Chloe sways a little, giggling ridiculously.
“Luke, we”—Chloe reaches for her friend and yanks on her arm, pulling her closer—“want you guys to come have drinks with us. We’re going…” She looks around for the next spot. “Over there! That’s a fun place to go, right? C’mon!” She reaches for me, grabbing my hand.
I shake off her grip, stepping backward out of reach. “Ah, damn. Wish we could,” I say, looking at Josh desperately.
“Yeah. Oh man, wish we could but, uh…” Shit, I know that look. Josh is plotting. “Well, you see, Luke ate some bad food?—”
“I’m just not feeling great, so I think we’re going to head home.”
“But—” She reaches for me again. I take another step back, as discreetly I can.
“Look, let me be frank with you.” Josh pinches the bridge of his nose, then claps me on the shoulder.
Chloe looks at Josh, eyes wide and childishly curious. I’m curious too. What’s he up to?
“He’s got the shits, okay? He’s embarrassed, and that’s fine. We all get embarrassed about this stuff, but if I don’t get him home ASAP—” He raises his eyebrows, his head tilting in my direction. “Lord knows I don’t need him crapping himself in my truck. He’s got no control over it.” Josh’s hands gesture toward me and back toward the direction of home.
I raise my eyebrows. He’s got to be kidding me.
Chloe and her friend swing their gazes toward me. Is that a hint of disgust there?
Wait, is Josh a genius?
My hand finds my stomach and rubs back and forth.
“Yeah, I-I should get home.”
“We’ll see you around, though. Have fun!” Josh gives a wave and starts to walk. I take that as my cue to follow.
“Well, I can certainly take you home and make sure you’re feeling okay.” Chloe reaches out and snags my hand like the piranha that she is. Relentless. She is absolutely relentless.
“I think tonight is for Luke and the porcelain throne, Chloe, but super kind of you. C’mon, man, let’s go before you have an accident.” Josh pats me on the shoulder with a stupid grin on his face.
All I can do is sigh and follow, walking away from Chloe and her over-dramatic pout.
Once we’re out of earshot, I glance back to where the girls stood a few minutes ago to find they’re gone now. Good. Putting all my weight into it, I shove Josh as hard as I can in the shoulder, catching him off guard.
“The shits?Seriously?”
“It worked, didn’t it?” He laughs.
“Whatever, man. You’re a jackass.”
Josh snickers, earning himself another good shove.
Thirty-Four
WELCOME TO LOVER’S LAKE
Liv
Rachel: I’m still reeling from our win over Joanie’s team last night.
Viv: I told ya I wouldn’t let you all down.
Me: Except Rachel came in clutch with The Nanny. I really think that might have won it for us.
Viv: K, but I carried the team.
