Beautiful Illusions (14 page)

“In theory? Or do you know this as a fact?” Brylee leans in as if there were a real need for an answer.

“Fact. Besides, I’m not advertising Ace anytime soon. He made it clear we’re BFFs forever, remember?” I wipe my chest down with a tissue. “Warren is yesterday’s news. He needs to find himself someone new to blue ball him.”

“You ever going to tell Ace how you really feel?” Brylee’s eyes glitter up with tears. Her lips redden as if she were sorry for me in a severe way. Looks like I’m not the only one PMSing around here.

“No.” I push out a sigh as I fall back on my pillow. “We’re in such a good place right now, I don’t want to ruin things.”

“I know right?” She mocks, landing beside me. “I mean, that little pesky thing called the
truth
has fucked up more relationships than I can number.”

“Be quiet.”

“Promise me something.” She nudges her thigh into mine. “You’ll tell him the truth at the end of all this madness.”

“At the end of all this madness,” I parrot softly. I think about it for a second. “I mean, at that point summer will be over.” I shrug, trying to reason it out. “It’s not like I’ll see him until next year. I’ll be home for Christmas, and that’s when he sees his mom.” Ace and I can play hit and miss for the rest of our lives if we want to.

“Nobody remembers anything in a year.” She’s goading me, but I go with it.

“I guess you’re right.” I chew the inside of my cheek until I’m about to draw blood. “Yeah, I think I will tell him how I really feel at the end of summer.” A spike of adrenaline surges in me at the thought.

“Pinky swear?” She holds out her hand.

“Pinky swear.” I hook my little finger over hers, and we shake on it. Suddenly it feels as if a boulder has been lifted from my chest, and I can breathe again. I hadn’t felt this light in so long. I had forgotten how good it felt. I’m walking on air, and it’s all because I’m finally going to tell Ace Waterman exactly how I feel.

My phone goes off. It’s a text from Warren, and I groan.

You up for dinner? I get off early tonight. Blue Crab?

“What should I tell him?” That giant ball of granite rolls right back over my chest as I stare at his words.

“Just curious”—she pokes me in the knee—“are you allergic to the truth?”

“No. Maybe.” I type,
Not feeling so hot tonight. Some other time
, and hit send. “There. That’s not totally a lie. I started my period today. I always feel like crap the first day I start.”

“You do realize that by tacking on, ‘some other time,’ you’re stringing him along.”

“
Please
.” I pull back to get a better look at her and that blonde, wide-eyed innocence she’s faking just for me. “I’m being nice.”

“Yeah, well, eventually you’ll have to be a lot less nice. Face it, you’re going to have to dump his ass.”

“Mmm.” My dad floats through my mind. “If our lives weren’t so intertwined, I would have put Warren in his place a long time ago. Besides, there are plenty of girls who are after Warren. I’m sure he’s already into someone else. And, if he’s not, he’ll get the hint I’m not interested when I successfully manage to avoid him at all costs this summer.” I thump my finger over my lips. “Hey, didn’t you once say you thought Warren was hot?”

“Yeah, but we were like fifteen, and it was the night I got drunk off wine coolers for the first time.”

“Maybe you should take up drinking wine coolers again.”

My phone blinks to life.
Damn girl all this time apart just makes me want you more. Tomorrow you’re mine.

“Told you.” Brylee shakes her head in disapproval. “You should try the truth. You never know, miracles might happen.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

I wish I could
try the truth
. But not any truths I might have to share with Warren.

It’s Ace and our truths that take over my mind and heart. Telling Ace that I love him would be the most amazing thing in the world, especially if he confessed to feeling the same.

It would be magic—a miracle.

Ace

Gavin backed a tractor behind the cabin and dumped a shitload of red fir into the clearing. I’ve been splitting logs since two, and I’m sweating like a hooker in church. My back hurts like hell as if Gavin parked that tractor right over it before he left.

I land piece after piece on the mauler and split the soft wood, easy as slicing butter.

“Ace Waterman.”

I turn around to find Brylee waving, making her way over with two large iced teas from the general store. A short-lived smile pumps from my lips because I know one of them is just for me.

“Thanks.” I take it from her and down it in a few quick gulps, sort of the way I imagine what being with Reese the first time will be like. The other night keeps running through my mind like a dream I was lucky enough to experience firsthand. “Grab an ax,” I tell her. “We’ll knock this out in an hour,” I pant through a smile. I’m teasing. I wouldn’t make Brylee lift a finger around here.

“I’ve got an ax to grind all right.” She purses those ballooned-out lips at me. She’s pissed to hell, and I know I’m in trouble. Brylee and I commuted to Collingsworth Community College all last year to save on gas. I know all of her pissed off expressions, and this happens to be the one she reserves just for me.

“Spill it.” I land on the bench and pat the seat next to me.

“A little birdie told me that you’re having yourself a real good time this summer.” Her sky blue eyes blink in disbelief. Reese and Bry are pretty tight, so I expected this on some level. Hell, I’m hoping the only bird around here is Brylee because, God knows, I’m hoping she’ll sing and let me in on how Reese might really feel.

“And?” I may have mentioned to Brylee on one or more occasions that I was into Reese. Heavily.

“Have you told her how you feel?” The wind picks up and tosses her hair into her face a moment.  She hitches it behind her ears, and it trims her face like a haystack.

“Nope.” I swallow hard at the prospect. “Thought about it, but I’m not sure I’m ready to go there. Things are moving pretty good right now. She say anything to you?”

“Yes, and I’m embarrassed to repeat it.”

