On the Fence(62)

“Um . . . what?”

“That’s not why I didn’t ask you out. I was scared of Braden.”

I laughed. “Fair enough.” I toed the grass with my foot, having a hard time coming up with the right words. “I’m sorry about your grandma, Dave.” He might not have known how I felt at the time, but I knew I needed to apologize. I had been insensitive.

He smiled. “Thanks, Charlie. That really means a lot.”

I nodded, then whirled around and almost pushed Braden’s plate full of food into his chest.

“Whoa,” he said, lifting it in the air and saving it.

“Sorry.”

He nodded at Dave, who said, “Hey, Braden. Thanks again, Charlie.”

“Of course.”

Dave left, heading for the pool.

Braden gave me a smirk. “That was nice.”

“I’m nice sometimes.”

He held out the plate. “I got food for you.”

“Aw. You do know the way to my heart.”

We sat at a table and ate off the same plate.

“Uh oh,” Braden said when I snatched the last chip.

“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.





Acknowledgments

I’d like to start off by thanking my amazing readers. You are all the best encouragers any author could ask for. Whenever I’m feeling insecure (which is more often than not), I can always count on you to brighten my day and give me the motivation to keep writing. So thank you!

As always, this book wouldn’t exist without some very amazing people: Agent Extraordinaire Michelle Wolfson, Editor Supreme Sarah Landis, the ever-awesome Alice Jerman, and the rest of the HarperTeen team. Thank you for all your wisdom, insight, and support.

Even before making it to the in-box of my editor or agent, I have some brilliant beta readers that help whip it into shape: Stephanie Ryan, Candice Kennington, Jenn Johansson, Renee Collins, Natalie Whipple, Michelle Davidson Argyle, Sara Raasch, Julie Nelson, and Kari Olson. I love these ladies. They are my very closest friends.

I’d also like to thank some other authors who helped guide me through my debut year: Ellen Oh, Elsie Chapman, Megan Shepherd, Erin Bowman, Brandy Colbert, Shannon Messenger, Alexandra Duncan, April Tucholke, and Mindy McGinnis. Thanks for sharing the journey with me.

And, of course, I wouldn’t be able to write at all if not for the support of my best friend and husband, Jared, and my amazing kids, Hannah, Autumn, Abby, and Donavan. I truly feel so blessed to be their mom. Speaking of moms, mine is amazing. Thanks, Mom, for everything.

Since this is a book about brothers, I feel the need to personally thank mine for teaching me how awesome (and pesky) brothers can be. I couldn’t have written this book without knowing the bond a girl can share with her brothers. Love you, Jared and Spencer.

I have the world’s best, most supportive (and very large) family. If I attempt to name them all, I’m sure I will leave someone out and then I will feel guilty for life. So I will just say thanks to my parents-in-law: Vance and Karen (whom I adore); to all my sisters: Heather, Stephanie, Rachel D, Zita, Shar, Rachel B, Angie, and Emily; to the rest of my brothers: Eric, Brian, Jim, Rick, Dave, and Kevin; and to all the kids who go with all these people. I love you all.