“Elle?”
I spin, hiding the acorns behind my back. “Hmm?”
He frowns at me. “Were you... picking up something from the ground? Tell me one of these wankers isn’t leaving their trash everywhere?”
“Oh no!” I bite my lip and produce the acorns. “I just, um, saw these acorns and thought they were cute, so...”
Will’s frown deepens. “Cute?”
Whycouldn’t I have left the damned acorns on the ground like a regular person?!
He gestures at Charlie. “He thinks he has a concussion.”
“Do you want me to get some ice?”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
I run into the kitchen, making sure to pocket a few acorns when I’m farther away, and find Huan and Frank still there. They’re laughing at something on Huan’s phone. When Huan sees me, he sobers. “Trouble? What’d Dev do this time?”
“Knocked Charlie to the ground with a cricket ball.” I grab a towel and open the freezer. Forget about stuff being smaller in Europe. It’s twice as large as ours at home.
“Eh, don’t rush,” Frank says. “Charlie’s a wimp. He moaned for an hour once after he fell on the sidewalk outside a club.” But even as he says this, he reaches past me for an ice pack and hands it to me.
Sure enough, Charlie is still moaning when I get back out, Huan and Frank trailing behind. I hand the pack to Will and he smiles gratefully at me. Dev is still standing apart from everyone.
A couple other people start muttering. I glance around, panicky, and catch Huan’s eye. He’s sensing it as well. People are drunk, bored, and getting mutinous. The party needs a distraction before they turn on Dev—and Huan and me by association.
“All right, show’s over,” Frank calls from the kitchen door. “What we need is some music. Will, please tell me you have something good here. I can’t take any of your father’s eighties rock.”
“Music isn’t going to heal my eye,” Charlie complains. “I’msupposed to see Tara tomorrow.”
Huan takes a step forward, clears his throat loudly... and starts beatboxing. The yard goes silent. He begins slowly. His eyes rest on something above our heads and his cheeks blow in and out, his tongue flicking like he’s spitting at us. The rhythm changes and speeds up. Shivers run through me. The sounds he’s making shouldn’t be possible for humans.
Frank leans back in surprise. People holler and I join in. How can he get his mouth to move so quickly or make so many different shapes? Frank must be thinking the same thing because now he’s right beside Huan, staring at him with a mix of glee and adoration.
“Whoooo!” Dev screams.
Frank feigns swooning.
Aaaandtonight is officially awesome again.
When Huan finishes, he’s flushed, out of breath, and completely alight with happiness. I can’t hear myself think from the cheering. For a second Andy’s party pops into my head and a rush of gratitude fills me to be here right now instead of back home. I’m definitely posting photos of this party.
“Let’s get this chap a pint!” Frank yells, and pulls Huan back toward the kitchen. The entire crowd follows, including Charlie, who appears miffed at being forgotten so quickly.
“Leave it to Huan to save my ass again,” Dev says in my ear.
“Yeah, he’s basically the best part about knowing you.”
“Don’t I know it.” He puts his hand out and produces a handful of the acorns I was admiring before. “I saw you before. I don’t know why you’d want these, but to each their own.” He tips them into my hand and shrugs at my surprised expression.
I stare down at them and then back at him. “I... um...”
“Sorry I almost torpedoed your big party.” His eyes catch something in the distance and he nods at the nuts. “Incoming.”
I shove the acorns into my skirt pocket moments before Will is at my side. When I look up, Dev is already weaving through the crowd toward Huan.
Will’s fingers entwine with mine and all other thoughts leave my brain. “I didn’t know you were bringing entertainment as well as beauty to the party,” he whispers in my ear.
