it, choosing to ignore whoever it is.
If I thought it was anyone I’d want to speak to, I’d look, but it isn’t. I forgot to get Grey or Liam’s number today before I left campus.
The phone shines again, falling dark only to shine again, making it hard to ignore. I reach out and pull it closer with a groan, spurred on by who I believe is calling. I don’t want to deal with my mother. Right now, in this tiny moment, I’m happy, and she has a way of always ruining that feeling. But she won’t go away. I know that. I pick up the phone and tilt the screen to face me, so I can see it from where my cheek is lying on my arm, hoping I can read the text sideways.
Unknown: Hey.
Unknown: Waiting…waiting…
Unknown: Patience isn’t a virtue I possess.
My eyebrows draw together as I stare dubiously at the unfamiliar number, debating whether or not to answer. I roll onto my back, my thumbs finding the keyboard.
Me: Sorry. Wrong number.
Bubbles pop up immediately and then go away. Sorry, stranger.
Unknown: Nah. 5’6, blonde, hot af, salty af too?
A giggle bursts from me, and I hurry to sit up. What the?
Me: Who is this? Grey? Liam? Grey, this is you, isn’t it?
I’m waiting for his response, legs crisscrossed, breath bated when another unknown number pops up.
Unknown 2: Hey, Beautiful, bummed I didn’t see you after school.
Oh my God.
Me: Who is this?
What the hell? My teeth chatter from the tiny chomps on my gum that I take while I study both of the numbers. Grey and Liam. But who is who? Sneaky bastards. They must’ve stolen my phone. My thumbs hover as I bounce my knees up and down, excited by this game.
Unknown 1: Do you think we’d make it that easy?
Unknown 2: You’ll have to figure out who is who…use that dirty mind for something other than torturing us.
I answer the second text, figuring these two psychos are coordinating.
Me: I hate you two. Challenge accepted. Once I figure you out, I’m changing my number and finding new friends.
Unknown 1: Liar. You love us.
I knew it. They’re coordinating. I immediately pull up the first unknown number and rename it Bert and the other Ernie. Seems fitting.
Me: Fine. I’ll keep you but only if you give me clues.
Bert: Deal.
Ernie: But we might lie…
Ernie is Grey. Has to be.
Bert: One of us already started lying…
Scratch that. Bert is Grey.
Grey
IT’S BEEN THREE DAYS OF us torturing Donovan and not telling who’s who on her phone, much to her dismay. She’s guessed a dozen times correctly—even when we’ve switched phones, she called it—but we keep lying to her mainly because we like messing with her. Also because we’re pricks.
Liam laughs and holds out his phone for me to see.
Van: What was my favorite show to watch with Grey when we were stranded at his Hampton house?
Her questions have brought back so many memories. Damn, I missed this. Her. Us. This. I pick up my phone and answer, even though she texted Liam.
Me: The nanny wouldn’t let you guys watch anything but those Mexican soap operas.
Cherry: No fair! You guys are together!
Cherry: Just tell me.
Cherry: Come on. I’ll be your best friend.
Me: I already have one. He’s sitting next to me.
Cherry: !!! This is Liam. Because Grey always liked me better.
I smile and show my phone to Liam, who laughs. This game is way too much fun. I may never tell her who we are.
“You know, playing with your phone is going to get you in trouble.”
The stench of winter-fresh gum wafts over my shoulder, as the irritation seated behind me leans into the back of my head. I turn around and take in the busty redhead I’d been trying to fuck all summer. Sometimes my dick has inferior ideas.
“Nobody’s getting in trouble, Laura. Especially me.”
“A little trouble never hurt though, right?”
She smiles, trying for seductive, but I don’t bite. She’s a cock tease—loves the attention but has zero follow-through. We almost fucked twice, the last time being the day before school started. That was one more time than I had the patience for. Whatever beer goggles I was plagued with before don’t seem to be here anymore because I don’t have a shred of interest.
Laura reaches up to touch my jacket, and the way she leans in pushes her tits together so that they’re on display behind the shirt that should be buttoned higher.
“You know, my parents are gone this weekend…”
Laura’s long pause has me