a huge fool of myself trying to save her. From fireworks. What an idiot.

“Are you all right?” I ask. “Did I crush you?”

She opens her mouth—that cherry red mouth—but before she can answer, the truck slows to a stop. We’ve arrived at the Grahams’ house, and the car our parents are in pulls up next to us. I look up just in time to see Brady and Natalie in the front seat of the truck. They’ve been watching us through the back window. Watching me kiss Kasey. Busted.

Brady raps on the glass, probably practicing to knock my teeth out. Nat hops out first, and Brady follows her. They both come around to the back of the truck while I sit there next to Kasey, preparing to defend myself.

Brady slaps the side of the truck. “Are you two staying in there all night?” Kasey scrambles to the edge of the tailgate, and I climb out after her. I’m ready to take my lumps.

“Hey, man,” Brady says. I cock my head, searching for signs of rage. But there’s no stiff jaw. No murderous eyes. None of the warnings Brady sent when we were fifteen, and he caught me smiling at his sister. “Did you see the fireworks back there?” He grins. Just Brady being Brady.

“Yep. Sure did,” I say.Plenty of fireworks.

I glance at Kasey, expecting her to ridicule me and tell everyone I thought there were gunshots, but she’s not making eye contact. Oh man, kissing her was such a bad idea. For all the reasons.

Another round of fireworks goes off, and I duck.Idiot.My throat’s still hot when my mom and Mrs. Graham approach.

“Wasn’t that caroling so much fun?” asks Mrs. Graham.

My mother shoots me a look that says,Do not answer honestly.

“Fun.” I nod. “Totally.”

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