Page 43

Her promise comes just in time since there’s a knock at the door and when I yell to come in, it’s Eli and Payton who enter the house. They both have overnight bags draped over their shoulders since my parents insisted everyone stay over because of the risk of drunk drivers. Payton is wearing high-waisted whitewashed jeans and my basketball sweatshirt. God, it looks good on her. Okay… where did that thought come from? It’s not like me to get caught up on straight girls. I’m most certainly not starting now. Not when I already have someone. Well, kind of. Not in this life, but in this little fantasy world I’m living in I do, and noticing anyone else just seems wrong. Even if the way little wisps of hair falling out of Payton’s ponytail is the cutest damn thing in the world… shut up, Marjorie. Morgan is not right about this.

“Hey,” I say quietly, avoiding the temptation to push those pieces of hair behind Payton’s ear as I walk up to greet her. Once close enough, I hug her tight, and lean in to whisper, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

When I pull away, I give Eli a quick hug too and thank him for coming. By the time these greetings are done, Genesis arrives. She looks extra cute tonight too, but I refuse to let my thoughts get away from me again.

“Thanks for doing this,” she says as she hands me a bottle of sparkling cider. “It’s nice to have somewhere to go and not have to drink.”

“You don’t drink?” I’m sure the answer is no, but I still ask anyway.

“I have a few times, but it’s really not my thing.”

“I feel that.”

Before I can say anything else, Jazmin comes inside. She holds up her water bottle, which I know for a fact actually has water in it because she doesn’t drink during basketball season either. “What’s up? I’m here, I’m queer, and I’m ready to party.”

I cackle at her entrance and give her a big hug. “You’re really embracing this whole out, bisexual thing, aren’t you?”

“Hell yeah. It took me way too long to admit this. I need to live it up now.”

“You’re only a junior in high school,” I remind her. “Most people come out much later.”

“Says the girl who’s been out since middle school.” Jazmin rolls her eyes playfully.

As if summoning all the gays, Jocelyn walks through the door at this time. She looks between Jazmin and me then down at the ground. “Is Morgan here?”

“Right here!” Morgan shouts from behind me. “Your friend didn’t come?”

Jocelyn shakes her head. “He had other plans.”

“Perfect. That means I have you all to myself.” Morgan grabs Jocelyn’s hand and begins to pull her away from the group.

I grab the back of my sister’s shirt. “Not so fast. You guys are hanging with us tonight.”

Jocelyn stares at me with wide eyes as if I just told her that her favorite singer is performing at our house tonight. “You… you want us to hang out with you and your friends?”

“Of course! Why not?”

Jocelyn still looks shocked, but she nods slowly.

We all hang out and eat snacks until the pizza arrives then watch random YouTube videos while we wait for New Year’s Rockin’ Eve to come on TV. Not long after it starts, my phone starts to ring with a call from Lydia.

“I’m so drunk,” she says before I even have a chance to say hello.

I pull my phone away from my ear to look at the time. “It’s barely past eight.”

“I don’t need a lecture, Marjorie. I came early to help Thalia set up, and welp, here we are.”

“Are you okay?” I ask her. Lydia likes to drink, but it’s not like her to get this drunk so early.

“I’m sad.”

I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol talking or something else, but it still worries me. “What’s wrong?”

“Thinking about hooking up with boys to make everything better.”

Make everything better? I’m so confused about what she’s trying to say. I just know she’s not acting like herself. “I’m coming to get you.”

“Really? You don’t mind?”