Red Zone: Boys of Fall by Mari Carr Page B

childhood. Compared to his strict upbringing, it actually sounded ideal. Joel’s days were more regimented. School, homework, chores, prayers, bedtime. He’d never heard his mother curse, never seen her drink, and she sure as hell had never gone out on a date. What she had done was work all day, every day, at two different stores while he was at school, then she took on tailoring jobs on the side, sewing at home until late at night to make sure they had enough money for the bills and food. It was a rather lifeless, humorless existence. Maybe that was why he was so attracted to Sadie and Oakley, with their colorful tales and larger-than-life personalities.
    “So you decided to rebel?” Oakley asked.
    “Yeah. Once I got boobs, the dad who used to let me do whatever I wanted went into meltdown mode. Turned into the overprotective bastard he is today.” There wasn’t a bit of malice lacing Sadie’s tone. In fact, it was pretty obvious she adored her dad. “So I decided to push his buttons. Dyed my hair blonde, started wearing makeup and low-cut shirts. Went a little boy crazy, talking on the phone all night. My dad went ballistic. Didn’t have a clue how to deal with a girlie-girl. It was okay for a while, but my outside didn’t match my insides and that was pretty obvious to the other girls. I’ve never had a lot of friends who were girls. All that drama and squealing and giggling shit gets on my nerves.”
    Joel suddenly realized that was part of what made her so attractive. He’d thought it was her blunt honesty, but it was all that other stuff too.
    “I guess the fact I was a late bloomer made me a bit more noticeable, more memorable when compared to the other three senior girls who were up for the title. It didn’t help that—while they were all gorgeous—they were also snooty bitches who hadn’t been particularly nice to many people in our class. According to the principal, I won by a landslide.”
    “When did you give up the whole rebellion thing?” Oakley asked.
    “Just before graduation. Met a badass guy with a motorcycle and tats who smoked like a chimney and I thought I was in love. Turned out I was just in love with the tats and the bike. Even so, I stuck with the loser six months longer than I should have. At the end of the relationship, I had my own motorcycle, a really bad tattoo on my ass, and my father started sleeping better at night.”
    Oakley studied Sadie’s naked body. “I love the butterfly tat.”
    She grinned. “So do I, but it’s what’s under the butterfly that sucked.”
    “Ah,” Oakley said. “And so we get the story. What was it? His name? His face?”
    Sadie narrowed her eyes. “Please. I would never be so stupid. It was just his initials.”
    Joel laughed until she turned her gaze to him. “Okay, Joel. Your turn. Truth or dare?”
    In light of the revelations of the past few minutes, Joel decided to take the easy way out. “Dare.”
    “Awesome,” Sadie said without a second of hesitation. “I dare you to kiss Oakley.”
    Joel froze, hoping he hadn’t heard her correctly. “What?”
    “Kiss Oakley. And nothing lame. Lips touching, mouths open, little tongue action would be cool. And maybe you can grip his hair like you do mine. Because that is totally hot.”
    “Sadie…” Joel didn’t know what else to say. Didn’t know how to get out of this situation. Shit, how to get out of this bed and this room.
    Oakley didn’t make a peep, his face completely impassive. What the hell did he think of her dare? Why didn’t he step in and say no way?
    Because he wanted it.
    Oakley wanted his kiss. Joel knew that. Knew it deep down in his soul. God, he’d always known it.
    Joel tried to fight down the panic gripping him. His next move had the potential to destroy so much more than this unorthodox affair they’d begun. He was terrified of losing his best friend.
    The silence dragged on for too long. And while Oakley had one hell of a poker face, it started to slip, his