Too Close To Be Innocent

BonfireNight

Chapter Two

Anna’s POV

Bonfire Night

A knock sounded on the door, and I grabbed my phone for the second time that night. Cole’s mom peeked her head in from the crack, her eyes a little drawn.

“He still hasn’t called?”

I shook my head. It wasn’t actually a lie. I’d been doing all the calling. “Maybe his battery is low, or he got caught up in traffic. He did say he was going to be driving down.”

She pushed herself further in, her warm hand grazing mine. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Anna.”

I nodded, giving her the most sincere smile I could muster. “I’m fine, Lizzy. I'd better get going. My friends are all waiting at the bonfire. If Cole calls…”

“He knows where to find you,” she said, stepping out of the way, the sides of her eyes wrinkling when she smiled. “Have fun tonight, Anna. It is your last day in high school. Don’t let it go to waste.”

Nodding, I moved into the hallway, my sneakers squeaking against the wooden floor. The light from the living room was sure a sharp contrast to the rest of the house as I walked in, heading first to the kitchen.

The pie his mother had made us was still on the table, cooling. I grabbed a knife to take a slice when I noticed it had already been dug into.

“Lizzy? Did you eat out of the pie?”

“What?” she called from the hallway. “No, I didn’t. Is a slice missing?”

“Yeah, I…”

That was when I noticed the back door slightly open, the cool air from the trees sneaking in. Narrowing my eyes, I sauntered in that direction, my perfectly manicured nails pushing the door further open.

“Cole?”

It was quiet outside. And there was something else in the air I couldn’t place my hands on. Something thick.

And raw.

“Cole, is that you?”

I walked farther away from the door, towards the swing set Lizzie had never brought herself to throw out. There was someone sitting on it, smoke billowing from his front, and strands of hair grazing the neckline of his shirt.

“Cole?”

The swing stopped moving, and the figure got to his feet, taller than I remembered. He turned around slowly. A cigarette burned between his fingers, the ash dropping to the ground. He didn’t smile. I couldn’t remember him ever smiling at me.

“Wrong guy.”

“Andre,” I breathed, my tone torn between surprise and something else. I swallowed. It’d felt really vivid. My dream from last night. Andre was right in my bedroom, and he wanted me.

The mound between my thighs clenched again at the thought, and almost immediately, my t**s throbbed. I stared at his hands, those same hands that were on me, and those fingers inside me. There was a slight chill in the air, but all I felt was heat.

“What are you doing here?” I sounded like a squeaking mouse, but if Andre noticed, he gave nothing away.

He took another drag, bringing the cigarette to his lips. I never knew Andre smoked, but then again, I knew nothing about him. Cole barely even brought him up. Yet, he’d seemed to be alive in my dreams.

“I should be asking you that, Pope. It is late. And I hear the kids at the school are having a bonfire.”

My body stilled. “Who told you about that?”

He shrugged. “You might be surprised, Pope, but you are not the only one who has a college boyfriend.”

“You are dating my classmate?” My eyes widened in surprise. I mean, I knew Andre never played by the book. But I just never pegged him to be the dating type. Even now, staring at him, I had a strong feeling he was lying.

“I never said that,” he muttered, a silent chuckle on his face. It didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t have to date them to … know things.”

The disgust that crept on my face was palpable. It was ironic, considering… “Of course. You just sleep with them.”

“It’s consensual, Pope.” He tossed the cigarette on the sand, crunching it underneath his boots. “And last I checked, it is none of your business. I bet you are enjoying your vanilla with Cole.”

“I am not going to talk about my boyfriend with you.”

“I didn’t ask you to.” Sliding his hands into his pockets, he strolled past me, heading towards the back door. I held my breath when he got close to me, expecting the smell of the smoke to hit. But I was surprised.

Because instead, he smelled different. Like he’d just had his bath. Fresh and every bit masculine. And the pie.

I turned around on my heels, stopping him before he walked inside. “Have you heard from Cole?” I asked, swallowing my pride. “He was supposed to go with me to the bonfire.”

Andre shrugged again. “You worry too much, Pope.”

But he wouldn’t know that. He didn’t know me.

And without another word, Andre went in, leaving me out in the dark. That was what happened when I tried to have a civil conversation with my boyfriend’s best friend. We’d never been cordial with each other, and I doubted that would ever change.

Fucking dreams or not.

I didn’t bother returning to the house. Instead, I took the back, walking the short journey to the bonfire. On my way, I sent a quick text to Cole.

“Wherever you are, please tell Andre not to take any more of the pie. It doesn’t belong to him.”

The music drew closer with every step I took, but it was hard to get out of my mood. My friends would have all sorts of questions without Cole here, and I wouldn’t have the answers to them. I knew Cole loved me and that he was never going to leave me for a college girl, especially now that I was going to be one.

But I hated the looks on their faces each time I spoke about him.

“Anna Pope!” My friend, Cindy, waved me over. Waving back at her with a grin I wasn’t sure belonged to me, I joined her by the cackling fire. She had a bottle of beer in her hand.

“Cindy,” I gushed, pulling her into my arms. “You aren’t supposed to be drinking. Neither of us is up to twenty-one.”

She giggled like a child. “Come on, Anna. Learn to live a little.” And then, she hugged me again. “It’s so nice to see you. You look good!”

“It’s so nice to see you too, Cindy.”

And then, I felt warm breath teasing the side of my neck. He leaned in there, almost at the minute when Cindy’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise.

“Liar.”