Page 10 of The Fallen Man

“If it’s a two-part horse costume, you know he’s the ass,” said Evan, and Olivia whacked at his arm.

“I’m going to need you two to stand on either side of me,” said Jackson. “And give me advice on everything.” Evan, Olivia, and Max laughed, but Dominique was checking her phone.

“OK,” said Dominique, “so I said the party started at seven. It’s five till, so we have at least a half-hour until anyone shows up.”

“Oh, actually,” said Olivia. “You said I could invite my work friends.”

“Yeah, of course!” said Dominique. Jackson thought she was trying her hardest to be accommodating to Olivia because she knew that Olivia had essentially given up her family to be with Evan.

“Well, we’re all nerds, so we arrive on time.”

Jackson laughed.

“Yeah, my friends too,” said Max. “We’re completely not cool. Don and Harris already texted. I’m expecting them any minute.”

“Really?” Instead of looking upset at having her timeline thrown off, Dominique looked relieved. “Great! I’ll go tell the DJ. We’re starting off with mellow mixer music before gearing up for dancing. And I put your names all down for Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”

Jackson saw Max cast his eyes heavenward as if praying for strength as Dominique darted away.

“She’s really panicking that no one will come?” asked Evan, looking confused.

“Pin the Tail on the Donkey?” Jackson repeated in equal confusion.

“Completely,” said Max. “She’s freaking out that no one really likes her. And don’t ask about the donkey. You don’t want to know.”

“But everyone likes her,” said Olivia, sounding confused. “She’s the nicest…” she trailed off and paused to adjust her wings.

“Sheisthe nicest Deveraux,” finished Evan, chuckling. “Yes,it’s true. Way to stop that sentence before it got anywhere.”

“I did, didn’t I?” agreed Olivia, pleased with the compliment. Evan only smiled and leaned over to kiss her. Max caught Jackson’s eye and grinned. Olivia was a teeny bit on the Autism spectrum, and her blunt honesty was well-loved at the Deveraux dinner table.

“Come on,” said Jackson to Max, jerking his head toward the bar. “I’ll buy you a free drink.”

“Count me in,” said Max, following Jackson. “Hey, as your friend, I feel compelled to tell you that Dominique is going to try to fix you up with one of her friends tonight. Some girl named Chelsea. But you did not hear that from me.”

Jackson groaned. His cousins seemed to think his life was deficient without a significant other and had taken to casually introducing him to women with increasing frequency over the last year.

“I can’t date a girl named Chelsea,” said Jackson. “Hell, I’m no good at dating anyway, but I extra can’t do a Chelsea. Well, I candoa Chelsea, but I can’t… Oh, whatever, you know what I’m trying to say.”

“I do, actually,” said Max with a grin. “Why can’t you date again?”

“Icandate. And I do. I just don’t do girlfriends. It’s not fair to make someone think I will be calling them when I most definitely won’t, and I won’t be introducing you to my family or showing up to support them in whatever the fuck it is they do. I’m a shitty boyfriend, so I don’t bother. Saves everyone time.”

“Ah,” said Max, nodding. “Right. You have the complete list of people you care about, and you don’t need extras.” Max’s eyes twinkled.

“I don’t haveroomfor extras, and honestly, that’s the way I like it. More people mean more work. I love you, Ella, and Olivia, but sheesh. I can’t take having to remember one more person’sbirthday.”

“Yeah, that calendar function is so hard.”

“Stop busting my balls,” complained Jackson.

“I’m not. I mean, I am on the birthday thing. That’s the dumbest reason I have ever heard to not have a relationship. You need to come up with something better to tell your relatives if you want them to stop setting you up.”

Jackson laughed. “Thanks for the tip.”

“I don’t think you can force someone into a relationship, but they seem to think that if they just throw all the fish in the sea at you, you’re bound to catch one.”

“If I do, I’m tossing it back.”