I nod, taking a sip. Steven eyes me carefully before drinking his lemonade. “How was class today?”
I shrug. “Same as always. How was your day?”
He nods. “Same as always, too.”
We exchange a silent understanding—no further words needed.
“Maggie and I were thinking you could all come by Speedy’s Pizza tonight since we’re all three on shift and hear Vincent play,” Will says.
Maggie rolls her eyes, setting her ignored cup of tea on the tray. “Me and Maggie? I didn’t say shit,” she retorts, rising from her chair.
Will hides a laugh behind his hand while Nova laughs openly. Steven only watches them with mild amusement.
“Where are you going now?” all three ask in chorus.
She snorts and stops in the doorway. “Mind your own fucking business! In the bathroom, anyway,” she mutters before slamming the door.
Will bursts out laughing, with Nova joining in. I munch on another chocolate chip cookie as I watch them, overwhelmed by a sudden wave familiarity. I haven’t had a real group of friends in years. I don’t know how much Maggie and Will want to include me, but they’re making the effort and maybe I should too.
Nova sips her lemonade. “Anyway, that’s a great idea.”
“What?” Steven and I ask at the same time.
She smiles, leaning back against his chest. “You all coming tonight to the restaurant. That would be so fun.”
Steven stiffens. “Babe, you know I—”
“Tomorrow’s closing day. You can sleep more. Please.” She turns and bats her eyes at him.
I know that expression. Steven White’s stubbornness doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to her, and, after a few seconds, he sighs and nods. “All right. I’m in.”
Nova beams and covers his face with kisses and I do what I do best—force a tired, nonchalant expression, almost apathetic.
Nova turns to Will, and they high-five. Then both turn to me, palms raised. I arch an eyebrow and, when I realize what they want from me, I sigh and high-five them too.
Nova hugs Steven. “Then we all go to my and Maggie’s house. We can—”
“Play Just Dance?” I finish the sentence for her.
She nods, scratching the tip of her nose upward. That’s when I notice a small green shamrock ring. “Yes. I still have the two CDs you gave me.”
I smile faintly. I’m glad she kept them—she was so happy when I gave them to her. “Aren’t they at least ten years old?”
“They have the best songs!” she retort and I raise my hands in surrender, grinning. “Okay, okay. You’re right.”
She arches an eyebrow. “You making fun of me?”
I giggle. “Me? Of you? Never.”
I go back to fiddling with her phone to change the song, but she gets ahead of me. “Put on Britney.”
I nod and, after findingWomanizeron her playlist, I press play.
“V, when’s the new room—” Steven’s interrupted by the doorbell that rings every time someone enters. We all turn to see who’s the new customer. I hope it’s Derek, but the one grinning at us is Sam, Nova’s friend.
I roll my eyes as he struts in almost in slow motion, perfectly in sync with the beat of the song. Everyone looks at him. I don’t know what’s about this boy that’s so magnetic, beyond being the son of two celebrities. Maybe it’s that he seems not to give a damn about anything.
Sam adjusts the leather jacket over his white shirt and, as he sits at our table without asking, he removes sunglasses that probably cost more than my dad’s car.
