There’s one thing on it I’m still not cool with.
“That was the coolest moment of my life.” She sighs later on while we’re relaxing in the treehouse.
The guys pretty much worshipped the ground she walked on after she proved she could hit just about any decent pitch thrown her way. I left that ball field feeling like I was a bodyguard to a celebrity or something.
Magnolia pulls a pen off one of the shelves and draws a line through item number five on her list.
There’s one item left to mark off.
She turns to me, eyes pleading. “Come on, Hollis. Would you please help me with this?” She holds up the list, gently waving it. “I need to experience it. Otherwise, I’ll have to wait years.”
I roll my eyes and laugh. “People do still kiss when they have braces, you know.”
She straightens. “How do you know?”
I duck my head and shrug. “Trust me, you’re makin’ a bigger deal out of it than it is.”
Silence hangs between us, and I finally raise my eyes to hers. She shoots up to her feet, staring at me with disbelief.
“You kissed somebody?”
I rake a hand through my hair. “Lora Ann came over a couple of months ago and asked me for help with her math homework.”
One blond eyebrow rises. “Guess that wasn’t all she needed your help with.” Her sharp tone has my spine stiffening.
“Hey.” I glare at her, anger surging through me as I stand, facing her. “She’s the one who kissed me.”
Magnolia flicks the end of her long ponytail back over her shoulder with a scowl on her face. “Oh, I’m sure you put up the fight of your life.” Her voice drips with sarcasm.
I step closer, my tone hard. “Look, I didn’t bring it up because it’s not important. She kissed me. I’d never be caught dead kissin’ someone who treats you like shit.” It was bad enough my dad made me be a gentleman and help her with her homework.
Of course, after Lora Ann left and I told him why I hadn’t wanted to help her—because she’s one of the main people who tease Magnolia about her teeth—he felt bad and said next time he’d cover for me and give an excuse.
She stares at me and I stare back, neither of us speaking. Finally, she whispers, “You cussed.”
My laugh is harsh. “That’s all you’ve gotta say?” I shake my head in frustration and stare down at the floor.
God, this sucks. We’ve never fought like this before. I mean, sure, we’ve had disagreements, but it was something simple like whether we should go bike riding first or head to the country club pool.
Nothing like this.
Her hand finds my clenched fist, and she gently uncurls my fingers to take my hand in hers. “Hollis,” she says softly. “I’m sorry.”
I exhale loudly. “Me, too.” I raise my eyes to hers, startled by how close she is now. Her blue eyes study me.
“I just thought—” She breaks off and looks away before refocusing on me. “Would you please just help me cross that off my list? It’ll only take a second. I promise.” When I hesitate, she tips her head to the side. “Or I might accidentally slip up and tell your dad you cussed.”
I raise my eyebrows with a smirk. “We both know who taught me to cuss.”
With an exasperated sound, she says, “Fine. Then I’ll tell your mom.”
That wipes away my smirk. Because my mom’s a different story. I’d rather steer clear of her altogether.
Magnolia shoves at me half-heartedly with a small smile. “Oh, for the love of all that’s holy… You know I’d never say a word to your mom.” Her features turn serious. “Now, please? Will you help me? All you have to do is stay still.”
I scowl. “Stay still?” I tip my head to the side. “I reckon you’ve been googlin’ the wrong thing if you think that’s how kissin’s done.”
She rolls her eyes and closes the distance between us. Resting her palms on my shoulders, she’s closer than she normally is, and it makes me nervous.
Lifting to her tiptoes, she brings her mouth closer to mine. “Just give me a sec.” Then her lips press lightly over mine, and a zing of electricity shoots through me. My hands move to her waist, gently holding her in place.
This is totally different than when Lora Ann ambushed me. With her, I’d felt nothing except the wetness from her sloppy excuse for a kiss. But Magnolia… There’s nothing sloppy about this.
She backs away, her eyes opening, but I stop her with my hands on her waist.
“I, uh, think you should try it again.” I clear my throat, trying to play it cool. “Just because it’ll be so long. Like you said.”
Her eyes search my face for a moment before she nods slowly. “Okay,” she says in a whisper.
I dip my head and brush my lips against hers, the contact making my heart thud like crazy in my chest. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I can’t stop kissing her. This might not actually be my first kiss, but for me, this is the real one. The kind Magnolia always talked about back when she’d make me play wedding with her. A kiss that’s perfect.
I don’t open my eyes, but whisper against her lips, “Magnolia, I—”
The vibrating sound has us jumping apart, and Magnolia spins around to where she laid her cell phone.
I scrub my hands over my face and wait for her to get off the phone with her mom.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I will.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“No, I’m not too dirty.”
“I’ll be right home.”
Finally, she ends the call. She stares down at her cell phone for a long moment before slowly turning to face me.
“Everythin’ okay?”
She nods before suddenly a sunny grin forms on her face. She snags the pen and marks off her list before meeting my eyes.
“Thanks, Hollis.” She steps up and wraps her arms around me, giving me a brief hug. “You helped me mark everythin’ off my list.” She backs away. “I have to run home. See you tomorrow, okay?”
She disappears out the door before I can find any words.
She thanked me for helping her get through her list. Including that kiss. Her first.
She acted like it was nothing.
“Because it probably wasn’t,” I mutter, disgusted with myself.
I toss myself down onto one of the large cushions and stare up at the ceiling. “You got all bent out of shape over somethin’ that didn’t even faze her.”
I need to let it go.
Even though, deep down, a small part of me tries to put up one heck of a fight not to.
Magnolia
TWELVE YEARS OLD
I race through Hollis’ backyard like those brain-eating zombies we used to pretend were chasing after us when we were younger actually are chasing me. My heart races, thudding so loud it echoes in my ears.
I kissed Hollis.
I kissed my best friend.
On the lips.
Everyone else I know has had their first kiss.
Except me.
I trust Hollis, which is why I wanted him to be my first kiss. I knew he wouldn’t make fun of me if I did it wrong or tease me afterward. It would be like anything else he’d taught me to do.