I wouldn't say they had it covered. Yes, they'd peppered the entire school in posters for the car wash, making sure to say like the shirtless baseball team would wash your car for $5, but it was the picture in the poster that was causing the buzz. Jessica, Gigi and another girl appeared wearing their cheerleading skirt and matching bikini tops. It was a guy's fantasy come true. I was sure half of the school would show up. The male half.

I saw Gigi giggling as one exceptionally grumpy teacher tore down some posters, and I guessed that really disrupting the system was her kick out of this whole thing. Or she was a bit exhibitionist. But cool, I didn't judge.

Dad did, though. He sat me down after practice the very same day we'd hung the posters and asked me what the hell I was doing.

I lifted my palms up. "I didn't know this was what was going to happen when Ellen enlisted cheerleaders to help."

Ellen, still shadowing me and interviewing people for her article, just gave him a smile. "Call it a senior year prank with a noble cause."

Dad pursed his lips. "The Principal told me to take down all the posters or he'd walk back on his promise."

I jumped to my feet. "Taking down the posters, right away."

That took me a while. I couldn't take down posters and hang new, PG rated ones, fast enough. I was sure there were still some racy ones hanging in weird corners by the time Saturday rolled in.

I was wearing my pink bikini under a Sea World t-shirt and jean shorts. A few of the people and I were prepping up a corner with packs of bottled water while the rest were filling up buckets with soapy water and large sponges. We'd reeled hoses all the way from the side of the front school building to the parking lot and were ready to start receiving customers.

"Any time, now," Anthony said next to me, and I resisted thinking about how in a few minutes people would start driving in and I'd have to take off my clothes. What if dad went ape crazy? I glanced at him as he directed some of the boys to the first approaching vehicle.

He was definitely going to go ape crazy.

Ellen was bursting at the seams. "Ooh, this is going to be so exciting."

"Stop," I hissed. "You're making me nervous."

"Why?" She put her hand on her cheek. "Is it because you're going to be showing everybody, especially Santiago, what yo momma gave ya?"

I shushed her and looked around. No one showed signs of having heard our conversation. Not even Anthony, who was the closest. "You're killing me, Smalls!"

She winked and left me to join Chris. We'd spoken at length about today the past few days. Her big plan was to seduce Chris with soapy goodness on her pineapple bikini and invite him over tonight, because her parents were out of town. "You should totes do the same with Santi!" she'd said last night, as if my parents were out of town or as if he and I were at that stage. I glanced at him, now shirtless and in navy swim trunks. He didn't look my way, but I swore he felt my eyes on him because he lifted his hand to brush at the longish top of his hair, flexing his biceps in a way that made my tongue grow thick and heavy.

"Did you chicken out?" an obnoxious voice said behind me.

I tried to shake off whatever dreamy eyed haze I probably had over my face. With a sugary voice I said, "Hi, Jess. So glad you could join us."

She wore a tiny, baby blue bikini that brought out her eyes in a striking manner. I had no problem ogling her openly. She was fine and I admired her blatantness about it.

"Why are you still wearing so many clothes?"

I grunted. "I'm waiting for more people."

One of her perfect eyebrows went up. "So you have more eyes on you or so you blend with the crowd more?"

I pursed my lips and left her standing there in the pursuit of something better to do. After stacking and re-stacking the packs of water I realized that we had enough cars in the parking lot that I probably couldn't postpone helping any longer. I found my duffel bag, hidden under a pile of many others, took a deep breath and pulled my t-shirt up and off. It wasn't the height of summer any longer, but it was still so warm under the sun that nothing justified the goosebumps I suddenly got all over.

"Fuck."

I startled as I turned around in the middle of popping open my short's button and saw Santi behind me. Looking at me. Everywhere. And then I understood the sudden goosebumps.

I drew in a shaky breath. It felt like his green eyes were setting my skin on fire everywhere they rested on. He took a particularly long time on my breasts, if I could say so myself.

My lack of filter came to the fore and made everything worse. "Like what you see?"

