Liars and Losers Like Us(56)
I throw my backpack onto the bed. “We’re calling this room tonight.”
TWENTY-FOUR
Kallie sequesters us to the rec area in the basement, just in case Kyle returns, or anyone else trying to crash. “I’m over parties. Too much stress. I should’ve just invited you guys.”
“Whoever heard of a bar with no alcohol?” asks Justin as he tours the area.
“Sorry, my parents don’t drink, it’s the devil’s something or other.”
“The devil’s brew. That’s what my parents say.” Molly winks. “Drinking isn’t that bad, though. I don’t know what I was afraid of all these years.”
“Maybe you were afraid of getting sick and puking on my shoes,” I say.
“I know something else you were afraid of and maybe now you think is fun,” Todd says.
“So who wants to play pool?” asks Kallie, snatching a pool stick off the wall and shooting Todd a death stare.
“I want to play Call of Duty on this big ass movie screen.” Justin runs to the media console. “Please tell me your parents don’t think video games are the Devil’s playthings?”
“Check the media cabinet. Xbox is already hooked up.” Kallie grabs a remote, clicks a button, and two doors slide open. “There you go. My dad and brother play all the time.”
“Sweet,” says Sean. He looks at me, “Care if I play for a while?”
“Yeah sure, it’s cool.” I shrug and turn to Kallie who’s dropped the pool stick and has Todd pinned against the wall. His hands are all over her ass.
“Get a room guys.” Sean launches a pillow over at Todd’s head.
“Good idea. We’re going upstairs.” Grabbing Todd’s hands, Kallie pulls him toward the bottom of the stairs. “Make yourselves at home. But don’t go bananas, okay?”
“Oh trust me, I’m gonna go bananas,” I say.
“I’m going bananas too,” Molly says and throws her hand up for a high five.
“Oh yeah,” I say as she misses my hand.
Molly and I hover in-between the pool table and watch the guys groping video controllers to shoot a bunch of soldier zombies. Molly’s phone rings and she talks for a minute then hangs up. “Everybody, Jane says ‘hi.’ Well, sorta. She said to tell Justin and Sean hi.”
“What’s she up to?” asks Justin.
“Being sad and mopey. She would’ve come but she thinks everyone hates her.”
“I can’t picture Jane as sad or mopey,” Justin says.
Maybe mad and bitchy is at the tip of my tongue but my stomach twinges with guilt. “I don’t think Kallie invited her anyway. It’s probably for the best but that’s all we need to say about that.” I slam the eight ball with my pool cue and it swishes into the right corner pocket. “Molly, wanna come upstairs with me to get the wine I brought? There’s not much left but hey, it’s something.”
“Every since the night you held my hair I knew we were gonna be great friends.” Molly wraps her arms around me.
“Seriously Molly, it’s probably like three sips each.”
“I don’t care Brittany Bree—le’sgo!”
We head up the stairs and shush each other as we pass Kallie’s room giggling. I cannot even explain the noises coming from her room except to say that it sounds, well, inappropriate for us to hear, but probably pretty fun for them.
“That’s a lotta hot drama right there,” Molly says. “I’m so over him but I definitely didn’t need to hear that.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “If I never have to hear Todd having sex again it’ll be too soon. Kallie too, for that matter.” I grab the bottle of wine from my backpack.
“What else you got in there?” Molly reaches toward my bag.
“Nothing, why? Just the wine.” I cover the bag’s opening with my hand.
“Why’re you so defensive then, eh?” Molly raises her eyebrows and smirks.
It feels like I have writing on my forehead. I swipe my palm over my brow just in case. Just in case it says I bought a three pack of condoms at Walgreens after school today.
“You’re totally blushing. You do!” Molly’s grin widens and she grabs my bag and rummages inside. She pulls out the little box. “Whoa, I was expecting cigarettes or an extra can of beer, but I won’t say anything if you have one for me too.”
“Are you serious?” I snatch the box out of her hand. She reaches for the wine bottle and gives it a shake.
“Geez, it is a pretty skimpy bottle. And yeah, I’m serious. I like Justin. He’s cute. And he’s fun. And we almost—promise you won’t say anything?”
“What? Don’t tell me, you guys had sex in the woods?”
“No. But we almost did. We were so close. But Justin didn’t have anything. I’m glad we waited.” Molly’s face is dead serious.
I laugh. “You waited? Do you mean you’re glad you waited a couple hours, so your relationship could reach the next level? That’s hilarious.”
“No, I mean waited because we didn’t have protection.” Molly whispers the word protection.
“I don’t get it. Why would you go out with Todd for a year and not do it but then hang out with Justin Conner for a couple hours … yeah I guess he’s nice, but for your first time?”