Page 59 of Cougar

“How was the party, Princess?” Bass asks.

Lisa props an elbow on the table, resting her chin in her palm as she watches Bass and Jay interact.

Jay shrugs. “It was okay, but I’m pretty sure high school parties aren’t my thing.”

Lisa laughs beside me. “That’s a first. I thought high school parties were supposed to be fun.”

Jay shrugs. “Getting drunk and making a fool of myself is not my idea of fun. Besides, that’s how rumors get started. No thank you.”

“Tell me about the guy you came in with,” I hedge.

“That’s Grayson. Evan, Lexi’s boyfriend, is his brother. We met at the beach party last weekend.”

“He seems… friendly.”

She smirks. “He’s a total flirt, but he’s actually a nice guy.” She pushes her plate away and leans back in her chair. “I’m so full.”

She pulls her phone from her back pocket, looks down at the screen and rolls her eyes as swipes her finger across it. With a heavy sigh, stands from her chair. “Zach’s outside and wants to talk to me. I’ll be right back.”

Bass stands, too. “I’m coming with you, Princess.” Jay gives him a skeptical look and Bass shrugs. “I just want to shake his hand. He played a good game tonight.”

I twist my lips to the side to hide my smile.

“Yeah, okay,” Jay says sarcastically before she weaves through the tables with Bass following.

Lisa whistles. “Damn, Emerson. Bass is a fine-looking man. Is he single?”

“Very.”

“How did you two meet, again?”

“College. Sophomore year. We’ve been best friends ever since.”

“Marcus didn’t mind that you had that fine-ass man hanging around?”

I snort a laugh. “Marcus was happy that I had someone in my life besides him who I could trust.”

Bass comes back to the table without Jay and plops down in his chair.

“Where’s Jay?”

“Outside talking to Romeo,” he grumbles.

“Who’s Romeo?” Lisa asks.

“The quarterback.” He waves carelessly.

“Zach?”

“Yeah. That’s what I said.”

I laugh out loud. “Bass, are you jealous?”

He shrugs. “Yeah.”

Jay returns to the table and hands Bass her keys. She lifts her face to meet my gaze, and I notice her eyes are red and her face is flushed. “Zach’s gonna drive me home so we can talk. Will one of you bring my car home?”

“Have you been crying?” I ask.

---