I shake my head. “You’re not boring, Cutlass.”
“Why don’t you like him?” She stops in the middle of the path, facing me.
“Is this permanent?” I ask, reaching for her hair which is currently filled with blonde streaks.
“Because you like blondes?”
I raise my eyebrows with a silent question.
“Janelle.” Contempt fills her tone and eyes.
“Sounds like I’m not the only jealous one.”
She points at my chest. “Youarejealous.”
I wrap my hand around hers.
“Why don’t you date people? You could get any girl you wanted.”
“Let’s go, Cutlass.”
“That’s right. Big game tomorrow. Are they all big games? I feel like every week everyone’s saying it’sthebig game.”
I grin. “When they want us to win all of them, they are.”
“Am I a bad kisser? I mean, was I terrible the first time we kissed? Is that why you didn’t kiss me again for so long?”
I take a step back, digging my free hand into my hair. “You’re full of questions.”
“I got lip gloss all over you,” she says, closing the distance and painting around my lips with her finger, making my face tingle and warm. “Messy, slobbery kisses are gross. Why has no one told me that I’m a terrible kisser? Why haven’t you told me?”
“Because you’re not. Not even a little.” I tuck a strand of her mix-colored hair behind her ear. “You need to sleep this off.”
She stares at me for a long moment. “Will I remember this tomorrow?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“If I don’t will you tell me pumpkin cookie?”
“Pumpkin cookie?” I ask.
She nods.
“Was that the edible?”
“It tasted terrible.” She shakes her head and then releases a long sigh. “I’m ready to sleep.”
Katie’s in the living room when we get home, her smile faltering when I follow Hadley inside and becoming a scowl when Hadley admires an orange pillow like it’s the Mona Lisa.
“We could be designers,” Hadley says, looking at Katie. “We’re good at this.”
“You got her drunk?” Katie doesn’t hide her fury.
“You’re a good boyfriend,” Hadley says, pointing at Carsen. “Did you ever casually date?”
Katie’s accusing eyes tear into me.
“She’s high.”