His eyes snapped up to mine. I was so not ready for the way his lips stretched into a slow smirk. "I'd be a liar if I said no, and I'm not in the custom of lying."

Why couldn't he just say yes, give me a quick heart attack that way instead of taking my brain out for a spin like this?

I turned back around and pulled down my shorts. Even though we were surrounded by people and chatter, I felt like we were alone. Like I was undressing just for him. I was glad that the cups of the bikini were fairly thick, or otherwise he and the entire planet might be able to see that the moment was affecting me, and the evidence couldn't be blamed on a cold breeze.

I shook my hair behind me and turned back around to him. I'd caught him in the middle of staring at my ass. I could have died right there and then.

"Help me pick up some buckets," I said, too brisk. I walked away, my flip flops making so much noise I was thankful they masked the rapid and loud beat of my heart. He followed along and caught up to me with easy, long strides.

"I wasn't expecting that," he said.

I gave him a side glance. Short, in case I fell into the trap of staring at him too closely. Or I'd have to pull him into the bushes and fulfill a few fantasies as of late. "What?"

"You, wearing that."

I folded my arms. "What of it?"

He grunted as he picked two heavy buckets up. I could only grab one and it was pushing it. Did they fill this with lead, or what?

Santi gave me another appraisal. "I like it." And then he walked away with all his dignity and mine. Because when the boy you liked saw you semi naked and said he liked it, it most likely meant you were going to be following that up with acts that could drastically reduce the levels of dignity you had left. If he dropped the freaking buckets and turned back, I'd really just pull him into the bushes.

Of course he didn't, and I had to join the cleaning anyway. Hopefully a little physical activity was just what I needed to cool down.

Nope. Two cars later, I was a sweaty, wet and soapy mess and every time he happened to glance at me I still feel like my insides were lava.

"I swear to you, he's undressing you with his eyes," Ellen said to me while we took a break. "I'd never seen him look at you like that before."

I took a hearty swig of water. "Shut up, you're speaking tongues."

"No, Pey. A few guys have been checking you out but the way he does is pornographic."

I pursed my lips, sure that I was blushing from my chest to my forehead, and it had nothing to do with the sun or the five layers of sunblock I'd applied already. "I should probably dress up."

"Why?" She looked genuinely perplexed. "This is going so well. Santi's probably struggling to conceal a boner for you and your dad hasn't even seen you. This is all you could possibly want."

I squirmed and bit my lip. She didn't seem to get it, now that she was precisely on the quest to capture a male's attention. Or maybe I'd just never said it aloud. So here it was, "I just don't know how to deal with all of this."

She blinked. Drank water. Drank it in, I supposed. "You want his attention but don't know what to do with it?"

I cringed. "It's stupid, I know."

"No, it makes sense. I've been there." She shrugged. "But the only way to get over it is to push yourself. You have to go where you haven't been." She gave me a careful look. "Only if you want to, of course."

"I do," I said with the full force of truth behind it. Because, and I glanced back at him as I thought this, I really wanted to just jump him. "I just don't know if he does, too. I mean, he's had a lot of girls, including Jessica and just, look at her. She's perfect."

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Trust me, if he didn't see you that way before he really does now. And he hasn't even looked at her once that I've noticed."

Ugh, I hated this. And I loved it. I hated how much my heart was beating at the thought that maybe he was undressing me with his eyes. I wanted it to be true. And if it were, that'd be terrifying. It would mean our friendship, tried and true for almost our entire lives, would shift into a new territory that I didn't know how to navigate.

We finished our break and joined the guys again. Someone sprayed me with a hose by accident, but at this point I just welcomed the relief from the heat and the sweat. More cars kept coming, and I did a quick tally in my head and figured that we probably had enough for food and gas now. Dad had come through and found us free lodging for two nights, and this was finally starting to take shape for me.

"Hey," a new voice said behind me. I turned to see Casey Marchand. He was smiling at me, and this time he couldn't stop himself from directing that smile at my bikini. "Wow, you look amazing."

What did you say back to that?

"Thanks." I gave a half smile half grimace. "Did you get your car washed already?"

