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Rhett presses back, watching my face, searching for my approval. I can’t help my grin as I whisper. “I never thought you’d do that.”
Wonder reflecting in his eyes, Rhett gives a half-shrug. “Sometimes you gotta do something scared, or nothing good happens at all.”
I nod, but it’s only reflex, a stepping stone on the way back to his lips. I’ve been all over the world, seen more than the average person, but I can’t think of a place better than this one.
With Rhett, I’m finally home.
Rhett
I was wrong. This is more than friendship. This is deeper than anything I’ve ever felt. This is everything I’ve searched for. This is Altair and Vega finally meeting on the seventh month in the seventh moon. I’ve found my princess, and I have no intention of ever letting her go.
“Rhett! Hey, Rhett!”
I could kill my brother. Why on earth would Carl choose this moment to call out for me. Determined to tune him out, I slip my arm around Sunny’s waist and sink deeper into her kiss.
“Rhett! Are you out there?”
Her smile breaks our kiss. I pull back, embarrassed by my brother’s actions. “He’ll stop. I swear.” I kiss her again, happy that she’s right there with me.
“Everett! Hey Everett!”
Sunny’s laughter makes it almost impossible to kiss her, but I keep trying anyway. Life ain’t much if you’re not willing to put in the effort after all.
“Guys I think Rhett’s dead.” His declaration to the rest of the group puts me over the edge.
I pull away from Sunny and rub my palm over my face. Biting hard on my lip, I stare at the beautiful woman still wrapped up in my arms. “He’s not gonna shut up. Give me two minutes.”
Sunny points to her watch. “I’m starting the timer now.”
My grin goes crooked with mischief. “What happens if I’m late?”
“Oh,” she shakes her head, “you don’t want to find out. Trust me.”
The moonlight falls over her lips, creating shadows that beckon me back. Unable to help myself, I fall back into her kiss.
“Rhett! Hey Rhett!” Nick’s voice joins in with Carl’s. “You still out there?”
I pull back hard, needing this madness to stop.
“Two minutes,” I whisper. “Stay put. I’ll be right back.”
Without waiting another second, I jog toward the fire. I didn’t realize we’d gone so far. Their voices carry on the wind making it seem like they were closer, but the reality of it is more like a quarter mile away from the bonfire.
“What?” I yell once I’m within Carl’s earshot, but I don’t stop jogging until I’m next to him. “You’ve ignored me for almost a decade. What on earth is so important that you have to talk to me right now?”
He whips around, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Geez, sorry. I thought we had a moment earlier.”
I cast a quick glance to where I left Sunny, then back at him, knowing I can’t sacrifice the ground I’ve gained with him. “We did.”
“Well, in that spirit,” he waves an arm to where Nick has set up ten glasses of liquid, “I didn’t want you to miss out on Nick shot gunning soda. We mixed all the flavors together. It’s gonna taste awful, and I’m pretty sure it’s coming out his nose before the eighth glass. Didn’t think you’d want to miss that moment.”
I feel like I left half of myself back on the log with Sunny. I feel its pull dragging me back even while I talk to Carl.
“Any other night, yeah I would. And yes, we made some good memories tonight.” I clamp a hand over his shoulder. “But right now, I’m working on memories with someone else.”
Sunny
He disappeared on the other side of the fire, and I lost sight of him. I press my lips together. It’s easy to taste him still. I shake out my hands. I hope that wasn’t a mistake. The last thing I want to do is hurt Rhett, but I have no intention of hurting him. The feelings are real, even if I’ve been denying them on a conscious level.
