“Maybe you two should consider getting a room.”
Collins’ quick burst of breath lands on my neck as he chuckles.
“Come on, before he gets his panties in a wad.” He grabs my hand under the water and we start swimming back toward the ladder.
CHAPTER 12
johnnie
THEN
Loud music bellowsout into the cool summer night air when I step out from the backseat of Campbell’s old blue Trailblazer. He drove us here, Crandall’s in the passenger seat, and Collins and I share the back. I’m probably pushing my luck, sneaking out at night so much, but between Nan’s drinking habits and lack of good hearing, it’s just too tempting.
I had just helped her to bed and settled down in my room when a knock at my window led me to this party in the next town over with the Combs brothers. My insides are bursting with nervous excitement.
As we head up to the front doors of this house Collins has his arm slung around my shoulders and he bends down to whisper in my ear. “There’s going to be a lot of drunk guys here, John. Make sure you stay close to me, and if you feel uncomfortable at any point, just let me know.”
Apparently, some college roommates the twins know are throwing a party. They go to a local campus on the lake and share an old farmhouse just outside the city limits. The old brown plaid furniture trimmed in wood sitting on the large front porch is a dead giveaway that we’re entering the epitome of college bachelor life.
Collins swings the front door open, the twins behind us, and the pungent smell of beer and cigarettes hits me in the face. There are people shoulder to shoulder. The sound of slurred words and laughter swirl around the spacious living area, and my eyes are drawn to the kitchen where a girl in nothing but shorts and a bra is being held upside down by two guys feeding a hose to her mouth, while simultaneously pumping a keg at their feet. Collins notices where my attention is and squeezes a shoulder.
“Have you ever done a keg stand?” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Um, definitely not.” Suddenly, I’m feeling completely out of place and under-experienced compared to everyone around me.
Collins laughs and removes his arm from around my shoulders, grabbing my hand and leading me forward. We’ve never touched like this in front of anyone other than his brothers, and even then, it’s not been much. It’s a foreign feeling, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t also thrilling.
Collins walks up to one of the guys filling Solo cups and reaches for one. He turns back to me. “Do you want a beer, Johnnie?”
I really don’t know if I want one or not. Sure, Bea and I used to sneak her stepdads old Milwaukee’s every now and then, but I’ve never even been close to drunk. I do want to look like I fit in though, so I give him a nod.
Collins hands me a beer and we make our way out onto the back patio where a game of beer pong is taking place. Even in the summer heat, I’m more comfortable out here. Collins sits downon a green plastic chair and tugs me down onto his lap. Sipping the drink in my hand—that, quite frankly, tastes like warm pee—all thoughts evade me when I feel his hand on my hip, thumb brushing up and under the hem of my shirt, making my breath hitch.
Out of nowhere, a screech comes from the sliding glass doors that lead from the kitchen out to the patio. A girl stands in the doorway wearing a bikini top and a towel wrapped around her waist. Her hair is damp and slight smudges of black paint her eyelids. She clearly has been in the hot tub in the corner of the patio.
“Oh my god! Collins!” She starts stumbling our way, and I’m suddenly hating the shift in energy.
“Hey, Steph.” Collins’ voice sounds indifferent as he takes a drink from his cup and eyes the bikini-clad blonde hovering over us now.
“And who is this? I’ve never seen you around here, babe. Did you get lost on your way to the playground?”
I can smell the liquor on her breath and my blood instantly starts to boil.
“Steph, knock it off. This is Johnnie. Johnnie, this is Steph. We’ve been friends since we were kids.” Collins grips my hip a little tighter.
Steph tilts her head back and lets out an obnoxious laugh.
“Yeah, friends. Is that what we are, Collins?”
I can feel his muscles tighten beneath me.
“Yeah. We’re friends, Steph. Excuse us, we were about to take a walk.” He starts to stand so I get up too, and Steph leans against the back side of the house, peering at Collins over the top of the cup she so clearly needs to put down.
“Come on, Johnnie.” He grabs my hand again and pulls me toward the backyard, irritation radiating off him.
“Something tells me that girl is not just your friend. Care to explain?”
Collins doesn’t answer me, just quickens his steps, continuing to pull me along until we reach a small pond at the very back of the yard, just before grass turns into knee-high corn stalks.
