Itwas my turn to nod. “What’s your major?”
“Businessmanagement,” she replied, holding her head up higher with a tinge of pride, andI smiled.
“Ican’t say I know anything about it, but that’s pretty awesome.”
“Notreally,” she laughed as the apples of her cheeks pinked and her lips spreadinto a small, warm smile. She held out a hand. “Kylie.”
“Devin,”I said, biting at the inside of my lower lip, fighting off a big grin as Iproduced my own hand. My palm engulfed hers, and I felt like a giant. Powerful.Protective.
Needed.
?
I suggestedwe get some air, away from all the others. She didn’t want to leave theparty—her friend was still there, and she was still the designated driver. So,we took to walking laps around the backyard. It was quiet and lit by torchesalong the perimeter of the fence. An in-ground pool was situated in the middleof the yard, open for the summer, despite it still being too cold to swim. Onlyone other couple shared the space with us, making out on one of the loungers,keeping to themselves with sloppy mouths and clumsy hands.
“Doyou think they’reevercoming up for air?” Kylie asked on our third passby the occupied lounge chair.
Iglanced back just in time to watch the guy’s hand slide up the girl’s t-shirt.“Doubt it. Wish I had a video camera though. I could be selling this shit onthe internet.”
Sheshook her head. “There’s too much free porn out there now and I don’t thinkyou’d make much off what they’re doing. It’s taken too long for him to justfeel her up.”
Thevolume of my laugh surprised me. “Yeah, you’re probably right about that.”
Shestepped up onto the bricks enclosing a small garden. “So, are you in school?”
“Nah,”I said. “I went straight from high school into my dad’s construction business.I took some night classes at a trade school for about a year and now I’m in themiddle of my apprenticeship.”
“Thatsounds cool. Like you’re training to be a sorcerer,” she said, walking alongthe bricks with her hands stuffed into her pockets. “Get it? Like,TheSorcerer’sApprentice?” she added unnecessarily, and I grinned.
“Yeah,I got it, but it’s not that cool,” I laughed.
“Ohcome on, don’t ruin my visions of you in a wizard’srobe,” she teased, and my eye roll accompanied my chuckle. “So, what is it thatyou actually do?”
“Ibuild houses. RightnowI work mostly on hangingsheetrock, cabinet installation, cutting lumber—the basic stuff. Honestly, I’mcapable of doing more—I’ve been learning from my dad since I was a kid. But,the older guys don’t like it when I school them in their own craft, you knowwhat I’m saying?” I tapped her arm gently with my elbow and grinned.
“So,you’re a heroandyou’re modest,” she said, allowing herself to giggle.“Verycharming.”
“Oh,you haven’t seen anything yet,” I laughed.
“DoI want to know?”
“I’mnot sure you do,” I said, tipping my head toward her. “Once the ladies knowabout mysecret weapon, I can’t be held responsible for what happensnext.”
Kyliestopped her circus act along the bricks. The blues in her eyes shifted to amoody darkness and I chewed the inside of my cheek, knowing I had stepped oversome invisible line I hadn’t been aware existed. I knew I should apologize,because the last thing I wanted to do was fuck this up. Whateverthiswas.
“I’mnot sleeping with you, Devin,” she said bluntly, threatening me with a heatedglare. “I don’t do that shit.”
Inodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Isthat okay though? Because I’m sorry if you thought that’s what we were doing. Imean, if that’s the only reason why you helped me, the only reason why you’re talkingto—”
“Kylie,”I said, utilizing her own name the way she had used mine. Hard and edged. “WhenI say it’s okay, Imeanit’s okay.”
Herhigh cheekbones reddened, the color spreading to the tips of her ears. “Sorry.I just … I hate coming to these things and being hit on, and theone timeadecent guyactually hasa conversation with me … Ithought …”
“Stop,”I said, reaching out to gently touch her elbow. “I promise. I reallyama decent guy.”
Thequivering breath that exhaled through her lips was one of relief and shenodded. She glanced around me to the couple on the lounger, and her nosewrinkled. “So, do you want to show me yoursecret weapon? They just tooktheir pants off and I really don’t think I want to be here to see what happensnext.” Her eyes shot back to me, narrowing with threat. “Unless your secretweapon is your dick, in which case—”
