My head swims a little. Everyone keeps handing me shots. I’m not trying to get fucked up tonight. My parents are out of town and I have Lancelot to take care of. I don’t trust that anyone here would remember to feed him or take him out away from the trails where coyotes and cougars frequent.
The plump old pug dog waddles down the steps from the second floor, greeted by coos from the girls. He flops onto his back in front of one group and is rewarded with belly rubs. A fond smile tugs the corner of my mouth up as he stretches his back legs under the attention.
“How many girls have gotten you off tonight?” Carter asks.
I forgot he was standing there.
Carter pushes his black wavy hair back and shoots me a goofy smile. He’s an easy-going guy. It’s what I like best about him; he’s always down to have some fun.
My smile doesn’t stretch as wide as his.
I can’t enjoy it like I used to.
“Ah, you know.” I wave him off. “Can’t kiss and tell.”
“Bullshit, man. Last week you told me all about how Heather rode your dick in your Jeep at Peak Point.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. He’s not wrong, that did happen.
Carter laughs and cuffs my shoulder. “Just tell me the count tomorrow. I want to know if I won the betting pool with the other guys.”
I snort, but I’m going through the motions.
Shaking my head, I say, “You guys are a bunch of jackasses. Go enjoy the party, you dick.”
I leave Carter and hold back a sigh.
It’s my senior year, I’m the varsity quarterback, and the whole school showed up tonight for my eighteenth birthday. People cheer my name when I walk by. Girls have been giving me the look all night, whispering promises in my ear with a gleam in their eyes as they palm my junk not-so-subtly.
I can have my pick of any hot piece of ass I want. Hell, all I need to do is shoot them a crooked grin and snap my fingers. I’m treated like a god amongst these people.
I’m living the high life right now.
And it all feels hollow.
One girl catches my eye across the room and mimes a blowjob with her tongue in her cheek. My dick should jump at the prospect of a bathroom quickie.
Instead of taking her up on sucking my cock, I hide a grimace in my beer as I down the rest of it and pretend I didn’t notice her.
“Refill?”
Devlin tips his red plastic cup at me and quirks his lips into a smirk. Dark fringe hangs over his eyes. Everyone calls me the golden Saint but Devlin’s known as the dark devil of Silver Lake High.
“Can’t have empties on your birthday.” Devlin steers me towards the keg. He nods to every girl along the way, doling out winks and blowing kisses. He’s a huge flirt. Devlin gestures with his cup and points out a hot chick dancing with her ass pushed out. “If you don’t come out of tonight hooking up with at least three of these girls at once, you’ve done your birthday wrong.”
I snort and allow him to lead me to my next beer.
Devlin is a year younger than me and a junior at Silver Lake High. Our moms are sisters. He’s been a built-in friend since we were in diapers. He’s always around because his parents travel so much and the only company he has at his own house across the lake are his collection of cars.
Despite the slight age difference, he’s got a couple inches of height on me. But I win with my muscular build.
He’s leaner, all wiry limbs that grant him a lethal speed on the soccer field. I almost wish I’d tried harder to convince him to try out for football, even though the new guy is speedy as fuck. Devlin has always had a natural talent for whatever he picks up. Not that he gives that much of a shit about sports. Or anything, other than his precious cars, as far as I can tell.
Devlin lives up to his devil-may-care reputation. He only plays because his best friend is the team captain.
“
Lucas!”