Leo, Josie, and I sit at the end of the dock where moonlight shines magical light across the water and frogs croak lazy songs. It’s a bubble I never want to leave.

“Let’s play Guess The Object,” Josie says. She kicks her bare feet, making a splash in the lake water. Her legs are impossibly long this year—smooth, tanned skin for days.

Josie Jensen is an angel and a devil rolled into one. Some days I think she’s the sweetest, purest person I know—an angel who makes me feel good about myself. She makes me want to be worthy of her friendship. Other times, she tempts me like the devil, testing my ability to keep my hands off the girl I’ve known since childhood.

We’ve been at the cabin for two weeks, and I’ve sported a constant hard-on due to her tiny bikini tops and short shorts. I don’t know what her dad is thinking, but he’s sure not worried about his daughter’s virginity.

Not that I’d hit that. I have the sense to know that I can’t lose the respect of an entire family. Her father and brother would kill me, and they’re practically my second family.

Josie absently braids her long hair and gazes at the stars. “It’s an object that guys own. Leo, you go first.”

“Is it smaller than a breadbox?” Leo asks.

“Yes,” she answers.

We realize this is a kid’s game, but there’s not much else to do in the dark unless we build a fire. There’s a burn ban this week, so we can’t do that. I honestly don’t mind playing a silly game, because I get to hang out and chill.

She lies back on the wood and points skyward. “Look, a shooting star. Make a wish. Hurry!”

She grabs my elbow and yanks it. “Come down here beside me, doofus.”

I obey because it’s no use arguing with her, and lie on my back. It is pretty nice. Josie smells like coconuts from all the suntan oil she lubes up in every day.

My gaze travels over her shoulder, up her neck, and stumbles at her lips. Mmm….I could eat her up.

Leo clears his throat. Glancing to the other side of Josie, I frown at his grin. What’s he smiling about? I turn my attention back to Josie. “Is it smaller than a wallet?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says. She licks her lips. “Yes, sir. Almost that size I guess.”

“It’s folded money.” Leo looks down at Josie for confirmation. “Is that right?”

“Nope,” Josie states. “Although maybe it gets you guys excited.”

Josie and Leo have played this game since they were little. I know Josie well enough to figure it’s not something obvious.

“It’s a phone number,” I say. “A piece of paper with a girl’s phone number.”

“Crash and burn…again.” Josie spreads her arms wide and playfully pokes her brother in the side before linking her hands behind her head. She is certainly the devil tonight because all I can focus on is the way the bikini top fabric barely covers her tits. I swear the cool night air is my enemy as I can see the outline of her hard nipples.

I’m going to call this my blue ball summer. The last thing I need is a noticeable bulge in my swim shorts.

“Dane?” she prompts. “Are you listening?”

“Oh. Yeah. My turn. Okay, um…” Wallet. Wallet. “Is it a driver’s license?”

“Gah,” she moans. “Let me help you guys. We usually don’t give clues, but I don’t have all night. It’s something in a guy’s wallet and not a girl’s purse, although I don’t know why. I might need to put one in my purse after the summer because I believe in equality.”

What is she babbling about? Her body sways as she swings her hanging legs back and forth off the dock’s edge. “Leo. Your turn.”

“I think I’m going inside. I’m going to work on that new comic I’m doing with Chad. Or maybe we could play Civilization online. What do ya think, Dane? Sound good?”

Josie twists toward me and those breasts jiggle. One’s going to pop out of that little triangle. My dick attempts a full salute, so I pull my knees up to camouflage the situation.

“Don’t leave,” she says. “We don’t have to keep playing the game. We can do anything out here. Come on…please, please, please, pretty please—”

“Okaaay,” I say as if it’s a huge hardship for me to give in to her.

“You’re my real brother. Not Mr. In-Love-With-His-Laptop over there.”

Leo gets to his feet. “My laptop and I have a special, giving relationship. More than I can say for me and you.” He shoves his bare feet against her hip and pushes.

Josie gives a loud squeal, the kind that makes you think Leo’s stabbed her. She tries to grab his ankle, but he dodges and jogs backward on the dock.

“Later, guys,” he calls out. “And it was a condom, right?”

“Not in your wallet. I don’t think so,” she answers.

We lie still, side-by-side without talking, for a full minute. Me, inhaling her beautiful coconut scent. Josie, humming her new favorite tune.

“So what was it?” I ask. “The thing. I give up. What is it?”

“Condom.”

“You’re lying.”

“Am not. That was it. Really. Should’ve known Leo would guess. It’s maddening to have a twin. You have no idea how irritating—”

“You are not putting condoms in your purse.” My face grows hot and I fight an angry roar in my ears.

“You can’t tell me what to do.” She sits up with a jerk. “What’s your problem?”

“You’re being ridiculous. If you carry a condom, it means you are looking to get laid.”

She gets to her feet and so do I.

Pacing back and forth at the end of the dock, she glares at me, looking beautifully livid with the moon shining down on her. “Oh my God,” she says. “Are you living in the eighteenth century? Do you hear yourself? Is that why guys do it? So they can be ready at a moment’s notice just in case some female flashes the ready sign and—”

I grab her shoulders. “No. It’s not. It’s just that I don’t want you…”

“Want me what?” she says. Her chest is heaving and her eyes flashing murder.

I stare at her lips and I’m unable to break free of the moment. What is it I want from her? To never date and have sex with a guy? Yes. That’s exactly what I want and it’s unfair. Because I’m no virgin.

“Sometimes, I hate you,” she mumbles. “You don’t want me to have sex with someone. Why? Say it. What are you afraid of?”

Josie Jensen has never been prettier than she is tonight. Even with those words of hate on her lips, I know she understands my internal struggle. As much as she knows how Leo thinks because of their close sibling bond, she may know me better.

She senses that I won’t take what I want. It’s as confusing to me as it is to her. I simply don’t want to mess up a good thing with our friendship, because no one who hooks up at our age stays together.

I let go of her and back away before I do something stupid like kiss her.

Her hard stare burns me. “At least I know what I want in life,” she says. “At least I don’t lie to myself.”

“We’re sixteen, Butterfly. No one our age knows what they really want.”

“Whatever,” she says and twists free of my hold on her. “I’ve changed my mind. I think I’ll go inside and read.”

“Sure.”

She strolls to the lake cabin, her hands tucked into her pockets, her head down.

Tomorrow, we’ll wake and go fishing. I’ll catch a few bass. Her dad will tease me. Her mom will try to make sure I apply enough sunscreen and drink water. Leo will nap since he stays up late into the night.

Things will be back to normal…and I’ll try to forget about a possible condom in Josie’s purse.