Ever murmured something about taking a piss before heading for the row of blue porta-potties down the street. Just then, a screaming kid—maybe four or five—was being carried through the gates by his mother, who struggled to hold onto him. Approaching them, I couldn’t help but notice that he was empty-handed. After getting permission from the weary mother, I squatted until I was eye level with her son and offered him the panda. I almost snorted when the waterworks ended immediately. Now that he wasn’t trying his best to shatter glass, I realized he was pretty freaking cute even with the giant snot bubble hanging from his right nostril.
“What do you say, Alan?”
“Thank you.”
Winking, I stood and watched as Alan struggled to carry the panda that was almost twice his size. Returning to my friends, I realized they’d all been watching me.
“Cute kid,” Jamie drawled. He looked pretty cozy with Rachel’s arm wrapped around his waist. “A little young for you, don’t you think?”
“Funny,” I retorted, seeing that green haze again. “I was going to say the same to your new girlfriend.”
“What do you mean?” Rachel asked, suddenly looking alarmed. When I said nothing, she pulled away from Jamie. He didn’t seem to notice as he pinned me with his gaze. “I thought you said that you’re fifteen?”
“You’re right,” he admitted, brown eyes twinkling mischievously. “I did say that.”
As Vaughn and Jason snickered, I realized that I’d been right about Rachel and her friends being older. I also realized that Jamie must have lied about his age to hook up with them. I didn’t want to be impressed that he succeeded, but I definitely was. Their age difference wasn’t exactly something one could shrug off. Jamie seemed too far out of my league, and we were only a year apart.
“So how old are you?”
“Twelve.”
“Ugh!” Rachel screeched. “I can’t believe you!” She stormed away, forcing her friends to run to catch up. Each of them threw Jamie—and me, for some reason—evil glares over their shoulders. I was a little more than excited to see them finally go.
By the time they were out of sight, the guys were bent over clutching their sides. The only ones not laughing were Jamie and me, though I was sure for different reasons. Spinning on my heel, I carefully made my way across the busy street. Jamie’s full attention was becoming too much for me to handle. The moment I reached the bike racks, I felt fingers gripping my arm and tugging me around. I was taller than most girls, so when Jamie towered over me, it was only by an inch or two.
“You owe me a girlfriend.”
Scoffing, I pulled away and hid my surprise when he let me. “She wasn’t your girlfriend.”
“That’s not what you said before you made her break up with me.”
“I didn’t make her do anything just like I didn’t make you lie.”
“None of that changes the fact that I’m single now, thanks to you.” Suddenly, his gaze narrowed as if he’d come to some revelation. I was sure I wasn’t going to like whatever it was. “I think you did it on purpose.”
Yup. I was three for three today.
“Well, I didn’t,” I denied, crossing my arms.
His gaze dipped to my chest, and I realized the gesture had pushed up my breasts. Remembering his hand creeping up Rachel’s shirt, I quickly dropped my arms. It didn’t matter a second later when he stepped into my space. My breasts brushed against his chest, and we both pretended not to notice.
“Prove it.”
“How?” The word slipped through my lips before I could rethink it. His hooded eyes made me think he liked my eagerness.
“Be my girlfriend.”
“What?” I cringed when I realized I sounded like a puppy that had just been stepped on.
Jamie’s cheeks turned pink when I didn’t immediately accept. I had the feeling he wasn’t used to the idea of rejection. “You heard me.”
“But we’ve only known each other three days.”
Not to mention the mountain of more important reasons why I shouldn’t. He was everything that defined trouble. And a liar. If Jamie could easily fool someone two or three years older than him, then what chance did I have?
“That’s three days longer than my last girlfriend,” he teased.
I suddenly wished I’d never taunted him about Rachel because the warmth in my belly made me want to say yes. You don’t even know him.
It didn’t seem to matter as much as it should have. “I—”
The sound of a long whistle and then a boom drew our startled gazes to the sky just before an explosion of color lit up the night sky. Minutes stretched by as we stood shoulder to shoulder, heads tilted, silently gaping at the fireworks. I could feel the warmth from Jamie’s skin when his hand brushed mine, and even though my fingers flexed, eager to tangle with his, I kept my hands to myself.
“Dude, I found them!” Jason yelled. He was covered in sweat and out of breath as he frantically waved to someone in the distance. Vaughn rounded a line of cars seconds later with a frazzled look in his eyes.
Stepping away from Jamie, I met my friends halfway when they rushed toward us. “Everything okay?” As soon as I voiced the question, I realized we were still short one. “Where’s Ever?” It was at least twenty minutes since he’d left for the bathroom.
“That’s what we came to tell you,” Vaughn answered, out of breath. “He just got arrested.”
“Shit,” Jamie said as soon as Vaughn and Jason finished explaining what Ever had done. Jamie looked nervous as he scratched his temple. It was an expression I’d probably never get used to seeing on him. He was always so cocky and confident with a smile that followed you into your dreams…
I subtly pinched myself to make sure I was awake. I wouldn’t be much help to Ever if I melted into a puddle at his cousin’s feet.
“I’ll call my uncle.” Jamie started to walk off, but I grabbed his hand, forcing myself to ignore the current shooting up my arm and exploding in my chest. Like the fireworks Ever had illegally set off.
“No.”
Seeing that I had his full attention, I released his hand. Just as quickly, he recaptured mine, drawing Vaughn and Jason’s puzzled gazes. Thankfully, after exchanging awkward glances with each other, they said nothing even when Jamie and I continued to hold hands for no good reason.
“You said the security guards have him, not the cops, which means he’s just sitting in their office. They probably don’t even know who he is yet.”
“Your point?” Jamie asked. Not liking his tone, I tried to drop his hand again, but he simply tightened his grip.
“We break him out.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Jason exploded. “How are we supposed to do that?”
“Easy,” Jamie surprised me by saying. “We distract the guards, open the door, and let him out.”
“But what if the door is locked? Or he’s handcuffed? How are we supposed to get the keys to free him, genius?”
The look Jamie gave Jason made me gulp, and it wasn’t even me pissing him off this time. His hand tightened around mine even more, making me wince. I knew that if he wasn’t holding my hand, his hand would be in a fist, probably pummeling Jason’s face right about now. Noticing my pain, he eased his grip, and then, a second later, he let my hand go. I tried to ignore the disappointment, but my hand suddenly felt colder than it should have on a summer night.