26 Kisses Read Online Free Page B

“Seth, if you didn’t want to have fun tonight, you should have just stayed home.” She cracks her knuckles and turns to Killian. “Want to go sit down there? We’ll be able to see better.” She motions to the end of the dock, where Brianna and Landon are already making out.
    “Uh . . .” Killian glances over at me, and I pull my phone out of my pocket, pretending to read a text. “Sure,” he says, following her.
    Seth stares after them and lets out his breath in a huff, sinking down onto the dock and staring out at the water. Adam motions for me to sit next to him, and I give him a tight smile before settling myself gingerly onto the smooth boards. Vince flops down nearby, cracking open his can with a flourish.
    “Cheers,” Adam says, tapping his beer against mine. “Happy Dune Days.”
    “Same to you,” I say, trying to ignore the aftertaste on my tongue.
    My eyes lock on Adam’s, and he raises one eyebrow, a slow smile spreading across his face. I look away, my breath coming faster than normal, every cell in my body aware that I’m sitting very close to a guy who isn’t Mark. Where should I put my hands? Should I scoot closer? Am I supposed to be talking to Vince, too? Maybe he and Adam are going to battle it out to prove their dominance, like bucks do during mating season. I silently curse Mel for inviting so many people tonight. If I make a fool of myself, there will be plenty of witnesses.
    The first fireworks explode over the tops of the trees, giving me an excuse not to talk to anyone. I sip my drink nervously and monitor Adam’s every movement out of the corner of my eye, making my way through two cans of beer before the show is even half over. Eventually, the alcohol kicks in, and my body relaxes. I toss my beer can aside and lean back on my hands. It’s a gorgeous night, I’m out with friends, and Mark is (hopefully) sitting at home, alone, wishing he hadn’t been so quick to dump me. Or . . . he’s over at the fireworks with his arm around some other girl. I push the thought out of my head and let my hand brush against Adam’s.
    After what seems like hours, the grand finale begins, and it is spectacular—huge fireworks erupting one after the other with booms that make my heart pound fast in my chest, the ghostly imprints they leave behind in the sky crossing over each other and blurring into gray smog. The air smells like a combination of fresh pine and acrid smoke.
    I turn to say something to Adam just as his arm swings up and drapes across my shoulders. He pulls me closer and whispers in my ear, “Cool, huh?”
    I nod, my palms sweating. Everyone else is getting up and stretching, discussing which fireworks were their favorites, but I am frozen in place with the weight of this guy’s arm holding me down. He is shorter, more solid, than Mark. His deodorant smells different, his profile is sharper, he has an earring—but when I close my eyes and let the alcohol fuzz my brain, none of that seems to matter. When Adam turns my face toward his and kisses me, it feels almost natural. And as our kiss deepens and his hands move down to my hips, I realize I’m not nervous anymore. Mark is no longer the only guy I’ve ever been close to. I’m single—I can do what I want, kiss who I want. All summer long.
    I’m free.

CHAPTER FOUR
    I may be a little tipsy and totally giddy from making out with Adam, but Mel is completely wrecked. Killian practically has to carry her back to the parking lot as she shrieks and giggles the whole way. The rest of the guys follow behind us.
    “Shhh,” I say, stumbling along, my hand in Adam’s. “Mel, shut up. Someone’s going to hear you.”
    “Who’s going to hear me?” She pulls away from Killian and runs ahead, flinging her arms out wide and shouting nonsense. Seth sighs impatiently and takes off after her, his red shoes the only thing visible as the rest of him melts into the darkness.
    Killian glances at me but looks away as Adam’s arm