Page 49

Dustin had been working up the nerve all week, and finally decided he needed to just get it over with. It was Friday, and he knew Shane was going to take off as soon as he’d dropped Dustin off at the house.

“Shane?” he asked, as they pulled into the driveway.

“Mm?”

“Um… I know you usually go see your girlfriend on the weekends… but I was wondering if maybe, this weekend, if maybe you might, you know, stay?”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Shane said, rubbing the back of his head.

“It’s my birthday.” Dustin was staring at his sneakers.

“Oh!” Shane exclaimed. “Shit. Sorry dude! I didn’t know! Happy birthday! Yes, of course, I’ll stay. Do you… want to do something? Go out maybe? You and me and… Laney?”

Dustin bit his lip. “Laney and I go bowling, every year.”

“Bowling sounds great, Dustin.”

He got out of the car and followed Dustin into the house. Dustin felt warm, and tingly. He knew that whatever Shane did on the weekend with his not girlfriend helped him relax – by Fridays, he was always cracking his knuckles and crunching his jaw but by Monday he always seemed better, so Dustin felt bad asking him to stay. But it wouldn’t feel right, having just a Laney-party. Not anymore. He knew things were weird between Laney and Shane. But they were a team, a family, and Dustin wanted him there.

“Hello?” Shane called as they walked in the front door. Ma’s dented up old Volkswagen Jetta was in the driveway, and they knew she was home. Shane didn’t like Ma, which surprised Dustin because most men loved her, falling all over themselves to help her, always offering to get her drinks, or other things. Shane looked at Ma the way Laney looked at Cary. Like he wished she’d just leave.

“We’re outside, sunshine!” Dustin heard her shout. They went into the backyard through the sliding doors in the living room, mosquitoes buzzing around the holes in the screen.

Dustin grimaced as Ma walked towards them holding a big glass of wine, wearing nothing but a pair of bikini bottoms. She gave Shane a big kiss on the cheek, her naked breasts swaying, squishing them up against his chest.

“We’re just soaking up a little vitamin D,” she said with a wink.

“We?” Shane asked, just as Laney popped around the corner. Shane’s eyes bugged right out of his head, as Laney was wearing a hot pink string bikini, carrying a book in one hand and a towel in another. She stopped short when she saw him, surprised. Dustin fake-gagged.

“It’s Friday,” Laney blurted.

“It’s Dustin’s birthday,” Shane responded.

Dustin looked back and forth between the two of them while Ma started to pout. She was obviously not used to men ignoring her, particularly when she was naked. She took a large sip of her wine, her eyes narrowing on Laney.

“Happy birthday,” she said to Dustin without looking at him, before pursing her lips and slipping inside.

“Um… I wasn’t expecting you to be here…” Laney mumbled, her cheeks reddening. She held the towel in front of herself, looking nervous.

“Dustin asked me to come bowling…” Shane rubbed the back of his head again.

“Right…” Laney said.

Dustin felt awkward. He couldn’t tell if they wanted him to stay or wanted him to go. It felt like both, and he didn’t know what to do.

“I’ll just… go get changed…” Laney mumbled.

“Right.” Shane cleared his throat. “I’ll just… hang out.”

Laney scurried past and Shane sat down on a patio chair, looking a little dazed.

Are you okay? Dustin asked him silently.

Not really, Shane thought back, rubbing his head with both hands.

Dustin wanted to roll his eyes at Shane. It was obvious that he wanted to kiss Laney, and even though the idea of kissing grossed him out he knew Laney would like it. He hadn’t been able to figure out what had happened, he thought they’d be kissing all the time by now. Like Cary and Sarita. Or Ma and her boyfriends.

“It’s okay if you want to kiss my sister,” Dustin said. “She wants to kiss you, too.”

Shane went beet red, and in a move Dustin was very familiar with, Shane simply stared at his shoes.