Page 94 of Theodore

“I am. He’s just...not that interested. He never texts me back or speaks to me. It’s just,meh, I guess.”

I was sure Ryan liked Mara and found it bizarre that he would take her number and then play it cool. I wasn’t overly aware of how he operated with girls; I kept out of it.

“So you think you’ll find someone at a party.” I frowned as I pulled on a long-sleeved t-shirt, loosening my curls as I dabbed on lip gloss.

“Not with you looking like that,” Mara groaned, giving me the evil eye.

“Babes, I’m so happy it’scrazy. I couldn’t care less about these other guys.”

“I suppose. Well, you can help me find one,” Mara chirped, and I laughed.

An hour later, I found myself in a rather beautiful house on the outskirts of town. As I examined the marble staircase that led to not two but three different hallways, I felt anxiety for the owners.

Did they realize teens are smoking pot and inhaling vodka on their decadent sofas?

Or that people are skinny dipping in their stunning pool?

“Here you go.”

Mara beamed as I scrutinized the drink in my hand.

“What the fuck, Mar? It’sblue.”

I grimaced as she knocked hers back, winking at me.

“It’s a Hawaiian punch. Try it.”

I sniffed it first, the pungent scent of alcohol making me nauseous.

“Are there any mixers in that?!" I grumbled, raising it to my lips. I took a sip, wishing I had listened to my instincts the first time. “It’s like rocket fuel.”

“But itwillget us drunk!”

Mara clapped, swinging her hips to the music.

“Wonderful.”

I followed her as we wandered through the crowd, my anxiety easing somewhat when I saw a few of my brother’s friends. I tugged on Mara’s arm.

“Right, so those guys over there know Ryan. What are they doing here? They’re too old to come to a teen party.” I frowned suspiciously, and she shrugged.

“They’re like what, three years older than us? Four?”

Mara wrinkled her nose as she gazed at them, clearly as bewildered as me.

“Hmm. I’ll ask Ryan.” I shrugged, pulling out my phone when Mara gripped my arm.

“Oh,Jesus. Don’t text him. He’shere,” she said with a gasp.

I lifted my eyes to see my brother walk toward the others with another guy I didn’t recognize.

“We need to go over there,” I concluded as she clutched my arm with terror.

“Nofuckingway, he’ll think I’m stalking him.”

“Fine. You wait here. I’ll be right back.”

I made my way over as Ryan’s friend nudged him, nodding at me before glancing away. Ryan turned to me with a frown.