The Boy—Samir—giggles.
“Thank you.” I clear my throat and try not to blush. “Enjoy your corn dogs.”
Samir bites his lip as he studies me. “You sure we haven’t met somewhere?”
“Who, me?” I look at my feet. Ryan elbows me in the side.
“Yeah, you. What’s your name?”
“Dylan,” I choke out.
“Dylan.”
I hum happily as my name rolls off his lips.
“Wanna... I don’t know... show me around a little?”
I squeak. Ryan wraps his arm around my neck. “Come back in an hour.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Samir turns and wanders off down the boardwalk, though he glances back at me once, and I nearly faint.
“Don’t lock your knees,” Ryan says.
“Hey, Ry.”
“Yeah?”
“Remember that night last summer? When we got drunk on your dad’s tequila?”
Ryan groans. “I remember it was the worst idea ever.” (It really was.)
“Well, that boy, Samir... I got hit by a party boat swimming back from Coronado. Almost drowned. And he saved me.”
“Why were you swimming out to Coronado in the middle of the night?”
“You dared me to.”
“I did? That doesn’t sound like me at all.”
I roll my eyes, since Ryan lives for ridiculous dares. “Anyway. He pulled me from the water. Gave me mouth-to-mouth.”
“So?”
“So his lips touched mine.”
“But you didn’t kiss?”
I shake my head.
“Something happened, though. I’m bound to him, but he’s not bound to me.”
“How is that even possible?”
“I don’t know.”
“But he thinks you’re cute. Youcouldkiss him. Seal the deal. If that’s what you both want.”
