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“Well, what are you waiting for?” Frankie pushesto get I et Frankie back

I stride in her direction, ignoring folks as I go to get to her Her cousins step back as soon as they seeor determined because they slink off I spy her two aunts off to the right, and they both givetheir own quick exit I salute theo

ing toward irl, who hasn’t seen me yet

“Beatrice” I sidle up to her, pretending to watch the last few floats of the parade She still smells the way I remember—like summer—when the breeze picks up a curl of her messy hair

“Tank,” sheher phone back into her pocket

I take a peek at her tight jeans and the way her phone stretches the pocket over the tightest ass I ever had the privilege of touching, once upon a ti ers into her lacy panties, but for now I rein init inside of entle squeeze, war her up

She clears her throat and another float passes by

“I’m still mad at you”

“It’s okay, Honeybee I’htly We stand shoulder to shoulder, watching the crowd part ways Our fa there, and I enjoy the fact that she hasn’t run off

“In the effort of not having to deal withfrom here if that’s okay,” she says

I can’t get her to look at ht Small steps, even if I feel like all the ti I’ll take my cues from her

“Sure,” I agree,her in front of me so I can restand the mayor, dressed up as Santa Claus, hands out candy canes to the kids taking pictures My own fahted bushes My brother Colele Bea away fro rude My dad stands with his hands in his pockets, pretending to not observe with a big smile on his face

“Oh look!” Bea points at a group with sparklers, and her eyes glow froht while we listen to the crowd count down until the tree is lit

I think of the ten ways I’vetraining there were eight clear memories of the ti sex, and the six favorite positions I wanted to try all over again—god willing she’d let me There were at least five top dates, and four shared milkshakes Off the top of my head, I could only think of three times she beat me at pool and the last tere because her sweet ass distracted me

However, on the count of one, I turn her around and hold her close for a kiss that’sbut Open-eyed, she looks surprised but settles into the kiss quickly Our lips touch for the first tihs like she’s ives me hope and a reason to take the kiss deeper I can smell the cinnaar lip balling ers in her hair I was meant to come back for this