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I slowly panned my gaze back to my friends. “Huh?”
Michael snickered. “You going to suck the life out of that milkshake?”
I looked down and saw I had drained it. And not only had I drained it, but my empty suction had pulled in the sides of my plastic cup. And holy fuck, my head hurt. I grimaced as I set it back down on the table. Michael chuckled as Allison reached out for my hand. Clint wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close, kissing my temple and trying to warm the skin around my face that had chilled so suddenly.
Holy fuck, I didn't think that brain freeze would ever end.
“You okay?”
Clint’s murmur almost brought tears to my eyes. Because, no. I wasn’t okay. I hadn’t been okay for months. I hadn’t been okay since he’d announced that he wasn’t applying to college. I hadn’t been okay since he told me he wasn’t sure where he wanted to live after graduation. I hadn’t been okay since he told me he was struggling to get a job and somehow didn’t have the money to move with me. Like, where the fuck had all his money gone? He had way more than me to sell off. Why the hell didn’t he have any money?
Probably for the same reason you don’t have much, either.
I sighed as the brain freeze finally released me. I leaned against Clint, closing my eyes and soaking him in. Sometimes his embrace felt empty. But it didn’t right now. I soaked it up and committed it to memory for all those times his embrace and his arms and his kisses did feel empty. I mean, relationships went through down points, right? This wouldn't last forever, right?
This wouldn't do us in.
Right?
“You okay, gorgeous?”
I sighed as Clint kissed the top of my head.
“I mean, I’d be better if I knew how we were getting into these parties.”
Michael clapped his hands. “That’s the spirit!”
Allison groaned. “You three are relentless.”
I snickered. “Oh, come on. You know you enjoy parties, too. Remember the one after graduation?”
She laughed. “The one where you got so drunk that we had to haul you home in the back seat with a bag in front of your face?”
I pointed my finger at her. “Hey, now. Mixing liquors isn’t a good thing. I wasn’t drunk.”
Clint paused. “She’s actually got a point there. Mixing liquors like that is the devil.”
Michael threw his head back. “THE DEVIL!”
And when they burst out laughing again, I rolled my eyes.
“You guys have too many inside jokes,” Allison said.
Michael smiled. “Now you know how Clint and I feel whenever we’re around you two.”
My jaw dropped open. “Hey. Hey, now. We don’t have nearly that many inside jokes.”
Clint nodded. “She’s right, you know. We have more because we’re more awesome.”
The guys high-fived as Allison giggled.
“Oh, and don’t you guys worry about those parties,” Clint said with pride in his voice.
“With someone as devilishly handsome as me in your posse, you’re bound to get in.”
4
Clinton
