Frankie pulls back with a low laugh. “We got caught.”
I can’t help but grin. “Worth it.”
She dances with the others again.
It feels like there’s something off with her, even as she tries to hide it. Her movements slow as it gets later. She leans on the drink table between songs. There’s a tiredness in her eyes.
It makes me think back to the morning when she was tired on the morning run as well, which isn’t like her. She normally smokes us. But she hasn’t said something is wrong, so I don’t want to push, when it still feels like she’s having fun.
Someone near the drink table not so subtly mentions to his date that there’s an older camper giving out shots from a flask behind the rec shed. Frankie lifts a brow at me when our gazes meet.
I mirror her. “You curious?” If she wants to, we can go test it out.
She shakes her head. “Not really.”
Logan hands her a bottle of water. “Want to get out of here? We could go stare at the stars for an hour or so before curfew.”
She nods. “Please.”
Frankie finishes her drink. I take her hand and lead her around the edge of the Mess Hall to the side exit onto the patio.
We dip out before any of the counselors can see us and head toward our spot. Her hand stays in mine the whole way before we enter the clearing and take seats in the grass.
Frankie kicks off her Converse, nudging them aside. She lies back and lets out a slow sigh.
We fan out around her. Her fingers are still knitted with mine and I glance over to see Logan reach for her other side, threading his fingers through hers. Only the crickets fill the silence between us and I have to smile. Tonight was better than I imagined.
Was it the best dance ever? No, but it was great to go to one with her. Maybe I can invite her to my prom next year, or we can go to hers. I will get her number on the last day, and since I’ll be sixteen next month, I can get a job without permission and pay for a cellphone. My dad won’t be able to say shit if I work for it myself.
Jace rolls onto his side and props his head up on his hand, lying diagonally from her. “You know, you dance way better than us.”
Frankie laughs. “It’s not hard when you trip over your own feet.”
Jace’s jaw drops in offense. “That only happened once.”
“Twice,” Logan corrects.
She glances toward Logan, then over at me, her eyes catching the moonlight just enough that I see the want there. Warmthblooms in my chest. Turning on my side, I lean in first, closing the small gap between us to press my lips to hers.
My hand slides along her jaw. Her mouth opens under mine and my tongue traces over her lower lip.
When I pull back, Logan shifts closer, fingers still intertwined with hers. She turns toward him. Their kiss is gentle but confident. Her free hand rises, resting on his chest.
When they part, she sits up, her eyes finding Jace next. He moves closer, and she grabs the collar of his shirt, pulling him in for a long kiss.
Something in the air shifts around her and my skin prickles. She’s no longer kissing to kiss, but there’s a building hunger behind her force. Jace lets out a small moan when she pulls back.
Wes moves in after him from the other side. We form a circle around her. His hand settles on her left hip, pulling her toward him. He’s not shy in the slightest as he meets her with the same level of passion.
A warmth rolls off her skin, subtle at first, like stepping into a patch of sunlight. It catches me by surprise. Then something sweet enters the air. I breathe deeper and my heart quickens.
Before I can speak, Jace lifts his head slightly, sniffing once, twice. “Is that you? You smell really freaking good, like Christmas cookies.”
Frankie breaks the kiss with Wes, and blinks slowly, surprised. “I do?”
Logan brushes a curl from her forehead, studying her face. “Yeah, you really do. I don’t remember you smelling like that earlier in the night, but I like it.”
My hand settles against her knee, feeling the heat there. All of her feels hotter.
