“You know I’ll always protect you, right?” Peter’s arms tightened their hold, “don’t you remember my promise?”

I nodded, “Yeah, Pete. I do.”

Tears filled my eyes at the memory. The day of my father’s funeral seemed so close, like only yesterday, but it had been years now. The pain was as real and acute as that fateful day and every year since. Around this time every summer, I would withdraw and think of him, remembering the anniversary of his death. Peter must have noticed because he whispered in my ear, “I miss him too.”

My eyes burned as I remembered Peter’s promise . . .

***

DEVASTATED, I RAN THROUGH the kitchen and out the back door heading straight for the treehouse, hot tears falling down my devastated cheeks. Once I was inside I barricaded the trap door so no one could come in after me. For hours I sat on the hardwood floor, rocking back and forth, crying for my dead father. He was never coming back. The thought was so jarring, so permanent that I wailed my sorrow, sobbing so hard I could hardly breathe. I must have stayed like that until I fell asleep out of exhaustion.

It was dark when I opened my eyes, barely able to see anything but the low light of the pale violet moon. A hand reached for mine and held it. I might have been afraid or surprised, but I knew Peter climbed the treehouse and was watching over me the entire time.

“Rae,” he whispered softly. “You don’t ever have to be alone.”

“I know,” I whispered back, my voice hoarse from crying. “But I want my daddy back.”

Saying the words aloud unleashed a new wave of grief and I started crying uncontrollably. I remember Peter scooting closer and letting me weep on his shoulder. I remember how he whispered words of comfort and rubbed my back, promising to never leave me alone ever again unless I asked.

Peter was my more than my friend or family. He was a part of me.

“Pete?” I lay next to him on a blanket, watching the sky as the stars began to glow.

“Yes?”

“If I asked you to stay close and protect me like daddy, would you?”

“I already do, Rae.”

“Yes, but like daddy,” I clarified.

“Do you mean like love?”

I nodded, “Uh huh.”

“I do, Rae. I love you just as much as Ron.”

“Promise?”

“I promise Rae.”

“Always?” I pressed.

“Always Rae, as long as we both live.”

***

I REMEMBERED KISSING Peter’s cheek and the relief I felt knowing that he would love me like my father did. It was important to me, even at such a young age, but I never understood why. Maybe there were other memories that I had forgotten. Maybe I wanted him to take my dad’s place, a male figure to idolize like my wonderful father. I’ll never know.

As Peter held me, I realized how much he always kept his word. He protected me from bullies as we grew up. From my first boyfriend who broke up with me in eighth grade and spread rumors only to show up with a black eye and tell everyone the truth. From my stepfather and his violence. From the lonely nights when I missed my dad so much I couldn’t sleep.

My entire life from age nine to seventeen Peter had always been my knight in shining armor. Always faithful, always present, and always by my side.

I turned my head, his eyes locking on mine instantly. Before he could say a word, I leaned in and kissed him. This wasn’t just any kiss. I put all of my heart into those magical seconds his lips were pressed against mine, determined to show him the depth of my feelings.

A small moan vibrated low in his throat as he leaned back and broke the kiss, “This is too public.”

Peter stood and grabbed my hand as we picked up our snacks and ran for the truck. Jake and Hayley were nowhere to be found. R.J. was leaning against the hood of the Nova when he saw us approach.

“I’ll take a walk.”

He nodded to us and left as Peter picked me up and deposited my backside onto the bed of the truck. He leaped up behind me, turned his head in every direction, and then lowered my back against the blanket.

“Tell me what that kiss meant to you.”

“Everything,” I whispered. “You’re everything Pete.”

His eyes glazed over as he inhaled a shaky breath, “I’m not gonna lie baby. That just turned me on.”

I laughed lightly as he growled low in his throat and lowered his body on top of mine, “Kiss me,” I begged. “Kiss me like you mean it.”

Peter’s lips met mine, gently at first but the pressure increased, becoming almost desperate. Passion ignited between us like a flame to the wick of a candle. We were combustible, a box of matches to a gallon of gasoline, and each spark lit the fire of desire in the depth of my stomach a little brighter.

“God, I love you, Rae. So damn much.”

I gasped for air as my fingers wound around his neck and into his thick dark hair, “Pete. I love you too.”

His eyes met mine as a little sparkle shined in the depths, “I know we’re young Rae. I know you still have another year of high school left.” He cupped my cheek with his rough, calloused hand and pressed a soft kiss to my lips before he stared right into my eyes without blinking. “All I know is that I love you. I always have and I always will.”

“I know, Pete.”

He shook his head, “I’m not saying it right.”

“What is it?”

“I want to marry you. Right after you graduate. As soon as we can.”

My jaw dropped, “What?” Had he lost his damn mind?

“The way I feel isn’t going to change Rae. I’ve wanted to marry you since I was ten years old and I climbed the treehouse after your dad’s funeral. I couldn’t let you grieve alone. I cried outside the window with you, the entire time. When you fell asleep, I crawled inside and held you until you woke up.”

I already knew that. I should have focused on his meaning. Instead, I latched onto the one thing that made no sense to me at all. Sigh, I can be so stubborn.

“How can anyone know so young? That’s just not possible Pete.”

He kissed me softly, “It is Rae. I’ve always known I was supposed to be yours.”

I found his words unbelievable, “Stop Peter, it’s not funny.”

“You think I would joke about this?”

I didn’t know, but the thought made me furious, “It’s not funny to say something like that. You know what that day was like for me. How could you lie?”

He stiffened as his hands grabbed my wrists and held them back, “I don’t lie to you. Ever.”

