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Sulli tries to h “No, Banks—Winona wouldn’t let this ers into one of our houses She’s not Eliot or Tom And not all her friends look this douchey!” She pauses “But they do shit gold bricks”
Akara smiles but fixes his earpiece cord quickly “We also didn’t think Nona would skinny-dip in Italy after a dare”
“That was different,” Sulli defends
“She’s a teenager,” I onna fuck up”
“Not like this” We all unbuckle
Out of the car, Sulli winds Orion’s leash around her hand, better grip so she’s not losing the Newfie Skeletal tulip trees line the driveway, and the three of us, plus a puppy, take lengthy, urgent strides up the pavement
Our breath sers step to the side as we bulldoze forward I recognize sohborhood Others aren’t that familiar
In the nut-freezing cold, Akara asks one teen, “You here for a party?”
“Who’s asking?” He hides his bottle of scotch in his jacket
I whisper to Akara, “You’re the old fart”
“Says the oldest one here,” Akara smiles
Twenty-nine and still kicking Ooh-rah
The good news about raines has sent me on cloud nine—I have another year with Sulli and Akara, longer, hopefully forever—but I fall back to earth the second we reach the mansion Frozen fountain in thethe front door
It’s closed
Probably locked
All these kids are hiking their ass over a six-foot hedge Their friends boost the into the backyard
These aren’t guests
They’re party-crashers
Sulli lets out a worried breath “Winona”
And we run
Blood ringing inbeneath me
“Get outta here!” I yell “GO HOME!”
“COPS ARE COMING!” Akara shouts at the top of his lungs, and the teens loitering around the fountain suddenly shriek and scatter
Sulli outruns us, but I catapult e first With one sweep, we’ve entered wealthy teenage debauchery
Jesus, Mary, fuck
Top charting songs blast through outdoor speakers Crushed beer cans scatter the patio Sloppy teens splash in the heated pool and cackle (not looking to see if they’re clothed) Liquor bottles and white powder line an outdoor bar, and hter fluid
Winona
Kinney
Audrey
Vada
Ben
Is Xander here?
Pulse pounding, I try to take inventory of the youngest kids in the faht now