He looked up at me. "I was hoping you'd wash it."

My smile turned tight. "Sure, for an extra price you can choose your car washers."

He played along. "Oh? How much are we talking about?"

A million dollars and a stop looking at me like you can see through my clothes, thank you very much. But I said, "$20."

"Deal."

Shit, I was hoping he was a cheapskate and said that was too much. He pointed at his Honda Civic and I sighed, at least it wasn't a huge pickup truck or something.

"We'll help," Santiago said behind me. I turned and found him with Chris, who winked at me.

On the plus side, Casey had brought regular clothes that he didn't want to get wet, so he sat on the side as we got to work. A couple of the scantily clad cheerleaders found him and distracted him a bit, and I sighed in relief.

"Is he bothering you?" Santi asked as he squinted at me under the sun. His pecs bounced as he worked them running the sponge over the front of the car. I looked back up at his face, because I had to remembered he'd asked a question.

"No, not really."

"He asked her out," Chris said. "At homecoming."

I gasped. Then I looked around. "Damn you, Ellen."

"Oh, sorry. Was that supposed to be a secret too?" He had the gall of laughing.

Santi tucked his tongue against his cheek. "You and Marchand, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "There's no he and I. I kinda wonder if he was drunk or if it was a joke."

Chris walked around the car, hosing it down. "Why would you think that?" I shrugged. He looked at Santi. "I don't get it."

I didn't feel like explaining, so I busied myself with a spot by the door handle until I realized it was not a stain but a scratch.

Someone bumped me out of the way. Santiago. Pouring a bucket of soap on the door I'd been cleaning.

"Talk about overkill," I muttered.

"Do you wanna know what overkill is?" He set the bucket down and leaned his arm against the car, facing me. Looking down at my body again. "Overkill is when you wear a dress like that to homecoming, or a swimsuit like this, and then act surprised when a guy takes notice. Why else do girls dress like this?"

I gasped. "Are you slut shaming?"

"No." His voice deepened, and I felt his eyes darken. "I'm just trying to work out how you keep thinking that guys don't see you. We do."

Wait, what?

I blinked several times. "We?"

Chris, who probably hadn't heard squat of our conversation because we'd been speaking so low, looked up from hosing down the rims of the car and said, "I think we're done."

I pivoted on my heels. "Great!" I probably said that with a lot more chirp than necessary. Chris gave me a weird look, as if I'd suddenly grown a second nose or something. I went over to Casey and repeated the news. He approached me.

"Have you thought about it?" He was referring to the going on a date thing, and I cursed that in trying to avoid Santi I stumbled right onto another topic that I didn't want to confront. In truth, I hadn't thought about it at all, and that was probably answer enough. But I didn't know how to say it. He looked down at the pavement for a second. "That's a no, huh?"

I winced. "Sorry, I've just been so busy with baseball and-" Santiago, but I definitely couldn't say that.

"Well, the invitation's standing, because I think it could be fun."

I smiled genuinely, relieved that this wasn't as bad as I imagined it could be. "Thanks."

"Hope you gather lots of funds today. I sure contributed!"

I even waved him goodbye when he pulled out of the parking lot. Chris stood next to me for the next car. Where had Santiago gone?

Instead I asked, "Where's Ellen?"

He looked around. "Good question."

I volunteered to look for her, because now was as good an opportunity as any for her to continue her plan of seducing the swimming trunks off of him. But in reality I was looking for Santi, because that had been hella weird and he hadn't answered my question. As I scanned the people I hesitated with even pursuing the topic. I didn't know how to handle either of the sides this coin could fall to. Dad caught my eye and I felt the blood drain from me. But then someone asked him a question and retained him enough so that I could hide in between the multitude.

I finally found Santi isolated, drinking water by the now fairly empty packs. I walked closer and saw his Adam's apple bob up and down with the swallows. I swallowed a big gulp; I might have been salivating at the sight he made.

"What do you mean, we?" I asked him.

He tensed, finished his water and screwed the cap back on. He bent down to put the bottle in a plastic trash bag. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play fool, you said we, earlier."

