with the one intention of screwing the other over by her answer. So I just said, “I have no opinion on him, because I don’t know him.”
“There are only two guys here who are off-limits,” said Julia. “One is Johnny Parker—”
She followed my gaze as it shifted over her shoulder. Max had just loped down the steps. Madison said, “Shh …”
“How many cats did you say your mom has? Ten? That’s like so many.” Julia’s voice was loud and fake. My face grew hot.
Max looked at us as he walked by, and then went through the boathouse door without a word.
“I don’t have any cats, why did you say that?” I asked.
“Why do you care? Oh, no, you like him, don’t you?”
“What? Like him—no!”
They clearly wanted to back me into the Bitch Corner. They exchanged another look.
I looked at each of them, my heart skipping a little at being so accurately pinned. “I don’t know either of them.”
“But do you think you might like Max?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Because.” Julia looked helplessly at me, and then to Madison.
Madison gave me a pitying look. “Because you really shouldn’t. He’s not going to like you back.” She rested a hand on my shoulder. “Not because there’s anything wrong with you … just …”
“He’s in love with Becca. Like crazy in love.”
I shook my head, and smiled. “No, no I don’t like him. Don’t worry about it.”
“Good.” Madison looked relieved. “We just don’t want you to get hurt. And when she comes back …”
“If she comes back.” Julia looked morosely down at her feet.
“Right. If … if and when she comes back, you just wouldn’t want to …”
“No, really,” I said, my voice unnaturally high, “it’s fine! Let’s go back inside.”
We did, the two others drifted off, and I found myself surprised to learn that Dana was not in our room back up at the school. She was here. And by the looks of it, she was wasted. When I passed her she didn’t notice me.
Johnny was at the makeshift bar, pouring himself a shot of Captain Morgan.
I stood next to him. “Hit me.”
He laughed, and wordlessly screwed the cap back on the Captain, and opened the blue bottle of vodka.
“How’d you know that’s what I wanted?”
“It’s girl stuff.” He cast a side-glance at me and smiled.
“Hey, I don’t need to pretend to be tough, Captain Morgan.” I smiled. “I hate straight liquor. At least this stuff is easier.”
“Well, then,” he said, handing me my shot, “cheers to not pretending.”
We clinked, swallowed, and then I made that face again. He popped open a soda and handed it to me.
“Thanks.” I swigged it. “I had a can, but I don’t know where it is.”
“Never leave a drink unattended and then drink from it again. That’s how girls get roofied.”
“Are there people here who would do that?”
He furrowed his brows. “I really don’t think so. But Ricky is the pill guy.” He shrugged. “You should just always be careful anyway.”
“There it is!” Johnny said, as I made the winning cup in beer pong. “You finally made one, and right when it really mattered.”
He smiled at me.
“Took long enough.” I smiled back, all too aware that Max had just come into our part of the room.
“Who wants next?” Johnny asked loudly.
For a small moment I hoped Max would volunteer.
“We do!” Blake said, pulling Cam to the table.
Probably for the best—I didn’t need to make a fool of myself when I knew he’d be watching.
“Your shot,” Johnny said, nudging me with his elbow.
I aimed, shot and missed.
My head spun every time Cam or Blake made a shot and I had to take a sip of the vodka and pineapple that she’d made for me. Finally they made their last cup, and Johnny and I had lost. I tried very hard to concentrate on the game, but even though my eyes were on the red cups, my brain was in the crowd around us.
I turned to Johnny with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I’m so bad!”
I sipped my drink and wavered a little. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself.
“You want some water?”
I nodded, my eyes still shut, thinking it was Johnny. But when I opened my eyes, it was to see Max.
I felt my stomach lurch, and I took the bottle he handed me. “Thanks.” Then, to overexplain as usual, I said, “I’m kind of a lightweight.”
“That’s better than being a hardened alcoholic by seventeen.” He sat back down, and I saw that next to him was Dana. She was finishing a red cup filled with something and wobbling into the wall behind her.
I fanned myself with my hand, suddenly feeling hot.
“You okay? You wanna step outside?”
“Um, sure.” My skin grew even warmer as surrounding gazes shifted to us when we stood and walked toward the door. It was like they were all motion-sensor security cameras, and I was a clumsy thief.
We stepped out into the chilly air, and I breathed deeply.
“So, how do you like it here so far?” he asked.
In that moment I was very aware of how cute he was.
“Max, get in here. Dana’s freaking out.”
He looked puzzled, but went inside. I followed him
“—doesn’t anyone even care? You’re all just acting like it never happened! Like it didn’t happen here, only a few months ago.”
“Dana, come—” Johnny tried to pull her away from the center of attention, but she swatted his hand away.
“Shut up, Johnny, you’re … you’re
