Page 25 of The Party Plot

“It’s good to see you, too,” Laurel said, still not sure what he was doing here. His brain felt like a rag that had been wrung out, and when Melody placed a cold drink in his hand, he took a gulp gratefully before spitting it back into the glass. Vodka was the last thing he needed. “Do you have coffee?” he asked her. “Or anything that doesn’t taste like paint thinner?”

“It’s book club,” Melody said, as if that explained everything. Her eyes were a little wobbly, her cheeks flushed.

“I’m sorry?”

“Book club,” Chip explained. “A monthly tradition. We rotate who chooses the book. Last time it was Octavia Butler.”

“This time it’s a book about an alien swamp monster and a human woman, but the swamp monster is the one who gets pregnant and has to carry the lady’s eggs!” Melody exclaimed. Chip let out a sigh.

“We’ve been on a sci-fi kick,” Kierra added.

Book club. He had rushed all the way over here for book club. By now he could have had Casey’s clothes entirely off; they could have been under the cool spray of the shower, doing all manner of things to each other. Relearning every inch of skin, every dip and hollow. Laurel sank into a chair like a deflated balloon. “I didn’t realize y’all had been hanging out together.”

“Melody started it,” Chip said. “She was volunteering at the library, and got back in touch with Kierra. I’m kind of just along for the ride. Against my will, some months.”

“Well, I don’t want to interrupt,” Laurel said.

“Don’t be silly. I don’t think Chip actually read the book this month, anyway.” Melody plopped herself down onto the couch. “Besides, it feels like we’ve hardly gotten to hang out since you got back into town. I guess you’re too busy driving around with your new boyfriend—”

“Boyfriend?” Chip asked. “I didn’t know you’d met someone. That’s great!”

“Oh, Laurel.” Kierra smiled. “Congratulations, honey. I mean, I kind of knew, but—”

“Jesus Christ.” Laurel knotted his fingers in his hair, squeezing his eyes shut. He’d made the mistake of telling Melody on the phone that he was with Casey. He should never have said anything. “He’s not my boyfriend. I hooked up with him once. It’s very embarrassing and I’d rather not talk about it. And my mom doesn’t know. About Casey, or about me liking guys, or any of it, so—”

“Casey?” Chip frowned. “Wait, the party planner?”

“And don’t worry,” Laurel barrelled on, heat creeping up his neck, his cheeks tingling, “he’s a total asshole and I don’t like him and nothing else is going to happen, and—Melody, I changed my mind, can I have some vodka after all?”

“I think I’ll take some too,” Kierra said. “You kids are even messier than I remember.” She leaned back, watching Melody wobble off into the kitchen. “So what’s going on with this party planner?”

“I’m just helping him with my mom’s Halloween ball. He needed some extra input. And his car was in the shop,” Laurel added, using Casey’s lie from earlier that day.

“And he’s an ex of yours, or something? Oh, thanks, honey,” Kierra added, as Melody came thundering unevenly back into the room, a mixed drink sloshing around in either hand.

“Something like that. But really, I don’t want my mom to know, so—”

“I understand.” Kierra squeezed his shoulder, and Laurel felt his eyes prickle unexpectedly. “It’s hard to be different around here. But I hope you’ve been well, Laurel.”

Well great, now he felt even worse. Of the four of them, he was the only one who could hide his differences. “I have,” he said. At least he had been, until he’d come back into town. Now, he wasn’t so sure. “And you?”

She shrugged, earrings swinging. “Still fighting with the school board. I keep telling them these kids need books with passion and grit, books that reflect their actual experiences. But of course, that would beinappropriate.”

Laurel grinned. “So does this sexy swamp monster book have passion and grit?”

“You know, it’s innovative,” Kierra said.

“Well, speaking of innovative, this party is going to be amazing.” Laurel looked at Melody, trying to catch her eye. “I mean, Casey has a gift with flowers. You should see it. I thought I had a big vocabulary, but he knows plant names I’ve never heard of, and…” Laurel trailed off, aware that everyone else in the room was staring at him. Kierra had a speculative smile on her face. Chip and Melody just looked confused.

“Casey,” Chip said, “who’s a complete asshole.”

“An asshole who’s good at floral arrangements,” Laurel amended.

“Right. Well, it doesn’t really sound like my kind of scene, but you’ll have to take plenty of pictures,” Chip said.

“I can get you an invitation. All of you, actually. Melody?” Laurel tried not to look too nakedly hopeful, his eyes focused on her face. His palms were sweaty. He had the urge to pull out his phone, see if Casey had texted. To make sure he hadn’t scared him into calling everything off.

Melody chewed her lip. “I don’t think your mom would like that.”

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