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“Neither do I,” Matt supplied. “But peoplestill ask me to. Do your best. Everyone will be drunk soon, anyway,so it won’t matter.”
“And avoid his Uncle Charles,” Scott said,unknowingly reiterating Matt’s warning from before.
Though I’d dreaded Scott’s presence beforeour come-to-Jesus meeting, I was grateful for him, now. He hadexperience being the odd man out at these events and could offeradvice Matt might have overlooked.
“Well, I’m staying right here for now,” Isaid, gesturing to the cake.
“I have a better idea,” Matt said, pattingthe breast of his jacket. “Maybe the three of us should get alittle fresh air, then come back for cake.”
“I think that’s a fine idea,” Scott agreed.“I’ll go first, so we don’t look suspicious.”
“Back terrace, behind the rectangularhedges,” Matt directed him.
When he’d gone, I turned to Matt. “So, am Igoing to see you dancing with a bunch of desirable high-societywomen tonight?”
“Yes. But you’re the one I’m taking back tomy room with me.”
“Okay. That’s the right answer.” I nudgedhim with my elbow.
“I do have an ex here,” he warned me in alow voice. “It’s only fair to let you know. But there’s nothing tobe worried about.”
My stomach twisted. That was the kind ofthing someone said about a person I definitely should be worriedabout.
“She was my girlfriend for four weeks in theseventh grade,” he added with a wink.
I gave him a little push and an outragedscoff. “Don’t prey on my insecurities in a vulnerable situationlike this.”
He put an arm around my shoulders anddropped a kiss on the top of my head. “You’re right, that was cruelof me. Let’s go outside and get high at my mother’s fancyparty.”
As we left the dining room and walkedthrough the foyer, I noted Matt scanning the crowd. “Looking foryour childhood sweetheart?” I chided him.
“No… I’m wondering which one of these guysis fucking my sister,” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching.“I don’t care what she does, but it’s fascinating to think thatanyone wants to spend that much time alone in a room with her.”
“I should have tried to get a peek,” I said,quickly adding, “Before anything started, I mean!”
He laughed.
“Does it help if the guy’s voice sounded alittle bit familiar?” The feeling that I should have recognized itstill nagged at me. Of course, we’d chit-chatted with so manypeople at the garden party, everyone probably sounded the same tome.
“Not unless you can put a name to thesimilarity.” He held the door open for me and we stepped out intothe balmy night air. There were other guests on the terrace,smoking cigarettes or strolling around the garden, but Matt seemedwholly unconcerned about that as he retrieved the joint and lighterfrom his pocket and paused to spark it up right at the bottom ofthe stone stairs. The discreet smoking spot Matt had chosen was auseless little cluster of hedges right out in the open, and Scottstood waiting for us there.
“Um, aren’t people going to be offended thatwe’re out here blazing up?” I asked. Matt shrugged as we made ourway over to the hedges. “Fuck ’em. Half of them are going to usecoke in the guest bathrooms tonight.”
“We’re on a mission tonight,” Matt toldScott, holding the lit joint out to him and exhaling a cloud ofblue into the night sky. Scott took a puff. “Oh, yeah?”
“We’re trying to figure out who’s fucking mysister.”
Scott choked and coughed.
Wow, freshman,” I quipped, taking the jointfrom his hand.
“Why?” he wheezed, mostly to Matt.
“Morbid curiosity.” Matt said.
“Look, I know who’s fucking my sister, and Ikind of wish I didn’t.” Scott curled his lip in disgust. “Maybesome things are better left a mystery.”
“If things are better left a mystery, maybeshe shouldn’t be fucking some guy during her mom’s birthday party.”I passed off to Matt.