Page 33 of Secondhand Smoke
“I don’t think so.”
Toni shook his head in disappointment. “Then you’re missing out. Especially with the New Coke, it’s a masterpiece.”
“Stop trying to spread your New Coke propaganda, dickhead.” Dennis winced after another shot of vodka, chasing it with a Dorito. “Leave that shit in ’85, where it belongs.”
Toni ignored him and put the cup into Janelle’s hand. “For you.”
She looked in at the murky brown liquid, then lifted it to her mouth, taking a big gulp.
Barrett leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed and a half-empty beer in his hand, glaring at his friends as they all cheered for her when she downed it.
“Damn, Duncan.” Toni clapped, laughing as she cringed at the drink and then laughed.
They’d completely usurped Barrett’s time with her.
He was supposed to be teaching her guitar, and instead, she had Toni making her poor-man’s cocktails, Paulie staring at her while he tripped out, and now Dennis, who had seemed the least willing to warm up to her, was holding out the joint he’d just lit.
“Want a hit?” Dennis asked her.
Barrett sat up and kicked Dennis lightly in the leg. “No.”
“Ouch, dude. What the hell?”
“She’s not experienced enough.”
“In what? Having fun?” Dennis said, and Toni drunkenly laughed along like it was the funniest thing in the world. “You’ve seen your fair share of parties in school, haven’t you, Duncan?”
“I’ll just take a hit,” Janelle said.
“What are you, man? Her dad?” Dennis said and put the joint in her fingers.
Barrett looked down at Janelle, wanting to tell her she didn’t have to. But her face was flushed with a dopey, cheesy, drunk grin and as much as he wanted to say no, the words would not form. He sighed. “Fine. Just be careful.”
“I will.” She grinned again.
He had to look away and take a nice long chug of the rest of his beer so she wouldn’t see his face go red. He was not drunk enough for this shit.
Toni caught his eye when he looked at the group again, and there was another one of those irritating, knowing smirks on his face.
“I need some water,” Barrett muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
He went into the kitchen and filled up a cup, frowning at the water level rising slowly thanks to the shit water pressure here.
“What are you so mopey about?” Toni leaned back against the countertop.
Barrett sighed. “Nothing.”
“Did we steal away your precious princess?”
Barrett shot him a scathing stare. “Don’t,” he hissed and peeked into the living room. Luckily, she was too distracted by something Dennis was saying, laughing along with Paulie.
“So, I’m guessing she doesn’t know you have a massive crush on her.”
“Had. Ihada crush on her,” he corrected. “Forever ago. I’m over it.”
“Sure you are.” God forbid Toni take anything seriously.
“I swear if any of you say anything to her, I will kill you guys. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”
