Page 69 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“It’s Maya. She wants to know if we’re going to Wendy’s Halloween party.”

“Not a chance,” Jake grumbles.

I wasn’t planning to pressure Jake to attend just to please Wendy, but now I want to go. Hanging out with Maya last night was fun. Yes, she does say things that I don’t like, but I don’t think she’s a bad person.

“But it’s your birthday,” I reply.

“You found out about that, huh?”

“Yeah, fromWendy. Thanks for letting me know, by the way.”

Lachy laughs. “Don’t take it personally. Jake hates his birthday. He never celebrates it.”

“Why not?”

“I have my reasons.”

He doesn’t elaborate, and I suspect his reasons have to do with his father.

“Well, I want to go. And I got the impression from Wendy that bringing you to the party is a test. You won’t let me fail, will you?”

He gives me an exasperated look. “Do you really want to go?”

My plan was to spend Halloween at Katrina’s like I do every year, but I’m curious about Wendy’s party. And Katrina will totally kill me if I don’t go and then report every bit of juicy gossip to her. “Yes.”

“Okay, fine.”

Lachy bumps my arm. “Well played, lass. We’ve been trying to get Jake to celebrate his birthday for years.”

“I’m not celebrating my birthday. Just to be clear. If anyone buys me gifts, I’ll be mad.”

“Really? No gifts?” I pout.

“Nope. Besides, I already got my gift.You.” He taps my nose.

“Oh, all right,” I say. “Only Halloween then... and a cake.”

“Do not say no to cake, Jake, orI’llbe mad,” Lachy pipes up.

Jake sighs. “Fine.” Then he squeezes my leg. “See the things I do for you, Junebug.”

“We need to think about costumes,” I muse.

“You know what would be fun?” Lachy smiles like the cat that ate the canary.

“Oh brother. Here you go with your crazy ideas,” Jake murmurs.

“Tell us,” I say.

“We should dress up as theWizard of Ozcharacters.”

My eyes turn rounder. “That’s genius!”

“Oh God,” Jake grumbles. “I’m regretting agreeing to this party already.”

Lachy glares at Jake. “Ignore him. He’ll try to veto every costume idea.” He looks at me with a smile. “Anyway, that book you were reading gave me the idea.”

“Oh... the why choose romance.”

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