I highly doubted that. The altercation with those guys at the concession stand and Pete’s reaction proved he hid things from me. I wasn’t even going there right now.

I was too pissed.

“What do you have to gain from this?” I asked, incensed, “are you trying to sleep with me?”

Peter looked so livid I thought he might explode. His face turned a shade very near purple, “how could you think such a thing?”

“Because nothing you’re admitting makes sense. People don’t fall in love when they’re ten years old. They don’t know who their soulmates are going to be. You’re exaggerating, and it’s weird,” I accused. “Which means you have some kind of hidden motivation.”

He shook his head, “You break my heart, Rae.”

“Do I? Or have I figured out your real agenda?”

He let go of me and sat up, his face a mask of anger and hurt, “I can’t believe you just said that to me.”

I was too angry to hear his words, “I want to go home.”

He moved out of my way as I slid from the bed of the truck. When he attempted to follow me, I shook my head and held up my hand, “Alone.”

“You can’t walk home alone Rae. I’ll only follow you.”

R.J. approached us with a big sixty-four-ounce soda, nearly empty, “What’s up?”

“Got your bike?” I asked, glaring at Peter.

“Sure, Rae.”

“Take me home.”

The Big Gulp drink hit the ground as the cup broke and ice scattered across the blacktop. “Uh, I don’t think . . .” his eyes darted to Peter.

“Take her, make sure she gets in the door safely.”

R.J.’s eyes were so wide and round I thought they might pop right out of his head, “Alright, hop on Rae.” He handed me a helmet as I slid on the back of his Harley.

I glanced at Peter once my helmet was strapped on and inched my arms around R.J.’s waist as I felt him stiffen.

“Hold on tight Rae. Can’t have you falling off.” A slight nervous edge radiated from his tall frame.

“I’ll hold on,” I assured him.

Peter was staring at the two of us, his face a thundercloud. Boy was he pissed.

“Man, this is bad,” R.J. mumbled.

“What?” I asked innocently.

“Nothing sweetie. Just don’t get me in trouble.”

I might have listened if not for Peter’s glare. I scooted a little closer and lay my head on R.J.’s shoulder, “Take me away R.J.”

My words drifted away in the gentle breeze.

Peter’s hands clenched into fists as he stomped toward his car. I’m sure he planned to follow.

I was counting on it. I might be pissed, but he was still my protector.

And Pete would follow wherever I went.

***

“RAE, YOU CAN LET GO of me now.”

We were parked in my driveway, no sign of the Nova. I removed the helmet and grabbed R.J.’s hand, “stay with me tonight.”

R.J. shook his head, a little too hard, “No way. Pete would kill me.”

I smacked his arm, “I didn’t ask you to sleep with me, not like that.” Geesh, did every male’s thoughts go straight to sex?

He looked relieved, “You mean like Pete does? Watch over you?”

I nodded, “Please?”

He frowned, “Not Step-Vader again?”

I sighed, “He’s getting worse. He came in my room last night in the middle of the night.”

R.J. grabbed my shoulders, not surprised but definitely concerned, “Did he hurt you?”

I shook my head, biting my lip, “No, but he would have if Pete wasn’t with me.”

R.J. nodded, “I’ll stay. What should I do with my bike?”

“Keep it here and leave early. It’s Sunday. Nobody will really notice.”

“Let’s go, babe,” he answered briskly. His sudden change in demeanor, from relaxed to alert, should have tipped me off.

“Sure,” my house was quiet. I managed to sneak R.J. into my room and lock the door. “Peter shoved the desk in front of the door last night.”

“Should I do that?”

I nodded, “Yes, I’m kind of scared.”

R.J. shoved the desk in front of the door and turned, sitting next to me on the bed, “What happened tonight?”

“We had an argument.”

“I’ll say. That’s the maddest I’ve ever seen Pete.”

“Yeah. He lied to me and I got pissed.”

R.J. slid his arm around my shoulder as I leaned into him, “Babe, he’s loved you since you were little kids. The guy has it bad.”

I sighed, “Not you too.”

“Are you telling me you don’t believe that?”

I shook my head, “No, R.J. Nobody falls in love at ten years old.”

He stood up and began to pace, “I’m surprised at you Rae. To be honest, I’m kind of disappointed.”

“What?”

“My boy has really and truly loved you that long. I swear it. Ask Jake. Why do you think none of us has ever asked you out? You’re Pete’s girl. You always have been.”

“Because he says so,” I argued, mad as hell. “What right does he have to dictate my love life?”

“Damn, you sure are cute when you’re pissed. Too bad I only think of you as a sister.”

I couldn’t help my smile, “R.J., I’m trying to be serious.”

“So am I, if you argued because you really and truly don’t believe that he loves you that is one thing. But if you argued because you don’t believe how long he’s loved you, well, that’s pretty bitchy Rae. And it sucks. No wonder he looked like he did.”

“What are you saying?”

“He’s my best friend. In all of these years, I’ve only seen him look that way on a couple of occasions.”

I didn’t respond, pretty sure I knew where this was headed.

“The day of your dad’s funeral . . .  later that night when I saw him holding you in the treehouse . . . and tonight. You sure screwed up.”

Gee, thanks for that, “R.J., you’re not helping.”

“You want me to lie to make you feel better honey or tell you the truth?”

I sank onto my bed, “The truth.”

“Good, because I don’t want to see him look like that again,” he admonished and pulled me into his embrace, tighter. “Or you either. I love you girl like you were my own blood. Hell, all of us do.” He placed a kiss on my forehead, “But the one who loves you the most is Pete.”