I kept my mouth shut. No way was I stepping into that.
“Thanks, Claire.”
“Well, it’s true.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry. You had one run-in with Logan Kade last year, and Park’s beef wasn’t even really with him. It was with his brother. So yes, I think Logan Kade will be at this party, but I don’t think you have to worry about him.”#p#分页标题#e#
I didn’t know who this Park was. Kade sounded familiar, though.
He folded his arms over his chest and fixed Claire with a brooding stare.
“Stop it.” She gave him the same stare right back. “I mean it. That’s all over and done with. You have nothing to worry about, and if you do, I’ll step in. Or Taylor will.”
“What?” My head swiveled between them. “Step into what?”
“It’s fine. If these guys come after Jason, just tell them who you are, who your dad is, and they’ll stand down. People know your mom died last year, and they respect your dad. So they won’t do anything you don’t like tonight.”
“Great.” Jason’s sarcasm was thick. “Just wonderful. I have to be saved by some girls.”
“Hey!” Claire and I cried.
“Nothing against vaginas, even your vaginas, but despite how I dress, I’m still a guy. I can handle myself.”
I leaned forward. “Do they know how my mom died?”
A sudden hush came over the car, followed by a slight wave of tension, and I knew why. It plagued me for the last nine months, but I hadn’t talked about it. No one asked, and I never offered. A counselor had asked my feelings once, but I spent the entire hour in silence. My friends never questioned me. They knew better. I’d talk when I wanted to. The last and only time I spoke on the subject was my statement to the police—until now.
Claire shifted in her seat. “Uh…no,” she murmured. “It was kept out of the papers, and I’ve never heard any word about it on campus.”
“No one talks about it on my campus either,” Jason added.
I was relieved to hear it, and as quick as I brought it up, I shoved it to the back of my mind. Seeing lights from a house growing brighter and brighter as we approached, I said the only other thing I wanted to do that night.
“Good,” I told my friends. “Now let’s get drunk.”
MOTHER F&CKER LOGAN KADE
TAYLOR
The house party had spilled out into the backyard. A river, down from the backyard’s slope, was lit up by floating candles anchored in place. It was beautiful. It gave the entire scene an almost magical feeling. My last college had parties—for the short time that I’d been there—but they were distinctly different from this. They were about beer, wine, rum, and deep conversation. I’d gotten into a few philosophical debates about religion and society’s selfishness, with Eric, the boyfriend, at my side.
He’d been at my side in high school, too. Those years had been about pretending to be mature while people hooked up, got drunk on whatever they could score, and kept one eye out for the cops. No one was running around naked tonight. A few were making out, but all in all, this Cain U party seemed tame. People were drinking and talking. Those who were swimming were doing just that: swimming. A few guys were pretending to dunk some girls, but that was the closest to shrieking anyone came.
Claire headed off to find her friends, and when she came back, I took the drink she offered. Gesturing with it around us, I asked, “Why couldn’t we have parties like this in high school?”
“We were too busy pretending to be cool?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Jason came over then, a scowl on his face. “I couldn’t get one. You were wrong, Claire. They do remember me.”
She almost choked. “You’re kidding.”
He rolled his eyes, and took the one she was holding. “Nope, sweet chickadee. They remember me. This is Blaze’s party. I didn’t know this house was his. He moved. He was closer to Cain campus last year.”#p#分页标题#e#
Claire held her hands up. “Chill, okay. I’ll get you a drink, and stop worrying. If they were going to throw you out, you wouldn’t have been allowed back here.”
“Mmm-hmmm.” He glowered at her retreating back over the drink he still held. “She’s off to get her own self a drink.” He raised the glass to me. “And I’m no idiot. They’re waiting for Logan Kade to get here. Then they’ll see what he wants to do with me.”
“Okay.” I shifted closer to him. “What happened, and who is Logan Kade? His name sounds familiar.”