First

‘Argh! Fine, you smug jerk!’

He cocks his head to the side and examines me. I don’t really like it. He’s too quiet, too thoughtful. Finally he breaks that horrible silence. ‘What do you really want out of this, brown eyes? Are you looking for your Prince Charming? Your happily ever after?’

‘No. I mean …’ I shake my head, realising his question is actually valid. ‘No. I’m not. I’m curious. I’m tired of hearing all my friends gush about their hook-ups while I nod and pretend I have a clue what they’re talking about.’

Dally doesn’t comment and a tiny shred of hope flares to life.

‘I’m tired of feeling like I’m missing out on something. Something that could be really good.’

He chuckles at that. ‘You want something good? Now I’m really glad I punched that fucker. He would have ruined it for you.’

‘I asked you first,’ I blurt out, immediately regretting that I reminded him.

His expression sharpens, eyes flicking over my face with some unnamed intent. ‘Yeah, you did.’

‘And when you said no, I figured it couldn’t be that hard to find someone else.’

‘Ouch. Didn’t think I was so replaceable.’

It hurts to admit it. ‘You’re not.’

My words hang between us and I really wish he’d let me have the damn helmet so I can hide my face.

‘I just want to feel normal, Dally. After everything that’s happened, I really want to be normal,’ I mumble. ‘And maybe this would help.’

I immediately regret sharing that. I may allow myself to be unfiltered around Dally, but I’ve always been careful to not let any of those deeper problems seep out. He was around to watch me grieve my parents and his stoicism is part of what helped me pull my own act together. To say this now is a slap in the face to the guy who put his own life on hold to make sure I had a chance at growing up as normally as possible. My humiliation must be transparent because he hands the helmet back without another word.

I’m busy putting it on when he says, ‘Fine. I’ll do it.’

I fumble and rip the helmet off, scalp stinging when I take some of my hair with it. ‘What?’

He’s off the bike, getting back on the right way, looking out at the ocean, avoiding eye contact. ‘I said I’ll do it.’

I want to say something, thank him, but he looks over his shoulder, brow furrowed. ‘Not tonight.’

‘Fine.’

‘Before you graduate though. I promise.’

‘Oh, Dally—’ I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face against his back, squeezing tightly. ‘Thank you!’

He shifts uncomfortably. ‘Yeah. No thanking me. That makes it weird.’

I release him. ‘Right. Sorry.’

He fully turns to me now and points, deadly serious. ‘Your brother does not find out. Ever.’

‘Okay! Jake doesn’t find out.’ I wrinkle my nose. ‘I wouldn’t tell him about my first time anyway. Eww.’

Dally shakes his head. ‘Put on your helmet, Cat. I’m working again tomorrow and after this cluster it is guaranteed to be the longest shift of my life.’

‘I am so sorry. But I swear you won’t regret this,’ I assure him as I slip back into the helmet.

I’m pretty sure it’s not only my imagination when he mutters, ‘Somehow I doubt that.’

Day 3 — Mid-Morning

Dally’s long gone at work when I finally drag myself out of bed. My head aches, my mouth tastes like I’ve been sucking on a shoe all night, and I’m pretty sure I’m part vampire due to my photosensitivity. Thank God I only had two shots of tequila on top of the wine. Any more and I think I’d be a goner.