time I saw Brady.
Two Years Ago…
My heart pounds a mile a minute as I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
Wearing my favorite summer dress, I’ve taken extra care with my appearance. I’ve even foregone my usual boots for a pair of sandals.
Tonight is the night.
The thought makes my heartbeat speed up until it feels like it might jump right out of my chest.
Brady and I have been best friends since our first day of school, but things changed a year ago when we turned fifteen. I can’t believe we’ve been dating for a year already.
Brady was my first kiss… my first and only love. We’ve talked about having sex for a while now, and I’m ready to take the next step with him.
But first, we have to go to Jase’s birthday party.
Picking up the present I got for Jase, I leave my room. When I take the stairs down, I hear Dad laughing, but the moment I walk into the living room, the smile drops from his face.
His brows furrow. “Why are you wearing a dress?”
I roll my eyes and let out a sigh. “’Cause it’s normal for girls to wear dresses, Daddy.”
I notice how Mom tries to hide a smile by covering her mouth with her hand, but my cousins, Ryker and Mila, don’t even bother as they grin because Dad’s being his usual overprotective self.
“Yeah, but it shows your legs,” Dad grumbles, and it has Ryker chuckling. Dad gives him a dark scowl, “Does Logan let Mila go out looking like that?”
Ryker shrugs. “My father doesn’t have much of a choice in what Mila wears, because whatever Mom says goes in our household.”
Dad shakes his head, then looks at Mom. “Are you okay with Jade wearing that dress?”
Mom clears her throat and smiles at me. “I think Jade looks beautiful.”
It only makes the look on Dad’s face darken. “I’m not going to win, am I?”
I shake my head and walking to the chair he’s sitting on, I place my hand on his shoulder and press a kiss to his cheek. “Daddy, just tell me I look pretty. It’s not like I’m going to a club. I’ll be with the group at Jase’s house, so you have nothing to worry about.”
My group of friends consists of my cousins and family friends. We’re a tight-knit group of sixteen kids who grew up together.
Dad lets out a hopeless sigh. “As long as you and Brady don’t go sneaking off.”
Sometimes Dad’s sixth sense is scary.
“Daddy,” I begin to worry I somehow gave away that I plan on losing my virginity tonight. I hope none of my emotions show on my face as I say, “You know Brady is sweet and caring.”
Dad locks eyes with me, his expression saying he doesn’t care much for what I think of Brady. “He’s a boy, and you’re a girl. No amount of being sweet and caring can overrule hormones.”
My eyes widen, and I glance at Ryker and Mila, who look like they’re seconds away from cracking up, then I turn my shocked expression back to dad. “Are you seriously going to give me the birds and the bees talk in front of everyone?”
“That’s enough, Rhett,” Mom scolds Dad. She gets up and comes to give me a hug. “Have fun, Bean.”
Playfully, I narrow my eyes at Mom because she still calls me by the nickname they gave me as a baby.
With a loving smile, she murmurs, “You’ll always be our little bean.” Then she turns to Ryker. “Drive safely and no drinking.”
“Yes, Aunty Evie.”
I lean down and give Dad a hug. “Love you, Daddy.”
His arms wrap around me, and he pulls me down until I’m sitting on his knee. Giving me a worried look, he says, “I worry about you, Bean. Boys only have one thing on their minds.”
“Rhett, I’m certain Brady’s mind doesn’t work anything like yours did when you were a teenager.”
Mom gives him a stern glare, which has Dad looking chastised. “If I knew I’d be paying for my sins…”
“What? You’d walk the straight and narrow? We both know that’s impossible when it comes to Rhett Daniels and his friends.”
“Mhh…” I tease. “I feel like there’s an interesting story I want to hear.”
Dad pushes me up. “Nope, nothing interesting in my past.” He rises from the chair and walks toward the front door. “Have fun, guys. Ryker, have Jade home by midnight.”
I grin, and when I reach the front door, I press another kiss to Dad’s cheek.
He gives me a warm smile