stop me from attempting to chase after them. The minute they see me at full height, they’re on their bikes, water bombs discarded. Their laughing grates on my nerves, and they don’t leave immediately. Instead, they circle the road, waiting for me to make my next move.
I pick up a stick.
The smallest of the rat-pack yells, mocking, “You should probably think twice before throwing that!”
Then from behind me, water flies over my shoulder, just missing me. I turn to see Peter with a power hose, his eyes narrowed. “Get the hell outta here, you shitheads.”
The kids start to bail, and Peter follows them with the hose, attacking their backs. They get too far for the water to reach, so they stop, turn to us. One of them shouts, “Oh, look! Your boyfriend came to save you.”
“Fuck these kids,” Peter mumbles, standing next to me. “How fast can you run with no shoes?”
“Fast,” I respond.
“Ready?”
We jet, my feet hitting the pavement hard. The kids take off, one of them shouting, “You need to get your wisdom teeth removed!”
And another adds, “Yeah. So you can fit more dicks in your mouth!”
Peter busts out a laugh, slowing to a stop. I do the same.
“Jesus Christ,” he says, watching them turn the corner. “Insults sure have amped up since I was a kid.” He offers me his fist for a bump when we turn back toward my house. “I’m Peter, by the way.”
For a second, I’d forgotten that he was my enemy. I bump his fist anyway. “Connor.”
“I know who you are,” he says in a non-threatening tone.
My chest swells at the idea that Ava mentioned me.
“Trevor told me about you. Or warned me actually.”
“Warned you?” I ask incredulously.
He shakes his head. “Not like that, just that you and Ava have a thing going on.”
A Thing. That’s what we’re calling it? Cool.
“He said to make sure you weren’t creeping into her bedroom at night.”
I wish. “Nah,” I say. “It’s not like that.” We stop in front of Ava’s house, and I help him wind up the hose. I ask, as nonchalant as I can, “How is she anyway? I haven’t heard from her for a couple days.”
Peter shrugs. “She’s been busy with her mom and all. I think she has a harder time when Trevor’s gone, and I’m no back-up Trevor. I’m just here for the muscle.”
Nodding, I pretend to understand what he’s saying, but the truth is, besides the basics of what Ava’s told me, I have no idea what she goes through on the daily.
A car I recognize as Rhys’s drives past us, turns, and parks in front of my house. There are a couple guys from the team with him. And Karen. The others stay in the car while he gets out and approaches, his gaze on Peter. To me, he says, “What’s up, dipshit?” And to Peter, he says, “Hey, man. Home for a break?” They shake hands as if they’ve known each other their entire lives.
Peter answers, “Just staying with Ava while Trevor’s gone.”
“Oh yeah. His dad’s wedding, right?”
Peter nods. And my stomach drops. It’s like I’m right here but in another dimension. Clueless to the real world. I don’t know how Rhys knows Peter or how he knows what goes on in Ava’s life, if it’s small-town gossip or if Ava’s talking to Rhys the same way she talks to me.
But more.
More unreserved and open, and I feel… I feel so fucking insignificant.
Rhys says, pointing to me, “Get your ass dressed. We're going to the sports park.”
“Don’t we have that showcase today?”
After a scoff, Rhys mumbles, “Yeah, in like four hours. Let’s go.”
I sigh, not really in the mood to socialize. “Is Mitch going?”
“Nah, he can’t make it.”
Good.
Then Peter says, “Maybe he’s getting his wisdom teeth removed.”
I can’t help but chuckle.
“What?” asks Rhys, confused.
And I say, “You know, so he can fit more dicks in his mouth.”
Peter laughs, and Rhys glances between us. Then Karen appears from thin air and sidles up next to me. “You coming?” she asks.
“Yes,” Rhys answers for me. “Hurry your ass up. I’m hungry as shit.”
“I’ll go get dressed,” I say at the same time Peter tells Karen, “Hi, I’m Peter.”
Karen giggles. “I know who you are. You and Trevor used to chase Ava and me around the backyard with piss-filled water pistols.”
His eyes widen. “You’re that girl?” Then he eyes her up and down. “Damn, talk about a glow up.”
“Get dressed already!” Rhys yells, shoving me toward my front door.
I throw my