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Chapter 7

Addie

Being a boy had its perks. For one, I could slap mannequins on the ass without getting weird looks. Secondly, I could caw like a bird without judgement. And finally, I could refer to Tamson as my “bro-mate” and “bro-bear”. Things would’ve gone down differently if I was a female.

After my third bird call, Tamson rubbed at the skin between his eyes.

“You are a very strange person,” he said, but there was no malice in his voice, just awe.

“The strangest,” I agreed without preamble. The cutest blush curled up Tam’s neck, darkening his cheeks. When he caught me staring, he quickly glanced down at the ground. His reddish brown hair obscured his features.

“Why do you do that? Why do you hide?”

He peeked at me through his fringe of thick lashes. I had never realized how beautiful his eyes were before. The splatter of freckles accentuated the green in his pupils and the length of his lashes.

“You’re beautiful,” I blurted. If it was possible, and I didn’t think it was, his cheeks reddened even further. “I know it’s weird, but it’s true. And I don’t like it when you look away. It makes me think you’re sad, and I hate when you’re sad.”

As I spoke, I did what was instinctive: I took a step closer. His breath fanned over my face as my hand tucked a curl behind his ear. His eyes flickered from my lips to my eyes and then back to my lips.

Was he going to kiss me?

Did I want him to?

I remembered Calax’s words from earlier. He told me, for lack of better words, to follow my heart. I knew that if I was to kiss him neither Calax or Ryder would consider it cheating.

His head lowered…

“What the fuck are you two doing?” a strident voice demanded. Tamson jerked away as if he had been slapped. His eyes flickered towards the figure over my shoulder. Turning, despite already knowing who I would see, I flashed Elena a singularly beautiful smile.

“Hey home girl,” I said in my rather impressive (if I did say so myself) man voice. Her nose wrinkled in distaste.

“Whatever. Just hurry up and come help us load.”

Tam, chin still touching his chest, hurried after Elena. I might’ve thought he was running from me if he hadn’t stopped mid-step, taken a shuddering breath, and then extended a hand back towards me. For some reason, I thought that this moment was a turning point in our relationship. Something monumental, like crossing an ocean.

Heart hammering in my chest, I took his hand and followed him through the cluttered store.

* * *

There was no electricity.Instead, we relied on the thin shaft of light from the flashlight Elena held. I knew Tam had one in his pocket as well.

I tried to tell myself it was the flashlight I felt when I had been pressed against him. Just the flashlight.

However, I completely understood. I, too, experienced the issues caused by a phantom dick. Those things were impossible to control. Seriously. Trying to tame an imaginary penis was a struggle.

The rest of the girls were convened in the camping department when we arrived, Tam’s fingers interlocked with mine. A few girls, one in particular that I recognized to be either Lacey or Missy, glared at our connected hands, but when Tam didn’t pull away, I didn’t either. Instead, I kept an imperious set to my chin.

I was a bad bitch.

Bad...man.

Bad boy. Bad boy.

“You’re singing,” Tam whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

“I’m channeling my inner male criminal,” I responded.

“What does that even mean?” Bikini interrupted - rather rudely, if you asked me. She wasn’t privy to our private conversation.