On the Fence

“Did you want it?”

“No. It’s just . . . your brothers are headed this way and they have a mischievous look in their eyes.”

I turned around and had less than three seconds to process before Gage grabbed hold of one of my arms. I knew what was happening even before Nathan took the other one.

“Don’t! You’ll ruin my makeup.”

Jerom grabbed my feet with a laugh. “Has she ever said that before in her life?” They picked me up and carried me toward the pool.

“Seriously. You are all going in if you do this.”

“Braden? Aren’t you going to help us?” Gage asked.

He held up his hands. “And face her wrath? I think I’m out.”

“Aren’t you going to help me?” I asked.

His eyes twinkled. “No.”

“Dead. You’re all dead to me.”

“I just wanted to see if I learned how to throw someone into a body of water,” Jerom said. “I was taught how last month and I need to test it out.”

I got my foot loose and kicked him in the chest.

He grabbed his chest muscle. “Ouch. That hurts worse than it looks.”

“Right?” Gage said. “Why do you think I got her arm this time?”

“I hate all of you.”

“You love us.” They reached the edge of the pool and threw me in with a big arching swing.

I surfaced, spitting water. “You better get Amber next.”

I heard a shriek and I laughed. Braden did a cannonball next to me, fully clothed. I dunked him back under when he came up.

The second time he came up with his half smile, I pulled him into a hug. “You knew you’d end up in here anyway, so you thought you’d join me on your own, huh?”

“No. You wouldn’t have gotten me. I was just hot.”

“Whatever, I totally would’ve gotten you.”

He shrugged, his eyes green with the water reflecting in them. “I guess we’ll never know.”

“Which means I win,” we both said at the same time.

He kissed me. “Then how come I feel like the winner?”

It was still dark when my eyes fluttered open. I stared at the ceiling for a while, unsure of what woke me. It wasn’t a nightmare. My phone chimed on my desk. I swung my feet to the ground and stood. I didn’t pick it up to read the message. I just smiled and ran outside to the fence. The moon was full tonight, perfect for a chat.