I give a little laugh. It takes a lot to embarrass Brylee.

“Look”—she slumps down—“just promise me that at the end of this crazy summer, you’ll tell her how you really feel.” She closes her eyes a moment too long.

“I don’t know. Reese was pretty adamant we stay friends. I’d hate to ruin anything.”

“It won’t ruin anything. You never know, she might have been dying to hear it all along.”

“Do you know something?” My adrenaline spikes at the thought of Reese dying to hear anything that remotely resembles that.

“I know Warren texted her while I was over there. He still very much considers himself a contender.” She glances down at my dust-covered chest, my dirt-stained Levis. “Don’t let him out charm you. Make this a summer she’ll never forget, and who knows? She might go insane and beg you to make her yours forever.” Brylee bears into me like there’s an underlying threat in there somewhere.

Making Reese mine forever—I like the sound of that.

“And if she doesn’t feel the same?” I ask, still inspecting her for clues as to how Reese might really feel.

“Then you’ll both move on—the end. Reese would never cut you out of her life. You and I both know that.” She rubs my back as if she’s already consoling me. “I just want to see you happy for once, and, sometimes, telling someone how you really feel is a step in the right direction. You never know, she might be right there with you at the corner of delirious and happy.”

Delirious and happy. That’s exactly how Reese makes me feel.

Brylee gets up and starts heading back down the dusty road before turning around. “Oh, and heads up. Her Aunt Flo just came into town for a visit.”

“Who?”

“Her period.”

I crimp my lips. Did I want to know that?

“I prefer some chocolate, a warm blanket, and a movie on days like that.” She shrugs. “Just saying.”

“Chocolate, warm blanket, movie… got it.”

“Massages.
Foot
massages!” She drifts down the road. “S’mores!”

Aunt Flo, huh? That’s all right. I’m just thrilled to spend time with Reese, and, if I get to comfort her in the process, even better.

Guess I’m off to do some shopping.

In the evening while the residue of the sun still lights up the sky like a lamp, Reese knocks on the door.

“Come in,” I call from the kitchen. I’m just about done loading up an oversized picnic basket I dug out of the shed.

I step into the living room and find Neva glaring over at the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on—Reese Westfield. Her hair is slicked back in a ponytail. She has on a pair of grey sweats and her Yeats T-shirt. Her face is freshly scrubbed, and she looks about thirteen, and mighty fucking cute.

“Hey beautiful.” I wrap my arms around her waist and land a gentle kiss over her lips. Neva lets out a groan like she just witnessed a puppy massacre.

Screw Neva. What the hell does she care? She certainly doesn’t care about my opinion where it really matters. I told her months ago that the douche she’s dating is a loser, but she didn’t bother to listen.

“Fuck you both,” she belches it out like some demon on steroids.

“Um”—Reese cuts a quick glance to my sister—“hi yourself.” She starts in on a tempered smile as if she’s relieved our secret is out, at least at my house anyway.

“Ignore her,” I whisper. “I’ve got a surprise for you tonight.”

“Really?” Reese bounces on her toes. “I can’t wait.” She tilts her head to the side, gazing at me as if I told her I was going to take her to the moon. “You didn’t have to do that. You’re all I need.”

“Oh fucking gag me.” Neva jumps up like she’s pumped for a fight. “Why don’t you find some other idiot to cheat on your boyfriend with? Why is it you’re picking on
my
brother? I doubt this is a coincidence. I think you’re lower than pig scum for what you’re trying to do.” She storms off down the hall and slams the door to her room.

“Nice seeing you, too,” Reese says it low for my ears only.

“I’m glad
you
turned out all right.” I lay my hand over her shoulders as we head out to the car.

“What’s that?” She eyes the picnic basket in my hand and gives a knowing smile.

“Part of the surprise. You up for an adventure tonight?”

“Sure. I’m up for whatever. Tonight is all about you. Remember?” She runs her hands down over my hips and sinks a little lower.

“And what about you?” I’m hoping she’ll tell me. I’d hate to rat Brylee out as the period police.

“I’m out. My body decided to pull the curse card, and I’m vexed with the details of being a woman tonight.” She lays her head over my chest a moment. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” I pull her in by the waist. “Then, I’m out, too.” There’s no way I’m going to let Reese pleasure me while she’s feeling like shit. “Tonight’s about being Reese and Ace. How’s that?”

“Reese and Ace.” She breaks out in a grin as she tightens her grip around me. “I love that.” She hikes up and lands a lingering kiss over my lips that blows any platonic implications out the window. She tries to pull back, but I follow her with my mouth, and we engage in something deeper, my tongue chasing hers, playing catch and release. It’s heaven like this with our mouths fused together—her affections pouring into me, desperate and aching.

“Why are you so nice to me?” Her eyes flutter into mine like twin pools of water.

“Because no one deserves it more.” I walk her over to the car and open the door for her. “You up for some camping?”

“Are you kidding?” She practically squeals her way into the seat. “I’ve been dying to go camping since I was a kid. You’d think we’d do it all the time, but Beverly is allergic to the idea.”

“Perfect.” I hop in, and we take off. Tonight is all about Reese and me. Just holding Reese, staring at the sky, breathing God’s own breath.

If this isn’t heaven, I don’t know what is.

I pull in along Fox Road and follow the trail all the way up until we have a good view of Pleasure Point Marina. The sun is getting ready to set as it lays its reflection over the water in pink and silver tails. The boats shine like miniature jewels, like a whole string of Christmas lights. I kill the engine, and we hop out.