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Barrett’s heart hammered in his chest like he’d just been caught doing something terribly wrong.

Which he hadn’t, he reminded himself.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, waiting for this all to go terribly wrong.

Janelle’s gaze bounced between his three intruders, her skin glowing a delicious rose color, with a nervous lip pulled into her mouth.

No one said anything, which made the situation that much worse.

He thought he heard Paulie mumble something, but he couldn’t make it out. To his surprise, their loud mouths did not break the silence.

Janelle cleared her throat, and they all jumped like they hadn’t initially thought she was real. She stayed in her seat, with his guitar on her lap, but she raised her strumming hand and gave an unsure but sweet, small smile. “Hello.”

That broke them out of their trance, and Toni ran a hand through his black curls. Dennis and Paulie looked at each other, their faces twisted in disbelief.

“Is that . . .” Paulie trailed off, his eyes narrowing at Janelle like he was trying to get a good look at her.

“No duh.” Dennis nodded slowly.

“How is . . .”

“I dunno.”

Barrett decided that if he was going to step in, now would be the best time.

“Uh, guys. You know Janelle from school, right?” He gestured at her, catching her eyes to give her an apologetic look. “Janelle, these are my friends: Toni, Dennis, and Paulie.”

She still smiled, though it grew strained the longer they all stared at her. But she was too nice to call them out for their poor manners. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“What the fuck?” Paulie looked between Barrett and Janelle. “What the fuck is happening?”

Toni caught Barrett’s eye, grinning knowingly.

Barrett looked away and prayed that none of them would say what he was sure they were thinking.

Toni was the first to approach Janelle and stretch out his hand. “We’ve met before.”

She looked relieved that someone wasn’t staring at her like she was an alien and took Toni’s hand. “Yes, at the music store. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself before.”

“No, no. No need for that. I feel like we’re already friends.” He grinned.

Barrett groaned.

“Why are you guys alone together?” Paulie asked, his mouth hanging open.

Janelle was kind enough to answer with a smile. “Barrett is showing me how to play guitar.”

Paulie frowned, like her answer only confused him more, then shot Barrett a look.

Barrett looked away.

“Why the hell does she get to play your guitar?” Dennis asked, shaking his head and glaring at the instrument she still held. “You never even let me touch it.”

Janelle’s eyes went wide, and she stared down at Sandra. Her solid grip on the neck of the guitar loosened like she’d been caught committing a crime.

Barrett was about ready to strangle every single one of his friends. “Because you always break your strings. How could I possibly trust you with her?” Barrett snapped, making Dennis grumble under his breath. “Now you guys should leave. Janelle and I are busy.”

“Oh, come on,” Toni said, lifting the six-pack in his hand. Once they saw him do that, Dennis and Paulie did the same with the assortment of alcohol and mixers they’d brought as well. “We’re here to have some fun. I’m sure Janelle wouldn’t mind a break. Isn’t that right, Janelle?”

Janelle blinked and shifted in her seat.

Barrett couldn’t stand seeing her uncomfortable, so he felt the need to save her. “No, you can’t—”

“Sure.” Janelle’s response stopped him in place. She smiled, genuinely. “I could use a drink.”

“Hell yeah.” Toni grinned and patted Barrett on the shoulder. “See? Lighten up, dude. Let’s have a party.”

Barrett groaned and watched his friends take over his living room, spreading their contributions on the table and opening cans without question. Dennis walked to the record player and put on a Metallica album. Paulie continued to stare at Janelle like she was a ghost.

It wasn’t the party Barrett was worried about. It was what his friends might spill to Janelle once they were drunk. The last thing he needed was for her to find out another one of his secrets.

* * *

“It’s tequila and coke, a family recipe.” Toni handed another cup to Janelle, grinning proudly. “You ever had it?”

“I don’t think so.”

Toni shook his head in disappointment. “Then you’re missing out. Especially with the New Coke, it’s a masterpiece.”

“Stop trying to spread your New Coke propaganda, dickhead.” Dennis winced after another shot of vodka, chasing it with a Dorito. “Leave that shit in ’85, where it belongs.”

Toni ignored him and put the cup into Janelle’s hand. “For you.”

She looked in at the murky brown liquid, then lifted it to her mouth, taking a big gulp.

Barrett leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed and a half-empty beer in his hand, glaring at his friends as they all cheered for her when she downed it.

“Damn, Duncan.” Toni clapped, laughing as she cringed at the drink and then laughed.

They’d completely usurped Barrett’s time with her.

He was supposed to be teaching her guitar, and instead, she had Toni making her poor-man’s cocktails, Paulie staring at her while he tripped out, and now Dennis, who had seemed the least willing to warm up to her, was holding out the joint he’d just lit.

“Want a hit?” Dennis asked her.

Barrett sat up and kicked Dennis lightly in the leg. “No.”

“Ouch, dude. What the hell?”

“She’s not experienced enough.”

“In what? Having fun?” Dennis said, and Toni drunkenly laughed along like it was the funniest thing in the world. “You’ve seen your fair share of parties in school, haven’t you, Duncan?”

“I’ll just take a hit,” Janelle said.

“What are you, man? Her dad?” Dennis said and put the joint in her fingers.

Barrett looked down at Janelle, wanting to tell her she didn’t have to. But her face was flushed with a dopey, cheesy, drunk grin and as much as he wanted to say no, the words would not form. He sighed. “Fine. Just be careful.”

“I will.” She grinned again.

He had to look away and take a nice long chug of the rest of his beer so she wouldn’t see his face go red. He was not drunk enough for this shit.

Toni caught his eye when he looked at the group again, and there was another one of those irritating, knowing smirks on his face.

“I need some water,” Barrett muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

He went into the kitchen and filled up a cup, frowning at the water level rising slowly thanks to the shit water pressure here.

“What are you so mopey about?” Toni leaned back against the countertop.

Barrett sighed. “Nothing.”

“Did we steal away your precious princess?”

Barrett shot him a scathing stare. “Don’t,” he hissed and peeked into the living room. Luckily, she was too distracted by something Dennis was saying, laughing along with Paulie.

“So, I’m guessing she doesn’t know you have a massive crush on her.”

“Had. I had a crush on her,” he corrected. “Forever ago. I’m over it.”

“Sure you are.” God forbid Toni take anything seriously.

“I swear if any of you say anything to her, I will kill you guys. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”

“Oh, come on, look at her.” Toni gestured to the living room again.

Over the sounds of Metallica from the record player, Paulie was telling Janelle how Cliff Burton was the best bass player to ever exist, before his death a couple of years ago, and now Paulie aspired to live up to him. She nodded, listening to the story with the perfect amount of awe.

She was so good at that—looking like she cared. But seeing her smile and her responses, Barrett thought she actually might. She really seemed interested in their stories, favorite songs, and random drunken thoughts.

She made people feel like their dumb music and stupid hobbies and hopeless selves mattered to her. If no one else, at least she cared.

“She doesn’t look uncomfortable to me.”

No, she didn’t. She looked like she belonged.

Which was an absurd thought.

Janelle Duncan, belonging with them .

No, he was sure he was over his crush. That was a long time ago.