Page 108 of Just for Fun
My stomach is in knots as I go over the speech I came up with. It’s all stored in my head, and I sure hope to hell that I won’t forget it. I’m doing really well with it during rehearsals, but I have a feeling that the pressure of the moment will fuck it all up for me.
“Your address is on the left side and zero-point-two miles,” the GPS lady calls out.
I widen my eyes in surprise when I realize that I’m here.
“How the fuck did I get here so quickly?”
When I look at the time, I realize that it hasn’t been as quickly as I thought. I have arrived at the time I thought I would, which is fifteen minutes ahead of schedule.
I don’t remember the drive over at all, and I hope to fuck that I didn’t run any red lights, or, God forbid, I didn’t run somebody over.
Popping the door open, I get out and stand next to the truck. There are other cars parked all around the house and out in the street. There are definite sounds of a party coming from the backyard. It sounds just like my kind of party with people jump in the pool and drinking their weight in alcohol while hoping not to go into a coma for the day.
“Fuck, this is it.”
I take a deep breath in, then let it all out. I walk to the front door, realizing that Owen didn’t tell me if I should ring the doorbell or just walk around to the backyard.
Out of habit, I run my hands through my hair, almost knocking my glasses off my face. My eyes felt dry and itchy this morning. When that happens, wearing the glasses helps a bit.
I lift my hand a press a finger over the doorbell, snorting to myself when I hear the sound of it. It’s a cowbell, and when it seems to be slowing down, there’s a recording yelling,more cowbell. I am about to press on it again, when the door is yanked open.
“Well, well, well.” Owen smiles at me, showing all of his teeth. “If it isn’t pretty boy Pete.”
I frown at that. “Who’s Pete?”
“I don’t fuckin’ know,” Owen shrugs. “But I like the sound of Pete a hell of a lot better thanKyle.” He says my name like it’s insulting his sensibilities.
“I’ll make sure to let my parents know that people find my name offensive.”
His paw of a hand lands on my shoulder, and he pulls me in, or rather yanks me forward before slamming the door behind me. The windows literally rattle from the impact.
“You found the place okay?”
I nod, my mouth dry and unable to form words. “Yes, thanks for having me.”
Owen, who by the way is only wearing a pair of board shorts. He has no shoes on but still manages to tower over me. He crosses his arms over his chest, his eyes boring into mine.
“Thanks for setting this up, Owen.”
He hums but doesn’t respond. I don’t know why this is so hard. I’ve never had issues with communication.
“Is… Ugh… Zara…” I cough a couple of times. “Is Zara here yet?”
Owen, instead of telling me what I need to know, once again slaps a heavy hand on my shoulder and propels me toward the large French doors that go out to an even larger patio that leads to a pool. It has slides and floats, not to mention all the happy people all around.
“This is very nice.” It’s not anything I haven’t seen before, but I don’t add that.
Owen’s laughter booms all around us, and I jump in place when he starts.
“I didn’t bring you here to show you a backyard dull of people, asshole.”
He places a hand on top of my head and turns it until I am supposedly facing whatever he wants me to look at. It takes me a minute, but then, I finally understand.
“Zara.”
I breathe her name out. Everyone else around her fades away. I can only see her.
“Is she okay?” I ask in the corner of my mouth, like I’m worried she could hear despite all the people separating us.