His eyebrows went up. "Well, what? Do you think I don't have eyes?" And then he used them again, and I planted myself firmly because he was melting my knees. Finally he found my face again. "Or you think I don't get affected?"

He did? He got affected?

I looked down his long, strong neck, to the chiseled pecks and the ridiculous abs, dusted by hair. He even had the stupid V that pointed at his bulge. And it was bulging, alright, but I didn't know if it was always like that or if it was because of me. No way. I looked back up. His nostrils flared and he looked intense, like he was a beast that would pounce at the slightest provocation.

But was I provoking him?

I tilted my head to the side, my eyes narrowing slightly. I folded my arms and the movement brought his eyes down. And they stayed down. I saw that my boobs were super squished together and that, yeah, that had his attention. And that gave me my answer.

I almost smiled, I really did. But I was still too out of sorts to enjoy the rush of power.

"Then," I said, licking my lips, as if they had to be lubricated for the next words. "Why don't you do something about it?"

His green eyes moved up to mine. His pupils dilated. He volleyed back to me, "Do you want me to do something about it?"

Oh, yes. Please. Just sweep me off my feet and into the nearest car. I don't care if there's an audience.

My eyes betrayed any shitty attempt at keeping this in a strictly friends territory. They set on his lips. I shivered a little as he bit his full bottom lip. I got closer, or he did, I couldn't tell. I couldn't even hear the sound of our steps, as loud as my heart was beating in my ears. We didn't touch, not yet, but my chest was almost against his and the heat already was scorching my skin. I suddenly grew a pair and looked up into his eyes. They seemed hungry. For me.

My voice box barely worked when I said, "I do."

And that was it. Our world as we knew it ended at that second.

His arms came around me and brought me flush against him. I held on to his shoulders, because I felt like I was going to fall — into his eyes, more than succumbing to gravity. They were so intense. Santi grabbed the back of my head and tilted it back, entangling his fingers in my hair. His eyelashes fell, heavy as his eyes blazed a trail to my lips. It was too much, and we hadn't even kissed yet. If this went any slower I would explode into a ball of fire in his arms. So I closed my eyes and stretched on my tippy toes, pulling his neck down so his lips would meet mine.

I moaned. It felt like my feet were not touching the ground anymore as he molded his lips against mine. My hand ran down his hair and to his jaw as he worked it and stroked my lips with long, languid care. He opened my mouth and his tongue found mine and the touch was so hot that I felt it in my blood. It ran hot all over my body, especially where our skin touched. He leaned down, lower, arching my back as he explored my mouth with a sound that came deep form his throat. I gasped a little as I felt one of his hands trail down my back and to my butt. He pushed it forward so tight against him that I could feel he was most definitely getting affected.

And then we heard steps.

We jumped apart, gasping, and I probably looked at him the same way he did at me. Crazed. Wild. Hungry. The steps grew louder and still out of breath, and with my brain fogged all the way to kingdom come, I jumped into the bushes and hid.

I saw Santiago clasp his hands in front of his crotch and turn around to face whomever. He hid them from my view. My heart stopped when I heard my dad, "Hey, Santi. Have you seen Pey?"

"Nope," he replied in the most clipped, and obvious tone.

"Weird, I thought I saw her heading this way earlier."

I put my hand on my mouth to stop from making any noises. I felt my lips swollen and I counted myself lucky for having hidden. If dad had caught us, there was no mistaking what had just happened.

I couldn't believe what had just happened.

"If you see her, can you tell her to put on some clothes?" dad asked him, clicking his tongue. "I told her that the main condition for her to join the team was to not date any of the boys, and I don't think she's helping her case today."

"Absolutely," Santi said with what sounded like a knot in his throat. "I'll let her know when I find her."

A clapping sound, I assumed it was my dad patting Santi's back. "Thanks, son."

I cringed. Steps retreated, and Santi popped his face into the bushes. He looked like he was in pain as he said, "So, I guess we're in deep shit, huh?"

I bit my lips as I looked up at him, hearing the truth for what it was.

"Can you hand me my duffel?" was all I could say.