He points toward Toni and Mags. They are pressed together and making out like crazy right in the middle of the dance floor. The other dancers notice too, and stop to watch them go at it. Cisco and Lola chant, “Kiss, kiss, kiss.” The others join in, and the chanting gets louder and louder.
Latica whimpers and runs up the stairs. No one notices; they just chant and egg on Toni and Mags.
I start to go after Latica, but Paul puts his hand on my shoulder. “No, stay here. I’ll go. Latica and I have been friends the longest. I know what to say to her.” Paul runs up the stairs after her. I feel bad for Latica. Everyone else is having such a nice time.
The chanting stops when Mags and Toni finally pull apart and disappear upstairs holding hands. As the dancing resumes, PJ, Hector, and Jamal head my way. PJ takes the spot where Latica was a few moments ago and clasps my hand. He is sweaty and breathing heavily—so sexy! Hector leans in and pulls me and PJ into a group hug.
“We’re heading out now, guys,” Hector says. “It was very sweet of you to invite us to your party. We both had a terrific time and enjoyed meeting your friends. I know it’s early, but we have three other parties to make appearances at. I’m sure you understand.”
I extend my hand to Jamal. “It was so great to finally meet you and put a face to the voice I hear in the background when I call Hector for late-night advice.”
“You know Hector thinks the world of you and looks at you like another brother.” Jamal shakes my hand again, then pulls me in for a hug. “You are part of our circle now, and we take care of our own.”
Hector motions me aside under the stairs, so I follow him. “Put out your hand.”
I do, and he drops several condoms and two trial-size bottles of lube in my hand.
“You know, just in case.” He winks. “It’s better to be prepared. I like PJ a lot, and I am sure he is a stand-up guy, but if he doesn’t want to use a condom, you say no. It’s okay to say no about anything you are not comfortable with. You feel me, mi amigo?”
“I do.” I give him another hug and thank him again.
Hector and Jamal disappear upstairs leaving me standing there with a handful of condoms and lube. I look at my remaining friends downstairs; everyone is dancing. Frankie catches my eye and motions me to join them. I shake my head, and mouth: not a dancer. Frankie shrugs and goes back to dancing with Cisco.
PJ’s eyes meet mine. “What do you have there, stud?”
“Ugh, don’t call me that. I’m hardly a stud. I’m more like a pale, Jewish…what did Mags call me?”
“You are a stud to me.”
“Come on, really?”
“Really! Want to go upstairs? I asked Paul earlier, and he said we could use his bedroom for some alone time. Apparently, he laid out towels in each bedroom in anticipation of hookups happening during the party.”
“That is so Paul! So, is this it? Is this the night?”
“Do you want it to be? Let’s see how things go.”
“Okay.” I stuff the condoms and lube in my pocket and take his hand as he leads me to Paul’s bedroom. Paul and Latica are sitting together on the living room couch. Latica looks like she has been crying.
Paul looks up at us. “Geez, not you guys too. All right, go ahead. The third door on the left is my room. Don’t go in the first door, Mags and Toni are in there doing God knows what. The other door is Janice’s room. Please stay out of there.”
He turns back to Latica as we head down the hallway.
“Look what has happened to my life, Latica. I’ve become the matchmaker for the entire high school’s LGBTQIA+ community. And now, I’m pimping out rooms for sex. This was not part of my life’s plan.”
I catch a small smile sneak across Latica’s face as we disappear into Paul’s room and close the door.
As soon as the door clicks shut, PJ pulls off his shirt and throws it onto the bed. He kisses me, pushing me back against the bedroom door.
Oh my God! This is it! Here we go. Here. We. Go.
37
Ringing in the New Year
“On a scale of one to ten, how disappointed are you?”
“Simon, please. I’ve told you already, it’s okay. I understand.”
