“Katie?” Brad said. “Really?”
I fished a Coke out of the cooler, then shut the lid. “Why do you say it like that?”
“I thought you didn’t like her. You said she was too superficial, even for a cheerleader.”
“Maybe I want to give her another shot.”
I glanced over at the pool, where Katie and Erica were chatting quietly. What were they talking about? Was Erica telling her about what happened last night, when we almost kissed in the bathroom?
The entire point of me inviting Katie to the cookout was to take my mind off that event, but so far it wasn’t working. Since the cookout started, I couldn’t take my eyes off Erica. I kept imagining the way her skin felt last night while I cleaned up her scrape. I was tormented by the thought that if I had made a move, I could have had her.
“She’sreallyhot,” Brad said.
I gave a start. “Erica?”
Brad almost tripped over himself. “My sister? Dude, fuck no. We’re talking aboutKatie, right? She’s hot as fuck. I don’t blame you for wanting to get some more summer action.”
“Katie and I never slept together,” I said absently. “It’s not about that.”
“Sure it’s not,” Brad said skeptically.
We returned to the girls with cans of soda in hand. Erica smiled and excused herself. I watched her walk toward the house while handing my date her drink.
“Thanks!” Katie stood on her tip-toes to kiss my cheek. Of course, Erica picked that moment to stop at the door and look back at us. Something close to pain crossed her heart-shaped face, and then she hurried inside.
“Food’s ready!” Mr. Porter announced by the grill. “Get it while it’s hot!”
Katie got a cheeseburger, while I accepted two hot dogs. We sat by the pool nibbling on our food while the Porters’ friends and neighbors came up and congratulated Brad and me. I didn’t think graduating high school was some big accomplishment, but I smiled and thanked them all the same.
“Is Erica okay?” Katie asked while nibbling on potato chips from my plate.
Does she know something?I wondered.
“Why?” I asked. “Was she acting weird when you two were talking?”
Katie finished chewing and shook her head. “I just mean because she’s been inside a while. I hope she’s not sick.”
I grimaced. Erica was probably avoiding me since I had brought a date. I felt bad about it, but I knew it was for the best. Katie’s presence was doing what I had intended: keeping me from touching Erica, and sending the message that we couldn’t fool around.
I just hope her feelings aren’t hurt too badly.
It turned out that she was just fine. She returned to the pool ten minutes later, and this time she wasn’t alone.
“Holy shit,” Brad said. “Erica invited aboyover.”
I gawked at them as they walked across the patio toward Erica’s parents. The boy was tall and handsome, in a preppy, popped-collar sort of way. He shook hands with Mr. Porter, then said something that made them both laugh. Not the polite, fake laughter either: they laughed with genuine humor.
Was this revenge for me not kissing her last night? Or was she getting back at me for inviting Katie to the cookout?
Or maybe I’m over-analyzing the whole thing. Erica was a gorgeous girl. Sheshouldbe dating around.
But knowing it didn’t stop my jaw from clenching when I saw them together.
My sunglasses allowed me to admire Erica without looking like a creep as she pulled off her shirt and shimmied out of her shorts. Her perky breasts bounced as she adjusted her bikini top, and then she bent over to adjust the towel on her chair. Her bikini bottom was practically swallowed by the round globes of her ass, until she tugged on the edges to adjust it.
This girl will be the death of me.
Mrs. Porter was suddenly at my side, tugging on my sleeve. “Do you see what I see?”