Page 5 of Pretty Ruthless

Her parents approach as we talk to mine and she leaves my side to give her mom and dad a big hug. Her mom says something in her ear as she hugs her and Linda’s eyes look over to me. I watch as Claire’s head shakes from side to side in a ‘no’ motion. Linda’s lips purse as she lets her daughter go, weird, Linda is the most laid back lady I’ve ever met in my life so for her to be upset it must be something big. But then again, maybe Linda was asking if her daughter was coming home tonight and she wasn’t happy when Claire said no. Who knows, I’ll ask Claire about it when we get back in the truck and head to the after party.

We stand around for a while, chatting with our parents and parent’s of our friends. Brighton is a tight knit community and a lot of these people have known me since I was in my mom’s belly, Claire too.

“I’m ready to go when ever you are,” Claire whispers in my ear after Kennedy’s parents finally walk away.

“Let’s go,” I reply quickly. I don’t like wishing time away but I’m ready for this day to be over and the night to start. I’ve been pining for this girl since we were nine years old and not only is she mine now, she’s going to be mine forever.

***

Hours later, the elevator doors open and Claire and I pour out of them. I barely had the room keys from the front desk attendant before she was mauling me. I love that she’s as eager as I am for tonight. At the after party Claire and I tried and failed to not make eyes at each other all night. It wasn’t a secret that tonight was the night so when I left my house this morning for graduation prep my dad handed me a box of condoms and told me not to make a ten minute choice that will affect every minute of my life after. I scoffed at his ten minute comment, I’ll be lucky as fuck to last three the first time. I’ve had blue balls for Claire since eighth grade.

Her eyes hold mine as she steps backward into the room, the love shining through right now hits me right in the chest.

“I love you,” I tell her as I kick the door closed behind me. Claire pulls her t-shirt over her head as she turns towards the bed. Her tanned skin glows under the soft lighting and I’m mesmerized as I watch her reach behind her and undo the clasp of her black bra. The straps fall down to her arms and she holds the black fabric in front of her and looks over her shoulder at me.

“I love you too,” she says with a soft smile, I take a step forward and pull her body to mine. I need to touch her, to feel her skin against mine, right now. Her arms loop around my neck and I lower my lips to hers.

“Forever?” I say against her lips, a millisecond away from touching.

“And ever,” she replies before crashing her lips against mine.

Chapter 6

Claire

Present

Never, not once in my life, have I ever said ‘you know what sounds like fun? Karaoke.’ Who the fuck does this for fun, singing like a drowned cat in a paperbag.

The five of us sit at the booth waiting for our turn to sing and I have had pelvic exams that are less awkward than the five staring at each other with nothing to talk about. What do you say? ‘Hey, remember how we used to love each other? Ha, good times. Or hey remember when I broke your heart into ten thousand pieces not once but twice? What a riot. So how ya been?’ That’s freaking awkward.

We wrote the songs we’re singing on little note cards so nobody knows who’s going to go first. This is the shittiest game of Russian roulette I’ve ever played in my life.

Please don’t let me be first.

Justin, Devon’s friend who tagged along for the shit show, hops up from the booth and asks if any one wants a drink, we all say yes in unison because the only thing that could make this more awkward is alcohol. But, there is no fucking way I’m getting up on that stage and singing my heart out without some liquid courage.

“Dev, you wanna help Justin with me?” Dawson asks, clearly ready for an exit route.

He looks at Kennedy and my god I wish these two would just bone it out already. The sexual tension between the two of them could start a forest fire. Devon scoots his chair back as Dawson stands.

It’s completely unfair that he looks that good in grease covered jeans and a Henley rolled up on his delicious forearms. He doesn’t spare me a glance as he walks to the bar but I take mental photos in my head for when I get back to the house. Thank god I brought my vibrator because being this close to him is like being connected to a live wire. I know I said Kennedy and Devon have sexual tension but Dawson and I, we have Mt. St. Helens erupting, ash covering an entire state in its wake, impending doom storm clouds tension. I could get hit by lightning right freaking now and it wouldn’t feel have as electric as the feeling I get when I’m near him.

That’s why you left remember. You guys are like fire and gasoline.

Kennedy and I catch up quickly, I talk to her a few times a week so it’s not like we have a lot to talk about. I catch Devon staring at her out of the corner of my eye with heat and I can’t help the smirk that adorns my face.

“He’s looking at you again.” I whisper.

“Ughhhh,” she sighs but I think it’s fake.

“Count your blessings babe,” I say looking over at Dawson, he’s looking at me too, but not in a ‘I’d like to see what you look like in the morning’ look, it’s more of a ‘how many people would know it was me if I ran you over with my truck’ kind of look. I look away.

The boys rejoin the table with a bucket of opened beers on ice. I haven’t had a beer in years and I tentatively take one from the silver bucket.

“Sorry they don’t have Dom,” Dawson snips, caustically.

“Oh it’s fine, I was just thinking I haven’t drank a cold beer in years.” I reply sweetly.

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