Page 34 of Filthy Little Pretties

The way he says that gives my memories a whole new flavor. Hide-and-seek just got dirty. And yet, not, all at the same time. He stares at me like he’s waiting for an answer; except, he didn’t bother to ask a question. Shit. Fidgeting with my bracelets, I look around.

“You know I’m upstairs. It’s unfair.”

“Thirty seconds,” he whispers, leaning in closer.

I duck under his arm and walk backward, smiling at him as I do. The moment I lose his face, I turn and start walking faster, searching for a hiding space. My phone buzzes, and I look at it quickly as I dart around.

Ernie: Ready or not, here we come.

My entire insides freeze as panic sets in. We played this all the time when we were kids, but the best was when we got to go to the Met with Liam’s mom. The museum hated us because children hiding in displays isn’t well liked.

I search as I walk faster toward the other side of the library, where all the classics and first editions are kept. A stream of light catches my attention, and I slink between two stacks to find a small seating area that’s tucked behind them. Perfect.

I stifle a laugh, my feet moving quickly to a large cabinet full of plaques that has room next to it and the wall. I slide into the shadowed space and stay completely still, trying not to even breathe.

What feels like hours is really only minutes, but I’m lulled into a sense of comfort, thinking I may have beaten them, so I peek out only to jump back as “Back here” is whispered by someone, making me hold my breath again.

My body is shaking, trying to hold in my excited laughter as I hear the footsteps grow closer.What happens when I’m caught?I press my body against the wall, trying to disguise every bit of me in the shadow.

“Cherry. I know you’re in here.”

Grey.

“Dude, she’s not here. I bet she went back downstairs.”

Liam.

The room goes silent again, but I wait. This could be a trick. But it’s so quiet, there’s no way they’re still here. I wait a few more seconds before taking a slow step forward, bringing my face into the light.

“Gotcha!”

Grey grabs my waist, and I scream, covering my face with my hands. Liam begins to howl with laughter and tugs my hands down, bringing his nose close to mine.

“You lost your touch, Van. That was too easy. What should she pay for getting caught, Grey?”

Tears streak down my face from laughter, as I stare at Grey for a verdict, but before he answers, the bell rings. I wipe a hand over my flushed cheeks as Grey hauls both of our bags over his shoulder and takes the book I’m still holding.

“Saved by the bell. I’ll have to think of your payment next time, troublemaker. Class beckons.”

Liam walks ahead, waving off an irritated librarian and smiling back at us. My eyes dart down to the book as Grey and I begin to follow Liam out.

“Sorry, I didn’t get to put the book back before our little game.”

His chocolate browns crinkle at the sides before he winks. “It’s from my personal collection. It doesn’t belong here.”

“You set me up.”

All I get is a smile as his answer.

Grey

“DUDE,I’VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIERfor a Saturday. The old man finally left. My mother is preoccupied with her auction, and I can finally fucking breathe again. I never thought I’d make it.”

Gripping the oars in my hand, I stand clear for Liam to lift himself out of the boat. “That bad, huh? How long was he back from the West Coast offices?”

“Too long. He wouldn’t stop hounding me about universities. Going on and on about Harvard and how one day I would take over the family business. I mean the idea of building…owning half the damn city. You’d think I’d be down, but it makes me want to jump from the top of one of those metal towers. Grey, he’s already planning my summer out.”

Liam pulls the boat out of the water and slides it onto the dock, as I walk ahead, speaking loud enough for him to hear.