“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Lane. We’ve always spent today at my place—”
“If you don’t want to come, that’s your call.”
I stalk over to the door and listen as he grabs his jacket and keys.
“I’m driving,” he calls out behind me.
“Nope. I need to drive. You can take over when I’m too drunk to talk.”
“Still a terrible idea.”
Carter isn’t happy, but he perks up after a quick call to make sure Becca meets us there. The streets are packed when I pull up outside the house, and as soon as we step through the front door, my friends lunge for me.
“Laney!” Lewis squeals, faking a high voice. “You made it!”
“We were about to start drinking—you got here just in time!” Donovan shakes my shoulder.
I push my way through the crowd, winking at girls as I go. Any one of them will do, but I need to get a few drinks in me first.
Don fills our hands with cups, and we head off to get settled in a corner of the living room. I barely have time to sit myself down when the blond chick from the grocery store jumps into my lap, giggling.
“I’m so happy you made it!” she screeches in my ear.
I’m desperate for my first gulp, but just as I’m about to bring it to my lips, the girl waves at her friends, knocking my elbow and sending the whole thing tumbling to the floor.
“Whoops, sorry!”
“Get off me,” I say, tipping her out of my lap.
“I’ll go get you a new one.”
“Yeah, you do that.”
I take a deep breath in and tap my foot while I wait. Once she gets back and tries to drape herself over me, I flap her away without really knowing why.
“Later,” I say firmly when she tries to sit on my lap again.
I finally get a gulp of whiskey—just in time for something worse to show up.
Lewis waves. “Hey, Kirky!”
“Where’s Lois?” he slurs.
This asshole sure doesn’t waste any time. I swallow hard. If there’s one thing guaranteed to ruin my night, it’s standing square in front of me.
“What’s it to you?” I take a fresh swig.
“She still holed up with you?” Kirk asks.
My jaw clenches. I breathe out through my nose, tightening my grip on my cup. I can feel my friends’ eyes on me. Not one of them has mentioned the anniversary of my brother’s death. They don’t need to—they all know what today means.
“Get lost, Kirk,” Donovan calls out. “Trust me, dude, now’s not a good time.”
Kirk isn’t taking the warning shot seriously.
He dead-eyes me. “Where is she? I need to talk to her.”
“How would I know? It’s a free country.” I raise the cup to my lips.
