“Huh? Oh, uh, no.”
“Whyyy?” She pouts. “It’ll be fun, and it’s not like you have anything better to do.”
“Gee, thanks.” I grab my phone and lock the screen, trying to avoid her pleading eyes.
“You know what I mean. They’re nice guys. Not to mention hot. You can lie to yourself all you want, but I’ve seenthe way you look at Penn.” She points at my phone, knowing I don’t stalk guys on social media. “You’re crushing.”
“Pft, I’m not. And why do I need to go? Isn’t it a date?”
“Not really, just two friends hanging out and hopefully hooking up after.”
I stare at her, and a slow smile spreads across her face.
“A double date is much less…serious,” she says. “Can’t have him thinking I want to make him my boyfriend.” She laughs lightly, but it almost sounds forced.
“Okay, I’m not even going to pretend I understand that, but still, no.”
“Come on, Liv! It’ll be fun.”
“Fun? How about dramatic? Every time we’ve hung out with them, something happened.” My poor heart cannot take any more palpitations. It seems to go into overdrive when Penn is around, though I can’t deny the butterflies that seem to come out, too. Actually, I can deny them.
“That’s not true. The first time was perfectly fine, and the second wasn’t their fault. Those guys were freaks. The night at Travis’s was totally chill and fun.”
She’s got me there. I was surprised at how laid back it was. I’d expected the band’s after-party to be a rager. Full of naked girls dancing on tables, drugs, and sex. Lots of sex.
I turn away and stare at the stack of yarn on my shelf, itching to get up and do something with my hands.
“What aren’t you telling me? Penn put the moves on you when I left you two alone? Do I need to scratch his eyeballs out, or did you like it?”
“No. It wasn’t me,” I mumble.
“Babe, I’m so confused. Help me out here.”
I sigh, facing her. “Before they went on—the first show—when you were in the bathroom…” I swallow, embarrassed to say it. It makes me feel like a creep. “I saw Penn. He was with a girl.”
Her brows pinch together. “Okay? He doesn’t have a girlfriend. I checked.”
“Well, she looked pretty cozy with him when she dropped to her knees right there outside the bathroom!”
Ellie’s mouth falls open, then her head tips back, and she howls. “You caught him getting blowed?” She wheezes, unable to control her laughter. “Oh, fuck, that’s rich. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner!”
“It was embarrassing!”
She waves me off. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Is he packing? Is that why you’re nervous? Or was it a teeny weeny?” She puts her thumb and pointer finger up, leaving a small space.
My face flushes, and I cover it with my hands. “I didn’t see it!”
“Right, because someone was swallowing it.” She snorts, barely able to get the words out as she laughs hysterically.
“Jesus.” I shake my head, but she only cackles harder, falling back on my bed, kicking her feet. I fiddle with my blanket, twirling it between my fingers until she finally stops to catch her breath.
“Liv, it’s not a big deal. I’ve walked into worse at a frat party.”
“Yes, but did you stay and watch?”
