Page 100 of Never Not Friends

Carly’s brows lift. “Did he kiss you?”

“Of course he did.” Hess laughs. “We were talking about it right before you guys left our house. He said, ‘Here goes nothin’.”

That makes me smile.

“Oh, look at that big grin.” Juliet points. “He definitely kissed her. How was it?”

My cheeks turn bright red, so I do the only thing I know how. I cover my face with my hands.

“That good, huh?” Nate teases.

“Stop!” I shake my head. “I cannot talk about this with all of you.”

“Alright, let’s give her a break,” Camila says. “We’re really happy for you, Emma. Shane’s a great guy.”

My hands drop, and my eyes drift around the table. Everyone does seem genuinely happy for me…until I get to Vinny.

His jaw is set, and his eyes seem sad.

Which is oddly new and feels years too late.

He doesn’t look away when I catch him staring.

So I do.

“I think we should move on from me. Carly? What’s new with you?” I ask, shooting my gaze to her. “How is babysitting your siblings going while your parents are out of town?”

“Oh, it’s been eye-opening, that’s for sure.”

Nate leans in to tell his side of the experience. “The worst moment from babysitting Carly’s little brothers and sisters was last night when we caught Cade making out on the family room couch.”

“You didn’t!” Camila’s mouth falls open.

Carly’s twisted expression says it all. “Oh, yes, we did. They were lying down on top of each other and everything.”

“How old is he now?” Juliet asks.

“Cade’s fifteen.”

Hess laughs, looking right at Nate. “What did you do?”

“I felt so much adult responsibility all of a sudden. I told them to get off each other. That they’re too young to be doing that kind of stuff.”

“No, that’s what you should’ve said.” Carly shakes her head at Nate. “Instead, you said, ‘Don’t you know back rubs in the front room lead to front rubs in the back room?’”

“Wow, great line,” Hess says.

“Pretty solid advice, I thought,” Nate proudly agrees.

“Stop!” Camila can’t keep the second-hand embarrassment off her face. “If I were fifteen and an adult said that to me, I would never show my face in that house again.”

Carly laughs. “The poor girl turned every shade of red possible. She was gone within fifteen seconds of us finding them. No teenager wants to hear that from an adult.”

Camila’s eyes move to me. “Didn’t your mom catch you and Vinny making out when you were fifteen?”

All the blood drains from my face.

Her brows lift, waiting for my answer, and for a half-second, I wonder if she’s lost her mind. I can’t tell if Camila brought this up on purpose or if it’s just a terrible accident.