Page 50 of Must Have Been Love

“That’s because you’ve done everything,” Francie points out. “And you get to drink every time.”

Jesse splutters out his beer. Our eyes catch and he smiles at me. He’s such a sweetie, I like him a lot.

“I’ll say something I haven’t done. I promise.” Autumn says to her. Francie shakes her head, grinning. These two are a riot.

“Never have I ever…” Autumn drags it out, running her finger around her glass. “Kissed one of my brothers.” She looks slyly at Francie, like she’s waiting for a reaction.

But oh shit. This particular gotcha may not be aimed at me, but it’s hit me right in the solar plexus anyway.

“I don’t have any brothers,” Jesse says. “So I definitely haven’t kissed any of them.”

“Me either,” I say, and for a minute they all stare at me. Then Francie joins in. “I definitely haven’t made out with any of my disgusting brothers.”

“I meanmybrothers,” Autumn says, shaking her head. “Hudson, Asher, Wyatt and Zach. Do I have to spell this out for you?” I try to hide my dismay, but Francie isn’t quite so good at keeping her face neutral. “What?” Autumn asks. “You told me I’d done everything. I haven’t done that.”

“Luckily for me it’s still easy,” Jesse says, putting his bottle down on the bar without taking a drink. He looks over at me. “I haven’t made out with any of them. None of us have,” he says, looking over at me. “Right?”

My breath catches. “Right,” I manage to say. It’s just a game, I don’t need to play it, I tell myself. But I still find myself feeling guilty when I don’t lift my own bottle to my lips.

Autumn doesn’t seem to notice though. She’s too busy looking at Francie. “So what’s it to be, are you going to drink?” she asks.

Francie is still desperately trying to look nonchalant, but there’s a blush stealing its way up her neck to her cheeks. Oh god, the poor girl. I feel stupidly sorry for her. Not least because I think she’s probably made out with Asher and doesn’t want to admit it to Autumn. But because I’m in exactly the same boat as her.

What is it about these damn Fitzgerald men? I need to create a diversion before this turns into an interrogation.

“Oh my God!” I shout out suddenly. Probably a bit too loud because all three of them turn to look at me with wide eyes, like they think something terrible’s happened.

“What?” Jesse says, frowning.

I open my mouth, hoping something will actually come out. “I just realized I forgot my mom’s birthday.”

Autumn frowns. “Huh?”

“You forgot your mom’s birthday?” Francie repeats, her voice sounding like I just committed a heinous crime.

“Yeah. I have to call her.” I look over at the jukebox. “Somebody put some more music on,” I say quickly, because the Eagles have finished. Talk among yourselves. But definitely don’t play this game without me.”

Jesse looks at me carefully, like he knows exactly what I’m doing. Autumn pours her and Francie another cocktail. One more of those and she’ll have forgotten her name, let alone that Francie never actually answered the question.

“I’ll be five minutes,” I promise. “Don’t move.”

“Okay…” Autumn says.

“And you get to choose the music,” I tell Autumn. “Make it loud.” Enough to blast over whatever thoughts are whirling around her head.

With that I grab my phone, and rush over to the door to the apartment at the back of the bar. I quickly tap out a message before I walk through.

Distract Autumn. Keep all conversation away from her brothers. Do something stupid if necessary – Skyler.

I send the message to Jesse who pulls his phone out of his pocket when it vibrates. He reads the screen then looks at me and nods. Then as I open the door to the apartment I hear him shout out. “You want to know my most embarrassing moment? I once flashed Eileen and Mylene on the same day!”

I start to laugh, because he absolutely understood the assignment.

“What?” Autumn shouts out. “Have you? When was this? And why didn’t I know?” She widens her eyes. “Were they in the same place?”

From the excitement in her voice, I know that all thoughts of brothers and kissing are forgotten.

Was that good enough? – Jesse

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