Page 24 of Pride High 3: Yellow

“I’ll protect you,” Diego said, squeezing his hand reassuringly. “From anything.”

“Even a bear?” Ricky asked.

“I’d headbutt that fucker until he got the point.”

“What about ghosts?” Ricky asked.

“I’ll scare them right back to Hell.”

“What if a treant grabs us?”

“I don’t know what that is, but if it’s got balls, I’ll kick them.”

Ricky kept naming monsters, and Diego kept describing how he would defeat them. Before he knew it, they were back at the clearing where Frankenstein was parked. Ricky ran to the Trans Am—which was unlocked, as always—and climbed inside. Then he stared at the radio, one of his knees bouncing, while waiting for it to light up so he could see what time it was. The engine growled, but the radio didn’t have a digital display like he expected.

“Where’s the clock?” he asked.

“Built into the tachometer,” Diego replied.

“The what?”

Instead of answering, Diego squinted at the dashboard. Then he grimaced. “When’s your curfew again?”

Ricky leaned over. The gauge that had the RPM thingy also had an old-fashioned clock with a minute and hour hand, both of which were pointing straight up. His curfew was usually at ten, but it was a special occasion, so his parents had said he could stay out half an hour later than usual. And now he wouldn’t get home until past midnight.

Diego raised an eyebrow at his miserable groan before he began driving. Cautiously at first, but once they were off the dirt road, he began speeding. Ricky didn’t ask him to slow down.

“Still got a bit of a drive ahead of us,” Diego said, leaning back with a devilish grin.

Ricky’s eyes darted down to his bulge and back up again. It’s not like he didn’t appreciate the idea except… “For our first time though?”

“That was supposed to be back in the cave.”

“I figured,” Ricky said with a guilty wince. “Sorry I couldn’t handle the edibles.”

“Nah, they took me by surprise too. And you ate two of them. So if anything, I’m impressed by how well you handled it.”

Ricky perked up at this. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks. I’ll show you how well I can handle other things on our next date.”

“I’m ready whenever you are,” Diego said with a smoldering stare that practically scorched Ricky to the seat. “Just don’t ask me where. I can’t think of anything more epic than doing it in a cave.”

“We could always go back there. I liked it.”

“Even though the woods are spooky?”

“That made it even more exciting. Next time, I want to stay the whole night in Candle Cave.”

Diego grinned. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Yeah. I just wished I hadn’t fallen asleep. I liked how you set everything up. It was very romantic.”

“Romantic, huh?” Diego said, as if trying the word on for size. “Nobody’s ever called me that.”

“You really are,” Ricky said. “I would have put out.”