Page 35 of The Sweet Spot

“Not unless I want to pass out in my Uber.” Rubbing my face, I get to my feet and stretch.

“You look like you might pass out right now,” Brooke says with a pout.

“I might.” I give her an apologetic smile, squeezing her shoulder. “Sorry. I just haven’t gotten over this jet lag yet.”

“I understand.” She leans close, her breath awash in Kahlua or whatever she’s been drinking. “When I went to London last year for spring break, it took me nearly two weeks to recover.”

“Let’s go,” Kellan says, holding up his phone. “They’re outside.”

Kellan’s little brother, Dallas, came up with some friends from Santa Cruz. They hung out for a while before wandering off to check out another party nearby, but now the hour’s late and it’s time to go. Everyone but me, Logan, Kellan, Brooke and her friend—the one currently sucking Kellan’s earlobe—has left.

Kellan’s gonna get laid, that much is obvious, but I’m surprised Logan stuck around. The girl he was talking to left earlier. We say our goodbyes andleave, joining another after-hours crowd milling around on the sidewalk.

“You wanna share an Uber home with me?” Brooke asks, biting her lip. Her aquamarine eyes are shiny, her cheeks red from drinking.

Damn.I want to, I really, really do, but I can’t. Not tonight, not when I’m dead on my feet. It wouldn’t be the experience either of us are hoping for.

“I’m actually going to head back to my mom’s to try and recover.” I yawn yet again, pulling her into a hug. “But let’s talk soon.”

“Ugh, what a killjoy,” she teases. I know she’s disappointed. I am, too, but my dick doesn’t work when I’m this tired. “Go home, old man. Call me tomorrow.”

“I will.”

“You guys coming?” Brooke’s friend calls, climbing into the back of a huge SUV with Kellan and the boys. “There’s plenty of room!”

“Might as well,” Brooke says, shaking her head as she walks away. “Later, Luca. Don’t be a stranger.”

“You good, brother?” Logan claps my back and steps off the curb. “You could just crash at Kellan’s Airbnb instead of trekking out to Walnut Creek. His money ass got a place in the Berkeley Hills.”

I shake my head with a tired laugh, imagining how loud that scenario would be. Normally that would be appealing, but tonight I need sleep. “Not tonight, bro. I’m going home. Where it’s quiet.”

Logan peers at me in drunken concern. “You good?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” A car matching my ride’s description pulls up, and I start toward it. “See you tomorrow, Lo.”

But before I can get in, Brooke jogs back over, grabs my face, and kisses me square on the mouth. We don’t deepen it much, but it’s nice. Something to think about.

And then she wipes her thumb across my bottom lip and leaves, lobbing one last sultry look over her shoulder.

Wren

It’s late, and the clear, cold air feels fantastic against my hot cheeks.

Janya giggles, more giddy than usual. “We have to get boba! Have to.” She squeezes between Saira and me, linking her arms through ours.

“They’re open late,” adds Saira. “The best you’ll ever have, promise.”

It’s about one in the morning, and we just left the Weeds. Justin forgot his phone upstairs, so we’re waiting for him on the sidewalk.

“You want boba tea, don’t you, Wren?” presses Janya.

I pat her arm. “Of course, I do.”

Across the street and down a little, a group of people pours out from the front door of another apartment building. I watch them with a detached sort of interest, wondering what their evening’s been like. Berkeley isn’t that far from Santa Cruz, but the vibe here is so different.

“You’re thinking about that blond kid, aren’t you?” Saira reaches around her sister to poke my shoulder. “What was his name? Dallas?”

“Dallas?” Janya gasps. “What’s his brother’s name, Ponyboy?”

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