Dare You To (Pushing the Limits 2)

I can hear Gwen’s smile. “But you promised we’d be friends. I’m being a good friend. ”

Friends. I hate that word. “You’re right.

Beth is pretty. ”

“She has a nose ring. ” Gwen’s lost the smiling voice.

“I think it’s sexy. ” I do.

“I heard she smokes cigarettes. ”

“She’s trying to quit. ” Yeah, I made that up.

“I heard she has a tattoo on the small of her back. ”

Interesting. “I haven’t gotten that far, but I’ll let you know if I do since we’re friends and all. ”

An image plays in my mind of lifting the back of Beth’s shirt to reveal her skin, my caress causing her to smile. I bet her skin is smooth, like petals. My fingers fidget with the desire to touch Beth and my blood warms with the idea of her whispering my name. Damn.

The girl really does turn me on. I run a hand over my head, trying to rid my mind of the thought. What the hell?

“Ryan. I’m not kidding. She’s not your type. ”

“Then tell me who is. ” I say it with more anger than intended, but I’m tired of the game.

“Not her, okay?” Gwen pleads.

The image of touching Beth taunts and confuses me. Three quick raps on my door and Mom enters. “I’ve gotta go. ”

“`Night,” Gwen says with disappointment.

Mom wears a matching blue blazer and skirt. She attended a women-only dinner with the mayor’s wife this evening. “Am I interrupting?”

“No. ” I toss my phone onto the bedside table.

“You sounded a little upset. ” Mom walks over to my dresser, appraises her reflection in the mirror, then readjusts her pearl necklace. “I could hear you in the hallway. ”

I shake my head. “Just Gwen. ”

Her hands freeze on her necklace and a smile curves her lips. “Are you together again?”

“No. ” Mom loved Gwen and I think the breakup was hardest on her.

She continues her grooming. “You should consider it. I heard that both you and Gwen were nominated for homecoming court. ”

News travels at lightning speed in our town.

“Yeah. ”

“You know, your father and I were nominated for homecoming courts. Both fall and winter. ”

“Yep. ” She mentioned it. A million times.

They won both times too. If her continued retelling of the events didn’t refresh my memory, the pictures hanging in the family room of them dancing with crowns on is a good reminder.

“I also heard that Scott Risk’s niece was nominated. ”

“Uh-huh. ” If Mom knows everything, then why is she bothering me?