Page 63 of Perfectly Us

“Have you guys fucked yet?”

I glance at Ruben. “No.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Seriously? That’s a record for you. You usually get down a dude’s pants super fast.”

“It’s not like that with Shiloh.”

Ruben rests his arms on the foam football and floats around with it. “What’s it like, then?”

“I want more than his body,” I say, gliding my hand over the top of the water.

“You think you could be with him long term? Like even after we go to college?”

I remember sitting in the park with Shiloh the other day, kissing under the shade of the large oak tree. My lips tingle at the memory.

“Yeah. He’s special, Ru.”

“Mel’s special to me too,” he says with a nod. “I think she’s the one.”

“Thinking of marrying her already? How will I ever cope? My first love… lost.” I dramatically slap my hand to my forehead, then make a kissy face at him.

He splashes water at me.

We get out of the pool around two so we can shower and get dressed for work. Otto scheduled us at the same time, which is awesome. Working is always more fun when Ruben’s there too.

Business is slow for the four-o’clock set of movies, but it picks up around seven. A bunch of kids come in to see the new animated film, and I tear tickets and sweep up a massive popcorn spill in the lobby before running upstairs to start the movies. When I get a second to breathe, I pull out my phone.

Me:Hey, do you wanna go camping with me for the 4th?

Shiloh:Camping?

Me:Yep! Ru and Mel are gonna go to the lake and asked us to go with them. They have a spare tent for us and everything. We’ll eat burgers, watch fireworks, swim, and chill. What do you say????

It shows that he read the text, but he doesn’t respond right away. I pocket my phone, then go back downstairs to help Ruben restock candy and cups in the concession stand. When my ass vibrates, I step aside to check the notification.

Shiloh:I have to work until 3 on Sunday. But I can meet you at the lake after?

I smile.

Me:I don’t think we’re heading to the lake until late afternoon anyway, so that’s great! We can drive together if ya want. I’ll meet you after you get off work and we can take your car ;)

Shiloh:You and my car… lol

Me:It’s almost as hot as you are ;)

“I take it by that goofy smile, he said yes?” Ruben asks as he refills the lids by the soda machine.

“My smile’s not goofy.”

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s just your face that is.”

I shove him away, and he throws a straw at me. My good mood continues until I get home around eleven thirty. The house is dark, but the light is on in Dad’s study. The step near the top of the stairs always gives me away.

“Alex?”

I crack open his door. “Hey. Just got off work.”

He nods and straightens a stack of papers. We’re not a big city, so the department isn’t that big either. Dad does detective work and conducts internal investigations, but he also does a ton of administrative stuff too and oversees the open cases. He’s always working, even when he’s home.