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Scout was there, but he stayed with Cohen and Alex. Kira, Leanne, and Ciara floated between them. If they were hoping for some action, they were disappointed.
We hung out by the river and drank. The guys built a bonfire.
The girls took off around one in the morning, and after that, I let myself indulge in the booze. It felt good to shut everything off, even if it was just for a night, and I trusted who I was with. I didn’t quite remember the drive home, but I woke up the next morning in my aunt’s guest bedroom—the one in her she-shed.
Saturday had been hangover recovery day. We went for fast food, and I laid on my couch the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday was studying day for me.
I was all studied out.
My mom had been in and out, but it was her weekend to work, and she was still doing doubles. I cooked and cleaned and tried to help out, but I knew she was going to be dead on her feet tomorrow when she got home. We already had a plan to do movies in her bed. I couldn’t wait.
I remembered the crowd from Scout’s last fight, so I knew a bit more about how to dress.
I ended up with sneakers, my torn and faded leggings, a white tank top, and then a cropped little hoodie. The ends were ragged, matching my torn leggings, and it hung just under my breasts. My hair went back up in braids, and I wound them around my head. I considered the whole hoop earrings look, but in the end, I went basic—just left my face with natural makeup in earth tones and put two crystal rings on my fingers.
I wadded up some money, a credit card, and my ID and stuck everything into a zipped-up pocket, along with my lipstick and key. I’d keep my phone with me, but if I needed, there was room for that in the pocket too.
I had just gotten downstairs when car lights swept the house.
I headed out, locking the door behind me, and jogged over. It was a black Audi, the sports car version, and I didn’t know the guy driving.
Theresa waved from the front seat. She opened her window and called, “Back of me.”
I nodded, opening the door and sliding in. Another guy was in the backseat, and at the sight of me, he plastered himself against his door. “Well. Dayum, Theresa.” He gave me a once-over and a wicked grin. He held out a hand. “Malik. You’re Ramsay?”
I shook his hand.
Both guys were dressed in black T-shirts and black jeans. The guy driving had a smoky look on his face, his eyes a little lidded, like he wasn’t totally awake. I got the vibe he was very much awake.
Theresa leaned around her seat, popping a thumb in the driver’s direction. “This is Kunz, and you just met Malik.”
Malik had a very short crew-cut hair style with a fade on the sides. Bright dark eyes and high cheekbones. Kunz scared me. Malik made me want to smile. They were a full dichotomy.
“What up? I’m totally good with meeting you all over again.” He positioned himself facing me, leaning forward and resting his chin on his hands and blinking dramatically. “Ramsay, you say?”
“Malik, rest it,” Theresa told him. “The Maroney triplets are her cousins, and trust me when I say, they’re protective.”
He barely seemed to register what she’d said before leaning closer and lowering his voice, “Let’s pretend they’re not in the car with us. You and me, let’s get to know each other. Like a double date.”
“Malik!” Theresa leaned back to punch him on the shoulder. “I’m not kidding. I didn’t invite her out to get hit on by you the whole night.”
He leaned back, acknowledging her with a fake scowl as he smoothed his shirt where she’d hit him. “Excuse me. Why invite a woman, especially one this fine, if you’re not going to let me hit on her? That’s the whole point.”
She fought a grin. “Not tonight.” She gave me a rueful look. “Sorry about these two. They’ll calm down once we get to the fight. They’ll forget we even exist.”
Kunz had yet to say a word, but he was driving fast. I remembered Gem had told me Kunz drag raced, and as if feeling my gaze on him in the rearview mirror, he glanced up. He gave a small nod. “What’s up?”
Theresa’s head whipped to him when he spoke, and when she turned my way again, her smile was a little tight. “Gem was going to come with us, but since the fight is late, she needed to sneak out. Her mom caught her.”
“She’s in trouble?”
“It’ll be fine. She’ll be grounded for a night, but that’s about all my aunt has in her heart to do.” Her smile came back in full force. “I’m glad you came, and don’t worry about Malik. He’s a softie at heart.”
