Lucas looks down at me with a gentle smile. “You’re so pretty.”
That’s the line. The one right before the kiss. And I don’t believe it for a second.
“Thanks,” I barely manage to say.
His fingers tighten around mine, and his other hand comes up to my chin.
This is it. This is where I have my first kiss. Or maybe have a heart attack. My breathing speeds up, and he smiles because he knows what he’s doing to me.
But he doesn’t really.
Unless his goal is to make me hyperventilate.
“Lennox!” Four voices pierce through the calm evening air.
The ping pong balls turn to bowling balls and my stomach bottoms out. “Oh no.”
“Is that—” Lucas swallows.
“We saw some creeper pulling you into the dark, and we called the cops. Where are you?” Michael calls.
Lucas jumps away from me and shoots me a terrified look. My embarrassment evaporates and all that’s left is the raging fire inside of me.
I hate my brothers.
“Lennox. There you are!” Grant and my brothers crowd around me until I can’t see Lucas anymore.
I glare at each of them. “What are you doing?”
“Saving your life,” says Sean, my middle and most annoying brother.
“I think I better go.” Lucas’s voice is barely audible, and I know he’s already walking away. Nothing could make him stay.
Everything feels so far away. I can see my brother’s faces and hear their voices, but I’m afraid if I move, I’ll strangle one of them.
“Why would you come out here in the dark?” Michael asks.
“Because I can never escape you!” Four equally stunned faces stare back at me like I’ve lost it. Maybe I have. “I’ll never, ever bring another guy home as long as you guys live here. And I’ll never date as long as you’re around.”
My brothers wear matching expressions of amusement, but Grant has the audacity to look sorry for me.
“Good,” Trent says. “Told you she’d get pissed. You guys owe me fifteen bucks.”
“No, you said she’d slap the guy.” Sean corrects him, and my brothers leave, fighting over who won the actual bet.
It was just a bet. Everything is always a bet to them. Never mind that they just ruined my first date. One of them won some extra spending money, and that’s all that matters.
I drop my head. Anger and humiliation fight for room in my heart, but tears are all that escape.
“I’m sorry, Len,” Grant whispers.
Heat floods my veins, and I glare up at him. “I don’t need your pity.”
He flinches, and I instantly regret snapping at him. I’m sure he gets enough of that at home from his father.
He drops his head. “I tried to talk them out of coming but they never listen to me.”
“Bull. They listen to you more than me.”
