Page 56 of Boys Like You

Nights have still been cool here so I found an off-the-shoulder sweater dress that hangs loose in the top and hugs my curves. The guys may say I’m pocket-sized, but that’s because I’m short. My hair is in big waves around my shoulders, and Savannah gave me a smokey eye look. She knows that I am kinda dating the guys. She put it together when she busted Maximus kissing me once—he has made awesome progress when it comes to touching me—and then ten minutes later she came back in to see Levi had his hand on my leg. Since we have a truth policy with our family, we told her. She didn’t even seem fazed. In fact, she laughed and said if Naomi finds out, she wants to be there.

“You look hot, JD,” Becca says, finishing off her makeup.

“Thanks.”

“Which one of them are you dressing up for?” Mandy asks. She’s still a little weird around me because Naomi is her cousin, but she is warming up to me slowly.

“I have five very hot male best friends; I’m dressing up for all of them. Payback for how hot they always look.”

As soon as I hear the guys pull up, I leave them to finish getting ready and head out into the living room. It takes them a minute to realise I’m standing here.

“Holy sh… I mean, wow, JD, you look amazing.”

“Thanks, Rocky, it is your birthday weekend.” He looks mouth-watering in a washed-out pair of jeans, a t-shirt and his black beanie. I love him in his beanie, it makes his eyes pop.

“Can we talk real quick in Maximus’s room?” I need to tell them about my dream. I spent most of my day hanging out with Savannah and the guys have all kept a safe distance; she threatened bodily harm if they ruined her day.

The guys follow me to Maximus’s room. I don’t bother knocking, I know he’s in there. He’s sitting at his desk, watching something on his laptop, his headphones on. I turn the light on and off. He turns and stops abruptly, giving me a once over. I walk over, sit in his lap, and whisper in his ear. “Does this help with that tent?”

He shakes his head no but wraps his arms around me. I lean back into his chest. The others all sit on his bed, waiting.

“I wanted to update you on my nightmares. I keep seeing Rory in them, but I don’t know why.” Everyone looks at Rory and he just shrugs. “I have also been seeing other things.”

“Like what?” Mercer asks.

“Silhouettes mainly. They’re hard to remember, but I think it’s like a scene playing back at me. It’s weird, I hear myself scream and look down at my hands and they are covered in blood.” I shrug. “It’s all fuzzy and it doesn’t make sense.” I have felt so guilty keeping it from them but this latest no secrets policy had me wanting to tell them the truth.

Levi jumps up uncomfortably. “Do you think maybe you are starting to remember what happened to you?”

“Maybe. But it feels like I’m watching it from a distance. “I don’t know. I’ll see what happens, I guess. Should I maybe tell Lissa?”

“I think we should, just in case. Since they released that picture of you, they have been tight lipped on everything. They stop talking when I walk into a room.” He shakes his head, pulling his phone out from his pocket. “I’ll text her and ask if we can stop by tomorrow.”

Savannah comes bouncing into Maximus’s room and announces she is ready to go. We all pile into cars, I ride with Levi so he doesn’t get his cranky pants on, Rory takes Savannah and her friends while Mercer takes Rocky and Maximus.

We pull up to the curb beside a house off the beach; it’s massive. Savannah and her friends race off to find Naomi as soon as the car stops. I go to follow, but the guys pull me back.

Levi speaks first. “Make sure you don’t take drinks from anyone except us.”

“And make sure you have one of us in your sight at all times.” Mercer looks at me seriously.

“We have the location app on your phone activated.” This time I look at Rocky.

“Location app? Why do I have that on my phone?”

Rory holds out his phone. “It’s on all our phones, we like to be prepared for anything.” I just nod, I haven’t told them I’m feeling anxious to be here. I don’t know why; it just came on suddenly in the car.

“Okay, let’s get our party on, birthday boy.” Rocky steps forward and takes my hand; he declared me his for the birthday weekend.

We step into the large open plan house. It’s dark and strobe lights flash around the room. Old-school hip-hop blasts through the speakers, I know because Rocky loves it, this particular song being one of his favourites; “No Diggity” by Blackstreet.

Maximus gestures to Levi that he is going upstairs. I look at Levi for clarification. “Maximus goes upstairs to play Black Ops or Fortnite with a friend. He isn’t big into the party scene.”

“It’s da birthday boy! We have the weekend off so you better be getting your crunk on! Oh, hello, beautiful.” Seems Mac has joined the party.

“Touch her and you die,” Mercer states.

Mac throws his hands up in the air. “Wouldn’t dare. What’s your poison? It isn’t a birthday celebration unless you’re getting wasted.” He throws an arm around Rocky’s shoulders and leads him, and me by default because Rocky has hold of my hand, into the kitchen. The others stay behind.

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