Make Me Yours

“As if you’d teach him not to touch what he can’t have.” He’s talking to Mack, but he’s glaring at me.

“Come on, Carl.” Mack’s voice is placating. “You know it wasn’t like that.”

The man lifts a trembling hand, and a sheen of perspiration is on his forehead. I don’t know what they’re talking about, but he looks like he needs a drink. Whatever’s going on, I won’t cower to Carl Harris.

He returns to his car, pointing for his children to get in the vehicle.

“Didn’t you want that tune-up?” Mack calls after him.

“I changed my mind. We’re not going anywhere.”

He can say that again. I hold steady as he fumbles with the keys to start the engine. As if drawn by magnetism, my eyes move to the clear blue ones watching me from the back seat with a very different expression.

Drew smiles, and heat fills my lower body. I smile back, watching as she drives away.

“Finish up that work order.” My uncle starts for the T-bird waiting under the plastic cover. “And don’t chase after trouble.”

I tear my eyes off the beautiful blonde in the sexy sports car. I know he’s right. I should stay away from Drew Harris. Nothing good can come of getting mixed up with her.

It’s too bad I’m not very good at doing what I should.

1

Drew

Grayson Cole’s eyes will stop your heart, but his lips will get it going again…

Four years later

My brother is slaughtering The Righteous Brothers as we walk through the door of my grandparents’ lake house. “You never close your eyes anymore…”

“God, Danny is such a dork.” Ruby wrinkles her tiny nose. “Four years, and he’s still doing that Top Gun shit?”

Stick-straight, glossy black hair swishes around her ears. She’s a sassy Constance Wu and my very best friend.

“He loves that song.”

The roar of voices swallows my reply. I hate parties like this. I’d rather be home watching Stranger Things on Netflix in my pajamas. Only one person could get me to come here—or the sadness of saying goodbye to that one person.

“Your brother needs to get a life,” she shouts, leading the way.

I can’t argue. Danny’s been doing this routine song since he decided to join the Navy in high school. Now he’s a Marine. It’s four years later, and we’re on the eve of his departure for God knows where (they won’t tell us) with his best friend Grayson Cole.

Gray, who has every nerve ending in my body buzzing with anticipation.

The lake house technically belongs to my dad now, since my grandparents died, but he never comes here. After my mom passed ten years ago, he pretty much stopped leaving our big house in Oakville altogether. Danny and I are the only ones who come here. It’s our summer escape, our winter retreat, and of course, Party HQ.

“It’s sad, really.” Ruby dodges a guy pushing out of the kitchen, red Solo cup in hand.

I strain my eyes for Gray as I answer. “How so?”

“Well… Danny never takes his eyes off Leslie, and Leslie never takes her eyes off Gray.”

“Danny never takes his eyes off Leslie’s boobs,” I quip, real irritation in my voice.

Gray does not look at her.

He looks at me.