Page 45 of Torqued

Margo takes off, sprinting toward me. I turn, hauling ass to my house. I fumble the keys, trying to get the door unlocked. And that’s my downfall. Margo lands on my back, tackling me to the ground.

“Margo! This is one of my best suits!” I yell as we wrestle around on my front porch. “I’m telling my mom!”

Margo roughs up my hair, laughing her ass off. “Tell yo momma, I whipped dat ass!”

“If you weren’t a girl, I swear!” I cover my head, protecting myself from her.

She pushes off me, kicking me before she stands. “I’d still beat that ass!”

“Margaret.” Everything freezes when we hear my mom. “Stop picking on those boys, young lady.”

Margo frowns, stepping on my ankle. “Yes, ma’am. But he started it.”

“I did not!” I raise up, sticking my head over the banister. My parents live down the street from us, on the same side as Margo.

“You need to leave them alone, Rush Samuel! They’re in love, and trying to make out with no one around.” She shouts.

I side-eye Margo, her face is turning a million shades of red. Crank slips behind the side of the house, and I can’t control myself. I’m pretty sure my cackling can be heard all the way to the beach.

“Hot damn! Cleo done gone and buried a root in your asses!” I buckle, laughing so hard, I can’t catch my breath. I roll from side to side, stomping the porch with my feet as Margo crumples beside me with her face covered.

“I’m gonna die now, goodbye.”

I throw my arm across my best friend, hugging her to me. “I’m sorry my mom busted you. At least she didn’t offer you condoms.”

“I hate you; I hope your tallywhacker shrivels up and falls off, but after it turns green.” She gigs my side when I snort.

“You said tallywhacker.”

Suddenly, there’s an air assault, and we scramble to figure out what’s happening. We pop up, scanning the yard from a kneeling position when I see my mom turning the corner.

I reach down, grabbing whatever it was she threw at us. “Holy shit!”

“I’m dead.” Margo slithers back to the porch floor when we discover my mom just pelted us with prophylactics.

“I’m older than you, not deaf or dumb, and certainly not old enough to not enjoy the good stuff!” Mom yells as she continues down the street.

I melt into the floor with Margo. “I’m gonna be sick, I can’t erase any of that from my mind’s eye.”

“Hold my hand, hell is this way.” Margo clasps hands with me as we lay on my porch, dying with embarrassment.

After we make it off the porch, Margo and Crank head home. I take a quick shower and straighten up before going in and texting Spencer. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled as much as I have today.

“Alright, so there are a few things that probably could make me smile more.” One being Spencer laying under me, but I’ll keep that to myself. The good news is she’s coming down two days early.

“I should’ve asked her to ride with us.” She probably wouldn’t want to; people would blow it up, especially Lane. Spencer’s right, I have to stop allowing him to get in my head.

“He’s not worth it, and he’s definitely not worth me losing any of this or her.” Says the man talking to himself in the middle of the night. I may or may not be losing my mind; the verdict’s still out.

I finally crash, no pun intended, sometime after midnight. It’s been a long time since I fell asleep so quickly, and even longer since I dreamed so vividly. Needless to say, I’m quite happy this morning.

The sun dawns by six, and I chase it all day. Margo, Crank, and I stay busy getting the car ready for the next race. By Wednesday, we’re ready to hit the road, and I’m ready to see Spencer.

“Why are you so cheery? It’s gross.” Margo wrinkles her nose, disgusted.

“Excuse me? I haven’t rained on your love parade, don’t be messin’ with mine.”

“Love?” She twists in her seat next to me. “What is this love that thou speak of, sir?”