"That's true."
I hear footsteps start approaching and try to lift my head, but it's too damn heavy. "Lucy?" Logan says, but then sniffs the air.
"I puked," I announce loudly.
He squats in front of me, next to stranger girl. "I know. Cameron called and said to come out and take care of you. Here," he hands me a bottle of water, "have this."
I take it and chug it all down. I burp when I'm done, but he doesn't seem to care. Neither does stranger girl. "Did I interrupt your... you know..." My eyes dart from side to side; making sure that no one can hear me. When I know it's safe, I continue with a whisper, "Sexy times?"
He chuckles and shakes his head. "No, Luce. And even if you did, you know you’re my number one girl."
"Careful," stranger girl tells him, "If her boyfriend's anything like her, he might cut you."
Logan laughs, louder this time. "Oh, he's tried," he responds. I don't know what he means but I don't ask.
"I'm Logan," he says. He must be talking to stranger girl, because I know his name's Logan. I'm not a dumbshit. I drop my head on my knees again.
"It's nice to meet you, Logan. I'm Amanda." A car pulls up to the curb. "And that's my ride."
I lift my head and wave goodbye.
She gets in, not another word spoken.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
-CAMERON-
She's fallen asleep in the passenger's seat while I replay the night in my head. I never really wanted it to happen like this, the first time we were... I dunno... intimate? I wanted it to be something she'd remember. Something that she'd be excited to call Claudia—her friend in New Jersey—and tell her about. I didn't want it to be in a bathroom at a party while she was buzzed. I don't regret it, though. Not for a second. Which I guess is the reason why I'm wearing a shit-eating grin as I pull into her driveway.
The porch light is on and her dad's sitting at the table—his usual spot when he's working late.
I crack a window and get out of the car, making sure to close the door quietly so I don't wake her.
"Hey Cam," he says, as I climb the steps. His eyes are red, and he looks tired. I notice the half empty bottle of whiskey in front of him. "She passed out?"
"Just fell asleep." My gaze moves from the bottle to him. "Everything okay?"
His eyes drift shut, but he nods. "Just having a night cap." He leans back in his chair and looks toward Lucy, whose head is resting on the window of the car.
"I was just going to carry her to her room if that's okay with you?"
"She drink tonight?"
"You want me to lie to you?"
He chuckles. "Yes."
"Then no, she didn't drink. She also didn't puke either."
His face turns to a grimace. "At least she's experienced it once, right? I'm glad you were there with her."
"Of course."
He inhales deeply and looks at his watch. "Curfew at one?"
"Yes sir."
Rubbing his hand across his beards, he asks, "You think you can call your mom? Ask her if you can stay with Luce tonight? She might need someone in case she gets sick again."
My eyebrows bunch in confusion. We've never spent the night together, but I guess we've never asked. We just assumed it wouldn't be allowed. "Are you sure?"
His eyes close again, like he almost can't control it. "Just don't take advantage of it, okay?"
"I'll just text her, she's probably at Mark's anyway." I hit send, and not a second later her name flashes on my screen. She speaks to Tom quickly before agreeing.
He tells me to leave Lucy in the car and sit with him for a bit. "Are you sure you're okay?" I ask him.
He doesn't respond to my question. "You ever had whiskey?"
I shake my head.
He pulls a glass off the tray and starts pouring.
It's the second time today an adult has given a minor alcohol.
The liquid burns in my throat. Tom laughs.
"That's..."
"An acquired taste," he finishes for me. "It's for grown men."
I try it again. Same reaction.
"How's school?"
"Good. Lucy keeps me in check."
"College plans?"
"Still the same."
He leans back in his chair, his arms folded over his chest. "Tell me again?"
And even though I have a feeling he already knows it all, I tell him anyway. Because I don't think it's about the college plans. I think he's just lonely.
I never really thought about college until Lucy came along. At first, it was just because I knew she wanted to go to UNC. She said that's where her parents met on graduation day. It wasn't until Tom saw my sketch and said that I could be an architect that I started taking it seriously. Lucy helped me to switch classes and start a plan. For now, UNC's a dream. I doubt I'd get accepted, and even if I did, we wouldn't be able to afford it. Mom and Luce have been going crazy looking into the grants and scholarships. They said it would be unlikely I'd get financial aid because of Dad's income, not that we ever see any of it.