Page 51 of Flowers To Give

“Right,” Yana looks to the side, readjusting her weight, “Yeah, he came cuz, you know, the whole Clark kissing you thing. Didn’t think it was wise to have you two alone drinking at a party.”

“What! He told you that?” Jeremy balks.

Eneki is right with him, shocked and saying, “Clark kissed you? I knew something was going on between you two.”

Yana shrugs, “Yeah, he told me all about that surfer guy too.”

“No, honey, get this,” Eneki leans in, touching her shoulder, “The surfer was actually the director of the movie, Rezai!”

Yana gasps, “You had sex with the Rezai? I love his work! Oh my god, is he here? Could you introduce me?”

“Look, I cannot run into Barry tonight. Clark will lose his goddamn mind if he sees us together,” Jeremy tells them both very seriously.

“Oh, you’re worried about Clark?” Clarice scrunches her face at him, “What about Barry, huh? Have you thought about how he feels?”

“Who is Barry?” Eneki insistently asks again.

Ryan pokes his head into the triangle and says, “Hey! I’m back!”

He hands a drink to his husband and sips his own refilled cocktail, Eneki telling him, “You’re just in time. Yana, Clarice, this is my husband, Ryan.”

“Charmed,” Ryan holds out his hand palm side down.

Yana smiles and delicately shakes his fingertips, “Hi.”

“Apparently there’s this new guy named Barry, and get this, Clark and Jeremy have kissed,” Eneki brings him up to speed before Jeremy can stop him.

Ryan’s jaw drops and he loudly whispers, “I knew it!”

“Mhm,” Eneki takes a sip from his new cocktail and turns back to Yana, asking, “So who is this Barry?”

Jeremy jumps in, “He’s just a friend.”

Yana slaps Jeremy on the arm and says, “How dare you! Is that really all you think of him? After all you put him through?”

“Ooh, no he didn’t,” Ryan sips at his cocktail.

“Fine,” Jeremy huffs, pushing Yana’s arm back and telling Eneki and Ryan the truth, “He’s this ranch hand here that I sometimes, you know…”

“Booty call,” Ryan supplies.

Jeremy shrugs, “Yeah, basically.”

“Ugh. That is so degrading,” Clarice rolls her eyes.

“Oh, by the way,” Ryan leans in, gesticulating emphatically while he speaks, “So, get this! Merle and Clark’s argument got broken up by Laurelai! She pulled Clark aside and they got into their own thing. Merle’s been walking around, probably looking for you, Jeremy. But I followed Clark and Laurelai, they got caught up with this guy and girl! I bet you anything they’re planning to swing tonight.”

“What makes you say that?” Eneki questions him.

Ryan shrugs and says over the rim of his fluted glass, “They were getting really comfortable with the other couple is all I’m sayin’.”

“I don’t think so,” Jeremy shakes his head, “Clark’s just naturally flirtatious. But he gets really jealous, I can’t see him sharing Laurelai.”

“You never know at these sorts of parties, Jeremy,” Eneki adds, “Lots of things can happen that you wouldn’t typically expect.”

“You don’t say,” Jeremy mutters, finishing the rest of his beer. He starts to step away from the group, saying, “Thanks for your help y’all, but I think it’s time I cleaned up my mess.”

“Try to stay inside if you don’t want to see Barry,” Yana suggests, “I think he was looking for you out here.”