Lane smiles. “Notice how many groupies Don has? They were always asking him for rides. It started as a joke about how we would charge them, and it all started from there. We realized SHU is one of the biggest campuses in America, and that having a cab service would be an amazing idea. We spent months working on it, and Campus Drivers launched last fall.”
“Is the money good?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s cool. It was a good idea.”
He seems surprised by the compliment, and I almost tell him not to get used to it.
Once we’re done stocking up on booze, we spend an hour getting the apartment ready. Lane shoves the couch back against the far wall and rearranges the living room, while I stack the cups. It takes me a few tries to get it right, and by the time I’m done, I never want to see a cup again.
“Is that what you’re wearing, Heartbreak?”
I glance down. “Umm, yes?”
“So you don’t plan on making an effort for my birthday?”
“Get over yourself.”
Like I said: He’s had enough niceness for one day.
I’M SO RELIEVED TO SEEBecca here, short pink dress and all—finally, a familiar face.
“You look incredible.”
“You look… like you did earlier.” She pouts. “You need to come over for a makeover sometime.”
I laugh, handing her an empty cup. “Yeah, let’s do that! What are you drinking?”
“Vodka?”
“Give me one sec.”
The apartment is filling up fast, and it turns out, I don’t mind making sure everyone has enough to drink. Keeps me busy.
I chat with Adam, trying my best to dodge Lewis and Carter. Lane is nice and charming to everyone except me. Standard.
“Lois!” he barks. “How about those cups?”
I shoot him a withering smile. He just loves to see me squirm, doesn’t he? I head over to the pyramid I stacked earlier, and I already know this is going to be a toughie. Gripping the edges of the tray, I shuffle my way back across the room, congratulating myself on making it this far as I near the coffee table, almost forgetting my recent unlucky streak.
“Carter!” Adam shouts over from the couch. “Your sister’s here!”
I turn to glance over at the front door just as Lane is slamming it shut. A couple are making their way into the apartment, and I freeze. A leggy brunette, with a guy I would unfortunately recognize anywhere. Gravity kicks in, the tray tilting to one side, and I watch as my perfect pyramid collapses to the ground. There’s a voice that sounds a lot like Lane cussing, but I can’t focus on anything other than the horror movie playing out in front of me.
“Happy birthday, Lane.” The brunette flashes him a smile. She hasn’t so much as glanced my way.
He leans over and kisses her cheek. “Thanks, Ju. Not working tonight?”
“Yeah, shift starts in an hour. We’re just stopping by for a quick one.”
The guy she’s with rests his palm on the small of her back.
“Make yourself at home, dude,” Lane says, holding out a hand.
“Hey,” the guy says. “I’m Kirk.”
That unlucky streak I mentioned? It just keeps on giving.
