Her eyes go big at me. “What! You haven’t lost that loving feeling?”
“Nope.”
“Don’t you feel the need for speed?”
“Already drive a Dodge Hellcat, so I’m good.”
“Wanna buzz the tower?” Maria hip bumps me as we start walking to catch up to the others.
I look down at her, “You’re a riot, Goose.”
“I have my special talents, Mav,” she says as she points her finger at me and pretends to cock it like she’s firing a gun.
“God, you’re corny as hell.”
“But I’m a hell of a lot of fun,” she says, patting my arm. I look to where Elizabeth and Jay are up ahead. Elizabeth is glancing back at us, a frown on her face.
“Come on,” Maria pulls my arm, “it’s my first time at one of these famous bonfire parties and I’m in the mood to try my first beer. You can be my DDB.”
“DDB?”
“Designated Drinking Buddy. Keep up,” she teases.
We make our way to where the rest of the gang is standing. Elizabeth pulls Maria away from me and I hear her ask Maria, “What is that all about?” before a guy I know from the Fields calls out to me.
“Hell yeah, you made it!” Fallon shouts. He and a few other guys from Highland High, whose names I don’t remember, approach and we do that weird guy handshake. “How the fuck are ya, man?”
“Can’t complain. You?”
“All’s good, all’s good.” I do a double take when I notice Jacinda hanging on Fallon’s side. He has his arm wrapped around her back under her armpit, his hand casually cupping her breast beneath the strap of her tank top. My gaze drops briefly to her chest where Fallon’s hand is squeezing, because, well, shit, I’m a guy. Jacinda notices and smiles at me.
Julien comes up to my side, cuffing my shoulder. “Hey, Fallon.” I guess he knows the other guys too because he says their names in greeting.
“Dude! Heard about what happened at the game. How’re you doing man?”
“A little sore, but better. Thanks for asking.”
“Yeah, I know Marshall. He’s a total douchebag. Heard he got a beat down from Elijah.”
“Wouldn’t know,” Julien replies.
Fallon grins. “Uh huh.” Elijah must have arrived sometime while we were talking because he’s standing next to Julien.
“Speak of the devil,” Fallon grins. “Heard you put a beat down on Marshall.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” is all Elijah says, but none of us miss the bandage he has around his right hand.
“Uh huh,” Fallon says again as Elijah and Julien leave, lost in their own conversation.Fallon and I make small talk for another five minutes, mostly about next week’s race at the Fields.
“You racing your ‘Cat next week, yeah?”
“Don’t think so. Dad and I are planning on installing a new fuel system upgrade, so I’ll more than likely be bringing the bike. You know me - I don’t care what I ride as long as I race.”
“Awesome, man.” Fallon looks over my shoulder. "I see kitten's here," he begins, but is interrupted when someone yells out his name. “Yeah! Hold on!” he yells back. “Catch you later, man.”
Jacinda looks back at me as Fallon drags her away. “See ya around, Ryder.”
Jayson is next to arrive, handing me a beer. “I would stay away from that one,” he warns, tipping his bottle up toward where Fallon and Jacinda are now standing with a group of guys. He takes a long pull from his bottle, guzzling over half of it.
