We settle onto the couch and nestle the popcorn bowl between us. Rayna still has tears in her eyes from the last chick flick we watched. The word “contradiction” comes to mind.

To our right, the sliding glass door opens and Toraf pops his head in. “Rayna, are we still fighting?” When he gets a close look at her, he opens the door all the way and is sitting beside her on the armrest within a matter of seconds. Cradling her face in his hands, he wipes the tears from her eyes. “Princess, what’s wrong? Please don’t cry.”

Oh, gag me.

She throws herself into his arms. “We’re not fighting anymore, Toraf. Take me home.”

Toraf gives me a scalding look. “What’d you do to her?”

“That tone is not going to work out for you, minnow,” Galen says from the back door. He closes it behind him. He’s wearing only swimming trunks and his hair is wet; he must have taken a swim after detention. Crossing his muscular arms, he winks at me.

And my stomach does this ridiculous fluttering thing.

I tear my eyes away from Galen’s shirtless torso and turn my attention back to Toraf and his loaded question. “You mean what did Rayna do to me?”

“That sounds more accurate,” Galen says. I try not to get too excited when he walks behind the couch and plants a kiss on my neck.

Rayna jerks her head around and gives me a proceed-with-caution glare. She’s at my mercy right now. Oh the things I could tell Toraf. I could blow her secret world out of the water all in one breath. And in that same breath, I could get myself in trouble with Galen.

“What do you mean?” Toraf’s bluster is almost dissipated. Deep down, he knows Rayna is the starter of things.

“I’m just kidding,” I say, shoving a handful of popcorn in my mouth. “We just watched a sad movie, is all.” And just like that, my opportunity to bust Rayna passes. But I’m okay with that.

Because truth be told, someday I’d like another girl’s day out.