Girl Code by LD Davis Read Free Book Online Page B

fingers curled into fists in my lap. He pulled a corner of his bottom lip between his teeth and now I was looking at his mouth. I was about to look away when his tongue swept over his lips. Dear god, I couldn’t look away, even though it was so wrong. So, very, very wrong; I couldn’t look away.
    Leo’s arm slid down the couch and landed gently across my shoulders. His fingers lightly gripped my shoulder as he leaned in close to me. My heart felt like it was going to cut its way out of my chest. He was going to kiss me, I was sure of it. His mouth was so close to mine that I could feel his breath on my lips.
    If Leo kissed me, I would have to tell Leslie, and then what would become of our friendship? She would hate me forever. I had a traumatic night and my decision-making was poor at best. My attraction to Leo was…maybe it wasn’t real. I was only fourteen and clearly, after disobeying my brother and going to Rico’s, I was unable to make sound decisions. I had a code to adhere to, but besides that, Leslie was my best friend. With or without girl code, my lips should not be centimeters from her boyfriend’s, regardless of who started it or why it was happening. I was the worst kind of friend.
    I put my hand on Leo’s chest and pushed him.
    “Dude, personal space!” I said and pushed him again.
    Surprise, disappointment, and maybe pain flashed on his face for merely a second before his naturally cocky grin took over.
    “The closer I am to you, the more of my awesomeness you get to experience.”
    “I think you confused that with lameness,” I said, rolling my eyes. I got to my feet and said, “Thank you for being my knight in shining armor tonight, but get out.”
    He leisurely got to his feet, still sporting that grin. “You love me.”
    “We had this discussion before,” I said, crossing my arms. “I don’t like you.”
    “Oh, come on.” He walked around the couch toward the stairs. “Behind Leslie, I’m totally your best friend.”
    I shrugged. “Doesn’t mean that I like you.”
    “But I am your second best friend,” he said pointedly and laughed softly.
    “Which just goes to show what a loser I am. I need more friends.”
    He laughed again and I tried not to smile. “Okay, Tacky. Goodnight, best buddy. I’ll lock the door behind me.”
    “Thanks, jerk face.”
    “Watch your mouth, little girl,” he said.
    Still grinning, Leo nodded once at me and then disappeared up the stairs. A few seconds later, the door opened and closed. I collapsed on the couch.
    Second Disaster of the night: Averted.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    “It’s hot. I hate the sand. Why does there have to be sand?” my cousin Mayson complained.
    Her parents had rented a small house a block away from the beach for two weeks after school let out for the summer. It was an annual thing and I had a standing invitation. Our cousin Emmy and her family also had an annual trip to the beach before their seasonal trek to Louisiana, and we were walking the boardwalk to go meet her and her best friend Donya.
    “What’s a beach without sand?” I asked Mayson, looking at the stretch of sand between the boardwalk and the sea.
    “A rocky beach would be better,” she said. “No sand between your toes or in your crotch. I hate a sandy vagina.”
    I shook my head but couldn’t stop my smile. Mayson was a year younger than me, but she said things that made experienced adults blush sometimes. I didn’t point out to her that we weren’t even in the sand—hadn’t even touched the sand yet.
    “Hey, there’s Emmet,” Mayson pointed in front of us.
    Emmy’s brother Emmet was strolling down the boardwalk in our direction.
    “I swear, if he weren’t my cousin, I’d totally jump on him,” Mayson muttered as we neared the guys.
    “I’m sure it’s legal somewhere in the country,” I teased.
    “Hey,” Emmet said when we were a few feet away.
    “Hey,” Mayson and I answered. Standing in front of him, I appreciated