“Looks like you and my brother might be getting your forever after all.” Laramie grins.
“Stop. He’s just being nice.”
“Uh-huh. That”—she points at my hip—“wasn’t just nice. That’s something my fiancé would do to me. He’s got it bad. You both do.”
“Sandwiches.” I toss the lunchmeat at her across the counter.
She starts singing “U Got It Bad” by Usher, and we both dissolve in a fit of laughter.
I don’t know if she’s right about Rip, but she’s hit the nail on the head when it comes to me. What I thought was a schoolgirl crush is now so much more. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I’m not going to stress over it. I’m just going to enjoy hanging out, and whatever happens, happens.
Chapter 7
Rip
I’m not even trying to keep my hands to myself. I’ve tried, and I just don’t have the willpower. Not when it comes to McKenna. Not anymore. That’s why my hand is currently resting on her thigh as I point my truck toward the lake. Laramie and Colby insisted they drive separately. Well, Laramie insisted, and like the lovesick fool Colby is for my little sister, he agreed. Corbin and a few of our other friends are already there. He’s called and texted me what feels like a million times asking when we’re showing up. Speaking of, my phone vibrates from the cupholder.
“You going to get that?” McKenna asks.
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“I’m driving. I’m sure it’s just Corbin. You can check it. Tell him we’re on our way.”
“You want me to get into your phone?” she asks, surprised.
“You can, or if you don’t feel like dealing with him, just let it ride. He’ll see us soon enough.”
“It’s not that. It’s just, aren’t guys’ cell phones off-limits? Especially single guys?”
“Not mine. Not to you.” I’m not single, at least not in my mind.
“So, you’re just going to let me go through your phone?”
“Yep.” Glancing over, I see her face masked in surprise. “What? You think I’m hiding naked pictures or numbers or something?”
“I don’t know. I just— There’s this guy who was in a lot of my classes. One day before class started, he and his buddies were moaning and groaning about his girlfriend getting into his phone. From the sound of it, he’d been getting nudes from half the state, and they were all saved on his phone.”
“You think I’m that guy?” I draw lazy circles on her thigh with my thumb.
“N-No,” she answers. Is it my touch that has her stumbling over her words? Or the conversation?
“Good, because I’m not. There’s nothing in my phone that you can’t see or have access to. Go on, take a look.” I nod to my phone in the cupholder.
“No, that’s okay. I don’t need to look. Besides, it’s none of my business what’s in your phone.”
“Well, I say it’s your business. I’m an open book for you, McKenna.” My phone rings again, and I laugh. “Just answer it.” I can’t let go of the wheel, and I’m not going to stop touching her. She’s Corbin’s only shot at finding out where we are.
“Fine.” She reaches for the phone and taps the screen placing it on speaker. “Hello.”
“Mac?” Corbin asks, confused.
“Hey, Corbin.”
“Where’s Rip?”
“He’s driving.”
“Are you two on your way?”
“Yeah, we’re about ten minutes out.”
“So, you and my boy, huh?” he asks. I make a mental note to kick his ass.
“Rip volunteered for me to ride with him.”
“I bet he did.” Corbin chuckles. “Y’all got food? I’m starving.”
“Yes, we have food.” She shakes her head. “I think you’ll survive until we get there.”
“What took you so long?”
“I was visiting with my grandparents, and Rip had to go to the store, and then we made sandwiches.” She lists off everything we’ve done today.
“Yo, James, you’re up!” someone yells from the background.
“That’s Russ. We’re playing corn hole. I gotta go.” With that, the line goes dead.
“He’s still the same whirlwind he’s always been.” McKenna laughs as she places my phone back into the cupholder.
“Did you expect anything less?” I ask with a quick glance in her direction.
“Nope.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“So, you ever plan on upgrading this old truck?” she asks.
“Shh, you’re going to hurt her feelings.”
Laughter, the most incredible sound, fills the cab of the truck. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to do that.”
“They don’t make them like they used to,” I tell her as I turn onto the road that leads us to the lake.
“Right, because a radio that doesn’t play cassette tapes and has power windows are an abomination,” she teases.
Parking the truck, I lift the console. My phone goes flying into the back seat, but I ignore it and pull her toward me. She squeals with laughter. “No, but most of the new trucks no longer have bench seats, which means I can’t have my girl sitting next to me.” We’re close, so close it would only take minuscule effort from either of us for our lips to connect.
“You think she’d be mad that I’m in her spot?” Her question is breathless.
Before I can reply, there’s a loud banging on the window that has us pulling apart. Looking over, I see Corbin standing there with a wide-ass grin on his face. I make a mental note to get him back. One day he’s going to fall hard, and I have a long-ass mental list of ways to torture him like he so obviously enjoys torturing me.
“Right,” McKenna says as she slides over to the passenger door and climbs out of the truck.
I take a minute to rake my hands over my face and focus on willing my cock to deflate. It’s a wasted effort anytime I’m around her. Feeling a little more composed, I exit the truck, only to open the back door and search for my phone before we start unloading the food and snacks.
“Grab the cooler from the back,” I tell Corbin.
“On it.” He lowers the tailgate, grabs the cooler, and takes off walking toward our group of friends.
Laramie and Colby pull in, and together, the four of us work on getting everything unpacked. There are three huge picnic tables that are now covered with food and drinks, and our rowdy group settles around and digs in. Realizing I forgot something, I head back to the truck. In the back seat, I grab the old quilt I brought for McKenna to sit on. Tossing it on one of the lawn chairs, I take a seat at the picnic table, squeezing in next to McKenna and our friend Russ. He graduated with Corbin and me.
“This is for you,” McKenna says, handing me a plate.
“Thanks.” I lean over and kiss her cheek. Her eyes seem to glass over as she smiles up at me.
Russ, from his seat next to me, sighs. I turn to see what the fuss is about. “You calling it?” he asks, his voice low for only me to hear.