Page 72 of Boys Like You

“I’m at home and all the guys are busy.”

“I could come get you,” he offers.

“You have been drinking, and I wouldn’t want you to leave your own party.”

He laughs. “It’s still before seven, no one will be here for at least two hours.”

“Oh, how would I get home?” I ask.

“A, you stay the night in one of the spare rooms. B, I can pay for a taxi to take you home, or C, you call one of your guys.”

“That could work. I’ll text Beth and ask and let you know.”

We end our call, and I send Beth a text. She is hesitant, but I tell her Mac is a friend of Rocky’s and that I will have my phone on me and will send her the address. She works on trust, and if I break it, there will be no more outings alone.

Mac pulls up forty minutes later. I managed to throw together a party-worthy outfit quickly; a black pair of skinny jeans, an open toe boot, a cut-off midriff shirt and a denim jacket. I kept my makeup minimal and my hair down.

“Wow, you look amazing,” Mac says when I slip into his car.

“Thanks.”

Mac talks my ear off the whole way back to his house, telling me about his training. He won’t be drinking tonight, because his dreams of the Olympics mean he has to keep to a strict training schedule.

By the time we pull into his garage there are already a few cars parked outside. He tells me it’s some of his mates and the real party will kick off in about an hour.

We make our way out to his back yard, where he has a fire going. His bar is set with two half-naked girls. I shake my head when he goes to talk to them.

“JD.” I turn at my name and see Sherie walk out the doors.

“Hey, Mac didn’t tell me you would be here.”

“Yeah, he makes us all come to his parties. Even though we rarely drink, he says we still have to be teenagers. Tomorrow I’ll be dragging my tired ass around the track.” I laugh. “You remember Jada” she says when the girl who clearly has a crush on Rocky joins us.

“I do, from Rocky’s birthday.”

She doesn’t look impressed but puts on a fake smile. “Is Rocky here?” She looks around and back to me.

“No, he had to work. Mac asked me to come.” She dismisses me and sips from her drink.

“Here. I brought the pretty lady a drink,” Mac says, handing me something that smells like pineapple.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Sherie jokes. I take the drink from him.

“Don’t forget, only take drinks from me, I don’t have a death wish.”

“That reminds me, I better send them a group message and let them know where I am.”

Mac laughs. “I give it an hour before they show up.” He’s right, but I still need to tell them; if I keep it from them then it goes against what we have.

Me:Hey guys, I’m taking the therapist’s advice and making friends, don’t worry about me, will text when I’m home.

Me:I’m putting my phone away so you all don’t go crazy on me, I have to do this to prove I haven’t attached myself to you all.

I throw my phone into my bag.

People start to arrive. The music is loud, more pop than anything else. Mac makes sure to keep drinks in my hand as the night goes on. We are in a battle of two-on-two pool. It’s lucky he is good because I suck.

“I need to pee; can you go on without me?” I notice a slight slur to my words.

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