“Yeah.”
“Like Carter?”
“Who is Carter, anyway?”
“Samir’s boyfriend before you. They used toloveeach other.” Her scrunched-up face makes it clear what she thinks of that.
Samir’s ex. He’s here.
I know I shouldn’t. Know it’s a terrible idea. But I pull my shirt on.
The air-conditioning blasts my skin into goose bumps as I cross the threshold. Samir’s aunt’s house really is huge. Samir’s voice echoes off the tile floor, along with another guy’s. I follow the sound.
“I drove all the way out here,” Carter says. His voice is deep but petulant.
“I told you not to,” Samir says.
“Come on, Sammy. We’ve had worse fights. Give me another chance?”
“Things are different this time.” Samir glances back and sees me hovering in the doorway. Carter’s eyes follow.
He’s got light blue eyes, windswept blond hair, and a long, straight nose. He’s handsome, too, Hollywood-handsome, but there’s a curl in his lip as he assesses me: messy hair, damp shirt, green trunks. He seems genuinely hurt when he sees them.
“I gave you those.”
“Yeah, well.” Samir moves to block Carter’s view of me, but Carter’s taller and just looks over Samir’s shoulders.
“Who’re you supposed to be, anyway?”
“I should go,” I say, but Samir raises a hand to stop me.
“Dylan, it’s fine. Carter, leave. I told you we’re done.”
“Tell me you don’t love me anymore.”
“What?”
“I love you, Sammy. Tell me you don’t love me back, and I’ll go.”
He steps closer so his face is only an inch away from Samir’s.
Tell him, I want to shout.Just say you don’t love him anymore.
“Carter...” Samir says. I hate that I can’t tell if it’s a warning or a plea.
Carter closes the distance and plants his lips on Samir’s. My heart feels sharp and jagged, like shards of broken seashell.
I didn’t know it would feel like this.
Carter’s mouth fits perfectly over Samir’s. His hands cup Samir’s cheeks. He’s done this before, countless times, and all Samir and I have ever shared is CPR on a beach.
When did I start crying?
Samir pushes Carter away.
“Dylan! Wait!”
But I’m running as fast as my feet will go (damn these flip-flops), out the door and down the street.
