When Savannah starts making kissy noises, I decide to take a different approach. “This is going to be our secret, right?”

They both nod.

“Girl code,” Mari says, grinning. “We won’t tell our brother how much you love him.”

Girl code? Where did they learn that from?

I scrub my hand down my face, but decide there is no point in arguing with them.

*****

Six Months Later

“I didn’t even date Jackie.” Dash groans, rubbing the back of his neck. “We kissed, once. I didn’t even take her on an official date.”

I laugh and take a bite of my carrot stick. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”

Max chuckles and puts his phone down, giving us his attention. “You know what this school is like. Everyone likes to gossip, so just ignore it.”

“We’re going to shoot some hoops after school. Do you want to come with us, Vi?” Dash asks, making Max raise his eyebrows.

“Sure,” I say, shrugging nonchalantly. “I can read while you guys play.”

“Sweet,” he says, standing up. “I have to go find my sister. I’ll see you in home ec, though.”

He leaves, and I watch him do so.

“You like him,” Max says, studying me a little too closely for my liking. “Don’t you?”

I shrug and look down at the grass, plucking some out of the ground. “I don’t know.”

“Vi,” he says, lifting my chin with his fingers. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“We’re just friends, Max,” I tell him, moving my face away. “And don’t you dare act weird or say anything to him.”

“As if I’m going to do that,” he says, looking away.

I stand up and offer him my hand. “Let’s get to class.”

*****

Dash

I walk past Savannah’s room, when I overhear her saying something to Mari. “Do you think we should tell Dash to ask Vi out? I feel like he needs help, because he’s not making a move.”

“We can’t say anything to Dash; it would violate girl code. We told Vi we wouldn’t tell Dash that she likes him, even though it’s obvious to everyone,” Mari says, sighing dramatically. “Except Dash.”

Girl code?

Does that trump them telling their big brother important information like this? They think I need dating advice from a bunch of preteen girls?

Jesus.

I open my bedroom door and consider their words. If I was to be honest with myself, the close relationship Vi has with Max is one of the reasons I haven’t asked her out or made a move yet. Max will always be her number one, and I don’t know how well I can handle that. I had no idea she’d mentioned to the girls that she likes me. What if she’s been waiting for me to make a move this entire time? I don’t want to blow my chance with her. I’m just going to have to try to learn to accept hers and Max’s relationship, and let them do them, while still finding a way to fit us into her life.

I could do that.

I smile at my sisters’ antics, shaking my head in amusement.

Viola is a one-of-a-kind girl, and it’s about time I put myself out there and make her mine.

*****

Viola

The next weekend, one of the girls from our class, Kylie, is having a party at her house. Max insisted that we go, even though I tried to get out of it, so here I am, wearing my new black skinny jeans, a black tank top, and a cute leather jacket with my Converse sneakers, in the car with Max and Dash on the way there. Dash is driving, and Max is drinking a beer in the front seat, loud music pumping from the stereo.

“Are you going to drink tonight?” Dash asks me, lowering the music and looking at me in the rear-view mirror.

“Nope, so you can if you like,” I tell him. “I’ll drive us home.”

Max jokingly offers him some of his beer.

“How long are we staying at this thing?” I ask, looking between the two of them. “And I better not be ditched the second we get into the house.”

“As if,” Max says, turning to look at me. “Bros over hoes, Vi. I’m not leaving you alone.”

Bros over hoes?

I don’t know if I should take offence to that or be happy he considers me one of the guys.

“She won’t be alone,” Dash says. “If you want to hook up with someone, I can stay with Vi.”

A weird tension I don’t understand fills the car. “I’m not going to leave Vi. I never do.”

“Okay,” Dash says, looking straight ahead. He turns the music back up, for which I’m thankful. I look out the window until we arrive at the huge, modern-looking two-story house. There are people standing out front, congregating in circles, all with drinks in their hands. Music is blasting from inside. Max opens my door for me when I don’t get out.

“Come on,” he says, nodding his head toward the house. “You like this song.”

I do like this song. I get out and cross my arms over my chest, scanning the scene in front of me. Dash stands next to me as Max grabs his beers.

“Do you go to parties like this a lot?” I ask him.

“Not a lot, but I’ve been to a few over the years, yes,” he says, scanning my features. “We’ll make an appearance, maybe dance, socialise, and then go get some food. What do you think?”

“I think that sounds perfect.”

We walk inside and the guys say hi to everyone they pass, while I keep to myself and smile at a few girls I know from some of my classes.

“Do you want something to drink?” Dash asks, standing so close to me I can smell him. I want to bury my face in his chest and just breathe in, but luckily I’m able to refrain myself.

“Yeah, maybe some juice or soda or something,” I say. Max wraps his arm around me as he glances around the place.

“How awesome is this house?”

“I’ll be back,” Dash says, heading toward the table of drinks.

“It’s massive,” I say, following Max’s line of sight. “Perfect house for a party, that’s for sure.”

“You’re going to have a good time, I promise,” he says, taking a sip of his beer.

Dash returns with two red cups in his hands, passing one over to me. “Orange juice okay?”

“Perfect, thank you,” I say, accepting the cup from him and taking a small sip. Max leads us to the outside area, where we all sit down and watch a couple of the guys from math class play beer pong.

When I see Sierra, I glance at Dash.

He just grins. “Yeah, I know she’s here, but don’t worry. I’m not going to flip out and drag her home.”

“Phew,” I say, playfully wiping my forehead. “Because that would have scarred the poor girl for life.”

“Max!” Liam, one of the guys from school, calls out.

“Be right back,” Max says to me then glances at Dash. “You won’t leave her, right?”

Dash shakes his head.

“I’ll just be over there.” He points to the group of his friends. “Unless you want me to stay?”

“I’m fine, Max,” I say honestly. “I can still see you from here anyway.”

“True,” he chuckles, then walks in that direction.

“I still don’t get the two of you,” Dash says, moving closer to me on the chair. “I’ve never seen friends so close.”

I shrug my shoulder and lean closer to him. “We grew up together. He’s my best friend and family mixed in one.”

Dash brushes my hair off my face, and I stop breathing. This is the first time he’s touched me like that.

“So I was wondering if maybe…” he starts then pauses, his violet gaze on my lips. “I could take you out next weekend. On a proper date.”

My eyes widen. “I think I’d like that.”

Is this happening? Did Dash ask me out on a date? Dash? The boy I’ve been secretly crushing on since the moment I laid eyes on him?

Is he going to kiss me on this date?

I’ve never been properly kissed before.

“Okay, good,” he says softly, cupping my cheek with his palm. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“Socially awkward and opinionated?” I joke, making him chuckle.

“Socially awkward, kind-hearted, and just fucking wonderful,” he replies, grinning. “Real is what you are. Just real.”

I stare at his lips. “Dash?”