As we walked down the street, making our way to Desserted Island Ice Cream, I listened to Luke and Libby arguing about where to have dinner. I rolled my eyes and looked down at Lex.
“I don’t want to go where our parents are all going, Lib,” Luke said.
“Then, don’t, Luke. I haven’t seen my parents since New Year’s, and I want to spend time with them.”
“I have to agree. I’d like to have dinner with my mom and dad,” I said.
Lex nodded her head. “Me, too, Luke.”
“I’m with Luke. I say ditch the parents,” Colt said as he and Luke slapped hands.
“We can just go pick up a few girls then,” Luke said as he winked at Colt.
“Nice. Don’t you have a girlfriend, jerk-off?” Lauren asked as she pushed Colt.
Colt smiled. “Why, no, Lauren, I do not. I happened to walk in on her and some dick football player from Fredericksburg getting it on at a party a few weeks ago.”
Lauren frowned. “Oh…I’m really sorry, Colt.”
Colt shrugged his shoulders and looked straight ahead. “Doesn’t matter. I’m done with the whole bullshit thing called relationships. All women do is fuck with your head…and heart.”
“Amen,” Luke said.
Libby peeked over to him and then looked straight ahead. Lauren peeked up at Colt and then looked down and away with a sad expression on her face.
After we walked into the ice cream parlor, I held Lex back. I kissed her sweetly on the lips. “I love you, Lex.”
She smiled. “I love you more, Will.”
I smiled bigger, and my heart melted.
“I’m so blessed to have you in my life. I just wanted you to know that. Thank you for loving me.”
My stomach did a weird little flop, and I looked down at my thumb rubbing across her promise ring on her left ring finger. We hadn’t told anyone we were secretly engaged. For now, we were using the promise ring as an engagement ring.
She placed her hand on the side of my face. “I’m just as blessed, Will.”
I leaned down and kissed her again.
“Dude, that’s my sister you’re sucking face with, and it kind of grosses me out. Stop, please,” Colt called out from across the room.
I pulled back just a bit and smiled.
She smiled back and whispered, “He’s just jealous.”