That shut me up.

It also shut off all functioning systems of my body except for the one that screamed, Kiss her senseless and lock her in the attic for a few days.

“We’re hiding until break time. By the looks of it, Mom is going to let us have coffee and doughnuts at nine.”

“So we’re going to hide in the guest room?” I looked around the empty room.

“Nope.” She grinned. “Attic time. Up you go!” With a grunt she pulled open the door to the attic and turned on the light.

And immediately I was transported back to my childhood. Milo always made me play dragon slayer. I had to be both the dragon and the slayer, which usually proved a problem when at the end of our playtime I had to die, but she hadn’t cared. The only mission I’d had, as one of her best friends, was to kill the dragon, save the princess, make it to the castle (aka the top of the stairs) in time, and offer her my sword. In reality, it had been a wooden sword. She’d then knight me and we’d sit at a table that was square instead of round, and we’d make Jason King Arthur.

“Come on.” She tugged my hand, leading me up the stairs. Funny, when I was little I couldn’t care less about being the guy who got knighted.

Now? Now I’d kill just to be a contender.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MILO

Colton’s face fell as he made his way slowly up the stairs. Funny how life happened. I spent half my childhood waiting for him at the top of the stairs.

And now? Now I was waiting for him again.

Not to slay the dragon, but to do something more heroic.

“It’s smaller than I remember,” he mused once he reached the top; his green eyes took in the room. The toy trunk was still in the corner along with my princess gowns and the giant family portrait from when I was born. My parents held me up between them like I was freaking Simba from The Lion King while an irritated Jason made a face at the camera. Priceless.

Dusty boxes lined the walls. The boxes had been there since I could remember. We used to build castles out of them.

The dragon always—and I do mean always—got slain before he reached the box castle. Colton was good like that.

I shrugged. “You’re just bigger.”

“Guess so.” Colton walked around to the tiny window and took a seat on the toy box. “So we’re just going to hide out until break time?”

“You have any better ideas?” I teased, wiping my hand across the dusty surface of one of the boxes. “My mom’s losing her head over this wedding—don’t shake your head, you know it’s true. It’s not even like she likes Jayne anyway!”

“No.” Colton patted the spot next to him. “But she loves Jason and if Jason loves Jayne, then your mom loves Jayne, which means she wants everything to be perfect.”

“You’re right.”

“Sorry, I didn’t quite get that.” He grinned, making my stomach drop to my feet.

“I’m not saying it again for your benefit, Colt.”

“Fine.” He sighed and picked up the wooden sword by his feet. “Tell me, how badass of a dragon was I?”

Laughing, I took the sword. “You always got the dragon. Meaning you did a really good job of killing yourself and then turning back into the knight. And I must admit the dragon always made really cool dying noises.”

“Why’d we stop?”

“Hmm?” I was too busy watching his mouth to pay attention to the words actually coming out of it.

“Playing dragons and knights.”

“Um, I got boobs?”

Colton dropped the sword and swore.

“Sorry, but it’s true.”

“You had . . .” He pointed and looked away. “You’ve always been a girl.” The tips of his ears burned a bit pink. Was it possible that the great Colton Mathews was embarrassed?

“Right,” I said slowly. “But the minute you realized I wasn’t just a girl, that I was turning into a young woman, you went from playing and slaying the dragon to slaying all my friends.”

Colton glared with disapproval. “I did not slay your friends. And by slay I’m assuming you mean lay because it rhymes and you’re ridiculous like that.”

My stomach clenched. I could still remember what it had felt like to go to Jason’s and his graduation party and see Colton locking lips with Jenna. They’d been behind the garage, kissing in the shadows. When Colton saw me, he tried to run after me, but I went and hid like a total loser. My heart had been broken. After all, Jenna and I were in the same exact class, which meant he was interested in girls my age. Just not me.

“There weren’t that many girls, Milo. I think you’re exaggerating. Besides, I’m reformed. I haven’t dated seriously in . . .”

“What?” I interrupted, folding my arms across my chest. “Thirty days? Having problems counting that high?”

“It’s been a while.”

“Look . . .” I stood. “It’s not like it’s any of my business.”

The attic fell silent.

“Isn’t it, though?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine. When I didn’t say anything, he stood and pulled me into his arms. “Tell me it’s not your business.”

“It’s—”

“Jayne, seriously, back off!” Max yelled.

Colton and I froze, then silently padded down the stairs to the door and listened.

“What?” Jayne whined.