“Why don’t you stay a little while?”
Lennon’s not into it though, because she’s quick to shut that idea down. “No. I just want to go home.”
Growing annoyed, I cross my arms. “Wait for your clothes to dry.”
“I’ll come back and get them tomorrow.”
Dammit. I was hoping we could squash the bullshit between us and go back to the way shit was.
“Hang out with me.”
She laughs, but there’s not an ounce of humor. “Why would I want to hang out with you?”
Christ. This morning she was texting me and now she’s acting like she can’t put enough distance between us.
“Because we’re friends?”
“We’re not friends.” Those baby browns turn glassy. “Friends don’t ghost friends.”
She’s right, but before I can say that, she marches past me, heading for the exterior door.
I chase after her. I get that she’s pissed, but leaving in the middle of the night wearing nothing but a T-shirt isn’t fucking smart.
“Lennon.”
I reach for her wrist, but she whips around and pushes me. “Leave me alone.”
“I know you’re upset—”
“I’m not upset. I’m mortified.” Her lower lip trembles and her voice cracks. “They fucking poured pig slop on me.”
I’m about to remind her that she’ll never have to deal with them again, but then Lennon does something I’ve never seen her do before…
She cries.
CHAPTER 14
LENNON
As if being covered in pig slop wasn’t enough of a reason to be humiliated, I now have another one.
I’m a fountain of tears and jittery breaths that I can’t seem to stop. I want to run right out that door and never come back, but Phoenix wraps his arms around me.
The urge to push him away again is strong, but it’s overshadowed by my need for comfort.
And because he smells good. Damn him.
His voice is a low rumble in my ear as he tightens his hold. “They’re fucking bitches.”
That only makes me sob harder. I spent all afternoon getting ready, hoping to not only see him, but enjoy a night with my peers before we all went our separate ways.
A night where I wasn’t the fat girl being bullied…because for once, I fit in.
But I don’t fit in. I never will.
“I just wanted to get drunk and have fun,” I croak against his chest, my tears saturating the thin material of his dark-gray T-shirt.
“I have a bottle of Jack in my car.” When I peer up, his mouth curls into a smirk. “Let’s party.”
I didn’t think it was possible to laugh and cry at the same time, but I was wrong. “Very funny.”
“I’m serious.” Breaking the hug, he walks backward. “We just graduated motherfucking high school, and I want to kick back and celebrate with one of my favorite people.” He waggles his eyebrows. “I’ll be right back.”
I should turn him down since he’s ignored me for the last three days… but he didn’t have to show up at the party and get me.
It would also be nice to pick up the pieces of what’s undoubtedly been the worst night of my life.
Hanging out with my friend seems like a good way to do that.
Plus—much to my father’s reluctance when we discussed it—I no longer have a curfew since I’m not only eighteen, but a high school graduate.
Phoenix walks back inside holding a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and two red Solo cups in the other.
Gesturing for me to follow, he walks over to the futon.
I plop down next to him as he places the bottle and cups on the crate in front of us.
“So, is the plan to just sit here and get wasted all night?” I ask as he fills both Solos to the halfway mark.
“Yeah.” After giving one to me, he lightly taps his cup against mine. “Pretty much.”
Granted, I’ve never gotten drunk before, but that doesn’t seem very exciting.
“That’s not really fun.”
Phoenix snorts. “Wait till the alcohol hits you.”
Fair enough. Although, it might be more entertaining if we found a way to make it more interesting while that happens.
“We should play a game.”
His forehead creases. “What kind of game?”
“A drinking game.” Obviously. “How about Never Have I Ever?” I haven’t personally played it, but it’s a fairly easy concept. “Basically, we each take turns saying something we’ve never done before, but if the other person has done it…they have to take a drink.”