Page 134 of Holding On

"We dated a few times."

"What do you mean when you say she's up for anything?"

I lean down and kiss her. "I'm not talking about other girls with you. I'm not interested in Cami."

"She seemed to be interested in you."

"She's interested in any guy, as long as he's an athlete. She only goes out with jocks."

The doorbell rings again. "What the hell? I told Jackson to send them out back."

"You want me to get it?" Becca asks.

"No, I'll do it." I answer the door and see Russel there. I haven't seen him since school got out. He spent the summer working on his uncle's fishing boat off the coast of Alaska.

"Ethan." He gives me a wide smile and a shoulder hug. "Missed you, man." He stands back and looks at my leg. "How's it healing?"

"Good. I should be off the crutches in a few weeks."

"That's awesome." He looks up at me, his smile gone. "I'm really sorry I couldn't get back here for you after the accident."

"Don't worry about it. They had me so high on pain meds I wouldn't even have known you were there."

"You doing all right otherwise?" he asks, concern in his voice.

This is why Russel and I are friends. He actually gives a shit about people. He's one of those sensitive guys who isn't afraid to show his feelings. He even cried once during a movie. Half the team was there and we gave him shit about it but he didn't care. If he wanted to, he could beat the shit out of any of us. Russel's a linebacker and he's freakin' huge.

"I'm good," I tell him. I turn back to Becca who's standing behind me. "Come here. I want you to meet Russel." I wait until she's beside me. "Russel, this is my girlfriend, Becca."

"Nice to meet you," he says, shaking her hand.

"You too."

"You look familiar. Do you go to Laytham?"

"No, I'm not in college."

She'll be getting this question a lot tonight and I can tell she's already tired of answering it.

"I know where I've seen you." He smiles. "The Chicken Shack?"

She smiles back. "Yeah, I'm a waitress there."

"I always get my food to go but I remember seeing you there. That place has the best chicken."

"We got some left if you want it," Jackson says, coming up behind me. "Becca brought us some last night. We ate half of it but the rest is in the fridge."

"A hot girl who brings you fried chicken?" Russel smiles at me. "You lucky son-of-a-bitch."

I lean down and kiss Becca. My friends love her. I knew they would.

More people arrive and they keep coming to the front door but I send them to the back patio. Sixteen people show up, which is more than I wanted, but knowing Jackson, I expected at least twenty or twenty-five. He never listens.

Even though Jackson swears he told them not to bring booze, they all did. Bottles of hard liquor line my patio table. People are getting drunk. It's making me nervous.

Becca notices and pulls me inside. "I could tell them to leave."

"No, it's fine. I have to get used to it. This is just one of many parties I'll have to go to this year."

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