Page 30 of Boys Like You

Maximus:We are not going out tonight anymore. JD feels sick.

Rory:Why? What’s wrong?

Me:Nothing is wrong, and we are going out

Maximus:No we are not!

Rocky:What? Why? I’m confused

Levi:Maximus, what is going on?

Mercer:I’m outside, I will check

Maximus:No don’t come in, she is contagious

I look over at Maximus and laugh. “Why are you telling them I’m sick?” He points at me; I walk over to the full-length mirror John installed. “I look good.”

Maximus:Exactly

Levi:Exactly what

Me:That I look good

Mercer:Correction. JD looks hot

I turn towards the door to see Mercer leaning against the door frame.

Maximus:I was just kidding, we are on our way

Rocky:I’m lost, see you when you get here

I push my phone into my pocket, looking back up at Mercer.

“We look like twins,” he says, still leaning against the door. I take in his black jeans with rips in the knees. Where mine are full length, his cut off above the ankle. My eyes trail up his body. His leather jacket is open, showing a black shirt underneath with the number 69 on the front pocket in white.

“I call shotgun,” I say, running towards Mercer’s Hummer.

“No one is racing you, JD,” Mercer calls out.

“Maximus doesn’t talk to me, but he looks like he could take me in a race.” He flips me off with a smile.

The bowling alley is about thirty minutes from Beth’s house. I spot Rocky, Levi and Rory as soon as I walk in. It’s hard to miss Rocky wearing a blue and yellow shirt like the rest of the staff. Maximus walks around Mercer and I, heading towards the guys. He has changed out his earphones for a pair of headphones hanging around his neck.

There are more people here than I expected, and Mercer must sense my hesitation. He takes my hand and intertwines our fingers.

“It’s okay, we are all here with you.” He starts leading the way. The lights are bright, and coloured beams light up over the lanes. The music is loud; some kind of indie rock. All the guys are laughing at something Rocky is saying. There are a few others with them, and my heart beats fast. What if they don’t like me?

“Yay. JD is here,” Rocky says, and a few strangers turn to look at me. A girl with straight, blonde hair looks me over, noticing mine and Mercers hands. Her smile isn’t friendly, and I wonder if she has just decided she hates me, or if she doesn’t like Mercer. Rocky bounces over to me and kisses my forehead.

“Oh look, Merce finally has a girlfriend. Found someone who can tame the beast?” I raise my brow at her.

“Cindy, go back to your minions,” Rory snaps. I take him in; he’s wearing dress pants, a white button-up rolled up to his elbows, and a tie hung loose around his neck. He looks like he just came from a wedding. Cindy seems overdressed in a short baby-blue V neck dress.

“You weren’t saying that an hour ago,” she snipes.

“I was saying whatever the fuck my mother wanted to hear so I could leave,” he snaps. She huffs and turns to leave. This must be the girl his mother expects him to marry. She is pretty in the same way I used to be; all fake.

“Well, she seems fun,” I say sarcastically. The guys all laugh. Mercer and I take a seat, Rocky bounces away to get us some shoes.

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