body seemed to be contracting in on itself, his arms wrapped around his torso like he was trying to hug warmth into his body.
I caught his eye, and he pushed his way across the kitchen, staring determinedly away from Tucker.
“Let’s go, Codi, I’ll drive your car,” he said stormily. Then he swept out of the house without looking back.
“Is he okay?” Terrica asked.
“He’s fine,” I said with a wave of my hand. “You know how dramatic boys can be.”
It wasn’t until I hugged the girls goodbye that I realized the true extent of our drunkenness. Terrica held on to me and started crying like she would never see me again. Natalie rubbed my head like I was a cat, muttering about how soft my hair was.
And then it was just Lydia.
She hugged me tightly, her hair pressing against my face. She smelled like shampoo and perfume and every pretty thing. “Drink lots of water when you get home,” she whispered into my neck. “And eat carbs. Lots of carbs.”
“You got it, bro,” I said, tugging on a strand of her hair.
She grinned and hugged me one more time, and I turned and made my way out the door.
* * *
The night was loud. Crickets were trilling and whirring, cars were whooshing by on distant streets, even the heat itself seemed layered with heavy sound. Ricky said nothing as we drove down dark, winding streets. He lowered my car windows but didn’t turn the music on, which even my drunk ass knew was out of character for him. It wasn’t until he parked in my driveway that he made any sound at all.
“All right,” he said, handing me the keys. “Have a good night.”
He moved to get out of the car, but I held him back. “How’re you getting home?”
“I’ll walk. No big deal.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
His voice was gruff, strained. “I’m fine.”
I held on to his forearm, trying to seem more in command of myself than I was. “I saw Tucker with that girl,” I said quietly. “Bianca.”
A muscle twitched in Ricky’s jaw. “That’s nothing.”
“Okay.”
We sat there in the driveway, the night enveloping us.
“He’s just a fucking coward,” Ricky said suddenly, his voice searing through the quiet. “Makes no difference to me how he wants to live his life, but it’s aggravating to see him with someone he doesn’t give two shits about.”
“Ricky.”
“What?” he snapped, his voice shaking.
“He means something to you,” I said softly. “It’s okay. I think you mean something to him, too.”
Ricky was staring through my windshield. I could hardly see his face in the darkness.
“Sorry for yelling,” he said abruptly. “Get some sleep.”
He got out of my car before I could say another word.
* * *
I snuck into my house as quietly as I could, half-afraid that my parents would be waiting up for me, even though I’d lied to them that I was watching a movie with Maritza tonight. I was relieved to see the lights turned off in the kitchen, no sound except for the air-conditioning humming steadily in the background. I tiptoed to the sink, poured myself a glass of water, and grabbed a box of cheese crackers from the pantry. Then I crept up the stairs and headed toward my room, eager to lie in bed and replay the night in my head.
But as I crossed the hallway, my brother’s light switched on.
I froze where I was, standing halfway between his room and mine, looking at him where he stood in the doorway. He was squinting as his eyes adjusted to the light, wearing a T-shirt he’d clearly outgrown months ago.
“What are you doing?” he grumbled.
“Shhh. I told Mom and Dad I’d be home late. Go back to sleep.”
“I wasn’t sleeping, I was watching Netflix. Why do you look all guilty?”
“What?”
“Were you drinking?”
I cursed inwardly. Could he tell by my voice? By my body language?
“I wouldn’t tell on you,” he said defiantly.
The crazy thing was, I believed him. But it didn’t matter: My defenses were too high to let him in.
“Don’t be an idiot, Grant,” I growled. “I was just watching a movie with Maritza. Stop being so nosy.”
He stared me down for a few seconds, and I stared back, and then he shook his head and snapped his door shut like I wasn’t worth another breath.
10
Let’s just say my first hangover was a shock.
I woke up with a pounding head, dry mouth, and queasy stomach. For a moment I hoped I was the only person home, but then I remembered