Page 16 of Finding Delaware

“That shit really doesn’t bother you?” Xed asks with narrowed eyes, and I shrug.

“Not really.”

“Tay and Salem are, like, weird,” Christian laughs, rubbing the back of his neck as I roll my eyes.

We’re not weird; we just don’t hold each other back from unfair expectations. She does her thing, I do mine, and then we meet in the middle when we can. Sometimes we fuck, sometimes we don’t. We’re easy. It’s complicated to explain to people, so I don’t even try half the time. Love that girl to death, though, and I’d go to war for her in a heartbeat.

“So what do ya say, man? One more jump?” Christian waggles his brows at me, and I huff a chuckle around my cigarette before dropping it into someone’s half-empty beer bottle on the ground.

“Hell yeah. Gimme a minute to take a piss.”

Leaving them to talk amongst themselves, I stumble across the yard, weaving around people toward the backdoor as my eyes jump from group to group, searching for something I can’t place. The chances that the only bathroom isn’t occupied are slim, so I aim for the narrow space between the garage and the houseinstead.

My feet come to a halt when a deep, familiar laugh reaches my ears, and my head whips toward the burn barrel, where I see Logan standing around, chatting with members of the swim team.

A rush of satisfaction courses through me, and I immediately start looking for Huck. If Logan’s here, then he can’t be too far behind. A bit of excitement tingles up my spine, which is weird, but I tell myself it’s because I can’t wait to pick a fight with him as I head in the direction of his best friend. For nearly two months now, the fucker has been constantly at my side between school and home. I told him he wasn’t invited tonight, but he didn’t listen.

Because he enjoys fighting with me, too.

“Where is he?” I cut off whatever Logan was saying, and he faces me with a seething glare, animosity rolling off him. He’s probably still pissed at me from my own birthday party three weeks ago when I threw a firecracker into the hot tub that he and Huck were sitting in.

“Where’s who?” His jaw clenches, hands fisting at his sides, and I wave my arms irritably.

“You know who. Huckslee. I told him he wasn’t invited.”

Logan tilts his head. “He’s at home.”

Fuck. For real?

I immediately feel myself deflate as I turn away.

Well, shit. So much for a fight tonight.

A frown pulls at my lips the longer I think about Huck.

Why is he at home when his best friend is here? The two are almost as inseparable as Christian and me.

It’s not like he has homework, it’s a Friday night. When I told him he wasn’t invited, I’d been half-lying because I wanted him to come anyway so that I could watch him—

My brain scratches to a screeching halt.

Why the hell do I care where Huckslee is?

I told him he couldn’t come, so he didn’t. And I don’t want him here.

Because he’s a pain in my ass, right?

Pun unintended?

What the fuck, brain?Yes, the pun was unintended. Because I’m not fucking gay.

The space between the house and garage comes into view, and I squeeze into it, thankfully finding it empty. It’s big enough for me to stand with my shoulders touching each wall, and I’m about to unzip my pants when a small pair of arms wraps around me from behind.

“I’ve been wondering when I’d be able to get you alone.”

Ah, fuck me.

“Tatiana.” I turn around so that I’m facing her, and the moment I do, her lips are on mine.

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