His nose grazes against mine and I feel the simple brush of a kiss across my lips. Quick and sweet.
“When you and I kiss for the first time, there won’t be any mistake,” Dexter says quietly.
And then he’s gone.
I wait a beat, then two, until I’m sure they’re all back across the water. I strip off the blindfold and catch a glimpse of four handsome boys with four identical smirks. I’m overheated. Overjoyed. And do the only thing I can think of.
I hop off the rock and sink into the water—cooling off my skin, my body, and wishing away the flame of desire I unwittingly stoked and I’m sure I’ll never be able to douse.
17
The phone rings not long after I’ve returned from the hike and taken a shower. I’m in my room when Leelee shouts that my mother is on the phone. I pick up the extension—a pink princess model left over from my mother’s teenage years.
“Mom?”
“Starlee! You’re a hard person to get in touch with.”
“Ah well, you know how the busy season is.”
“I do vaguely recall that,” she says. “You guys prepping for the Fourth of July festival?”
“Yep. I’ve got a whole list of supplies to get in June Lake tomorrow.”
It feels weird not telling her about my day—my momentous day—my first kiss(es), the picnic the boys made for me, the boys in general…but I know what her response will be and I don’t want anything to spoil the day.
“You’re going to June Lake alone?”
“I, uh,” I coil the phone cord around my finger, “no. I think Katie, one of the other workers, is going with me.”
I’m glad this call is over landline and not FaceTime or video chat.
“Is Katie your age?”
“She’s a little older. I don’t know her very well, but Leelee’s known her for a long time. She’s a nice person.”
I hear her emit a little “hmm” as though she’s trying to decide how safe this girl is. Even from across the country, my mother is trying to control my life.
“So, what are you doing for the Fourth,” I ask, switching gears. We didn’t normally do much, but maybe with me gone she’ll get out. Mom starts to answer when I hear a click against my bedroom window. I walk over and push back the curtain. A figure leans against the fence behind the house.
Dexter.
Now that’s a surprise. I smile and wave.
“So anyway, I think maybe I’ll just spend the day at home catching up on some contracts. It’s too hot and humid to do much of anything outside.”
“Right,” I hear myself saying, even though I’m not paying much attention. Dexter pushes himself off the fence and walks to the window. Holding the phone in the crook of my neck, I unlatch the lock and slide it up. “Well that sounds fun.”
“Paperwork sounds fun?”
“What?” I try to focus but Dexter’s blue eyes are taunting me. “Sorry, I’m just really tired. Long day.”
“I’ll let you get your rest. I just wanted to check up on you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” When I say ‘Mom’, Dexter raises an eyebrow.
“And be careful in June Lake, okay? I know it seems like a sleepy town but be aware of your surroundings.”
“Gotcha.”