Page 50 of Kiss Collector

“Our dads were partners, back in the day.”

I think about Sierra’s family’s car business “At the dealership?” I ask.

Joel nods. “My dad owned the mechanic side of things. They were best friends until they went into business together. My dad went bankrupt getting out of it. Never quite recovered.” His jaw clenches like he’s said too much, and he clears his throat.

Oh, wow. I can’t wrap my mind around how bad it must have been for his dad to go to those lengths. “Did you and Sierra really kiss?”

He answers without hesitation. “Back in eighth grade, ninth grade, we did a lot of stuff. Till it became apparent she’s as manipulative and greedy as her dad.”

I gape at his complete transparency. In the firelight his eyes are light blue.

“Zae!” I turn to see Lin jogging toward us. “Kenz’s getting sick.”

I groan and give Joel a wave.

“Good luck,” he says. He pulls out his pack of cigarettes and taps it against his palm.

I walk backward away from him. “You should think about quitting,” I tell him.

Joel pops one between his lips and says, “I’ll think about it.” And he flicks his lighter to life as I shake my head and jog off.

Monica has walked Kenzie to my minivan, where she sits in the grass, leaning against the bumper. She’s as pale as a vamp.

“I’ll see if there’s a bag in the van.”

I rummage through until I find one. When I go to the back, a car is creeping past ours with its windows down.

“Party still going?” asks a guy. I recognize him as one of the skaters from the park.

“Yeah,” I tell him. The back window rolls down, and my heart tumbles over my ribs to see Taro. His eyes go to Kenzie as Lin and Monica help her to her feet.

“I guess you’re taking off,” Taro says.

I walk to the window. “She drank too much. I need to get her to bed.”

Taro nods, but when I see the hint of disappointment in his eyes I lean in the window and give his heart lips a peck. They’re as soft and supple as I’d imagined. I hear his friends snigger with surprise. When I’m about to pull back, Taro cups my cheek with one hand and presses his mouth closer, opening his lips for our tongues to touch. Now his friends are clapping,and after a few seconds of melting into his warmth, I gently pull back.

“Thanks for yesterday” I say to him.

His eyes search mine, and he nods. I turn to the minivan, where Monica and Lin are jumping in, both giggling.

“Oh my God, Zae,” Lin whispers. “We turn around for one second and you’re kissing someone!” They both laugh as Kenzie moans.

I climb in and shut the door. “Well, you know I have to keep mylistup to date.”

“Aw, come on,” Monica says in an annoyed tone.

I let go of my seat belt and turn to them. “Funny how it’s just me who has a list. If she said it about all of us, making you guys look stupid, too, you would be upset.”

“Zae,” Lin says, “the whole kissing-contest thing was your idea. You can’t be mad that it got out.”

“It wasn’t even supposed to be a contest. I only said that so you would join me and get over John because you’re competitive.”

Lin’s face tightens in anger for a second, and then she calms. “I guess it worked.”

Monica snorts, and I look at her, asking, “Did you and Dean kiss?” My heart goes erratic, and I wonder if I just sounded as mean as I felt.

“No.” She’s eyeing me strangely. “I thought you made it clear he was yours.”