Page 72 of Absorbed

“Did you and Jessie go out with a group?” Melissa asked.

Stephanie nodded.

“That was smart,” Melissa said. “He probably didn’t have the chance. If he’d gotten you alone, he wouldn’t have stopped until he got your clothes off.”

The girls around Melissa and Stacey exhaled their disgust andmm-hmm’din agreement.

“Was he any good?” Stacey heard a voice behind her ask.

The entourage of girls grew silent and pulled apart to allow the new girl in.

As Stacey turned to see who was there, a puff of smoke caught her in the face. The smoke cleared, and a devilish smile appeared behind it. Stacey locked eyes with Kristi Carpenter.

Stacey’s cheeks drained.

Kristi was a senior varsity cheerleader. She’d been with Jason Temple since freshman year. Everyone knew they had sex. All. The. Time. And Kristi wasn’t the least bit shy talking about it.Stacey saw them in the act behind the bleachers during the jaws-of-life drunk-driving presentation. That was the only other time Kristi Carpenter seemed to notice Stacey before Travis Nielson’s party.

Stacey’s eyes circled the group. Melissa and the girls beside her leaned in, their mouths open, awaiting Stacey’s response.

Before she knew what she was doing, Stacey heard herself say the words she’d practiced in the mirror a dozen times. “You mean three-second-Jess and his microscopic prick?” She held up her right hand, her thumb and forefinger pinched.

Melissa appeared victorious as Heather and the other girls around her squealed. All except Stephanie, that is, who looked horrified.

“Let’s just say, he’s lucky he’s cute,” Stacey went on, pulling her packet of cigarettes out of her back pocket. She shook a cigarette out of the pack and stuck it between her lips. Lighting it, she lifted a single eyebrow and sucked the smoke in as she said, “But after his pathetic performance,” she blew the smoke in Kristi’s direction, “I’m not interested in wasting any more time with that puka-shell-poser.”

Bingo.

Stephanie walked away, shaking her head. The remaining girls erupted with laughter. Stacey held her cup in front of Melissa for a refill while watching Kristi.

“Who would’ve guessed Stacey Smartypants was so hard to satisfy?” Kristi said. “Get this girl her drink. Jason knows some guys who might do a better job measuring up for her.” Kristi dropped her cigarette onto the lawn and stepped on it.

Melissa poured in a splash more Goldschläger. She held tight to the bottle as Stacey reached for it. “Stace, this stuff is pretty strong.” Melissa’s face was serious.

“I’m goodMissy,” Stacey said, pulling the bottle away.

Melissa crossed her arms. “Don’t expect me to hold your hair later.”

Stacey added several ounces to her cup then handed the bottle to Heather. Stacey downed the liquor in a few gulps then dropped the Solo cup on the lawn. “Lead the way, Kristi.” She put the cigarette back in her mouth and took another puff.

Several girls Stacey didn’t know followed as Kristi guided Stacey toward a group of guys standing near the edge of the pool. Everything around Stacey felt blurry and heavy, like she was walking in sand. Her full attention went to her feet. She could not embarrass herself.

One mistake is all it would take—that’s what Martin said.

“You’ll never guess what Stacey here just told me,” Kristi said, sliding beside Jason.

Jason put his hand in Kristi’s back pocket, and bobbed his head up to look at the girls. “Which one’s Stacey?” He sounded bored.

Just act cool.

Stacey stepped forward, tucking her left hand in her own back pocket, her cigarette pinched between the fingers of her other hand. She pushed her shoulders back and looked Jason in the eyes.

Kristy laughed. “She said Jessie Thomas is a quick-draw with a tiny dick!”

Jason chuckled.

One of Jason’s friends hooted. “Oh, man! That’s low!”

The other guys around the group laughed, covering their mouths and shielding their crotches with their free hand.

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