Page 94 of Still Here Without You

“What the fuck, Joel?”

“That better have been a guess.”

They both yell at the same time—Dylan with the swearing, Summer still hoping I wouldn’t do that to them.Oops, guess they haven’t seen this one before. I smile with a shrug and close my eyes. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“Jerk,” Summer says, but I know she’s smiling.

Dylan, however, doesn’t see the funny side. “I don’t think I like this new attitude. You look happy but also a little deranged.”

“I just got my first tattoo.”

Summer hits pause on the movie and jumps off the couch. “Ooh, let me see, let me see.”

Her excitement has Dylan frowning, and I can’t help but stir the pot. “Do you like a guy with tats, Sum? It’s in an intimate area, but I’d be happy to—”

“Keep talking, and I’ll kick your ass,” Dylan interrupts with a sour look on his face, but I think he’s joking.I think.

“I’m kidding. Here.” I lift up my shirt to show them. “It’s covered at the moment, but you can sort of see the outline.”

“Kind of; I can’t wait to get a better look. And to answer your question…Dylan getting a tattoo wouldn’t change how much I love him.”

“Ugh! When did you become so sappy?” My face scrunches with disgust.

“When I discovered it annoys you.” She grins as Dylan laughs.

“Are you coming to the Ball House tonight? They’re having their annualunofficialfundraiser,” Dylan asks, changing the subject. Summer’s eyes flash to his, like he’s said the wrong thing, and I want to laugh at the fact that he might be in the doghouse.

“I thought you were going out?” she asks me with a strange look.

“Where would I be going?” I’m confused. I don’t usually make plans for Saturday nights. I sort of just see where the night takes me.

“Your parents' place for dinner?”Shit!

“Totally forgot about that. I need a PA. That’s okay; I can swap them to tomorrow night.”

“Isn’t tonight their anniversary?”I really need to stop sharing so much information with this woman.

“It is, but they never actually invited me to come. I invited myself. They’ll be thrilled to have the alone time. Count me in, Dylan,” I say, looking his way. “But I’m not doing anything crazy to raise money this time. I still have a sore neck from the Slip ‘N Slide at that frat party last semester.”

“Boo hoo,” Dylan jokes, picking up the remote to start the movie again. Conversation over.

“What time do we leave?” I ask, ignoring his remark and prolonging the time before he can press play.

“Seven,” he grunts.

“Perfect. What should I wear?”

“Wear whatever the hell you want. Just shut up or fuck off so we can finish watching the movie you ruined.”

I laugh as I jump up and walk off down the hall.

We’re on our way to the Ball House when I suddenly remember seeing Lainey.

“Oh, Summer, guess who I ran into today? I wouldn’t have brought her up, not wanting to rehash bad memories, but she said you two have texted.”

Dylan’s brows furrow as he looks between Summer in the passenger seat and me in the rearview mirror. Summer, on the other hand, lights up with glee.

“Oh, Lainey. Wow, I should really catch up with her. I still haven’t properly thanked her for what she did. I’m surprised you remembered her, though.”

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