Page 79 of Running With Lions

Ten feet away, Grey clears her throat.

“Um, my friends,” Sebastian jerks his head to where Grey is waving like a crazed Nick Jonas fan, “would like you to join us.”

Emir pales.

Reality sinks in. Sebastian’s heart does a trip-skip-flatline. “Hey,” he says, fingers catching Emir’s elbow, “It’ll be fine, okay? They’re harmless.”

Emir’s mouth twists skeptically.

“Okay, Mason is a bit much. But Willie and Grey are cool. And—” Sebastian pauses, aware his next few words will be too gooey-pathetic. “I’d love it if you came over.”

10cc is singing about not being in love over the speakers as Emir whispers, “Okay.”

“Okay,” Sebastian repeats. He might be brain-dead. His fingers skim the meat of Emir’s palm. He almost grabs Emir’s hand.

“Thanks,” says Emir. He takes their ice creams from Barb. His eyebrows silently direct Sebastian to lead the way.

Sebastian does, fingers tingling the entire time.

“Shah, you walk amongst the living.” Mason greets them with spread arms and a teasing grin.

Eyes lowered, Emir stands close to Sebastian. Sebastian sneaks a hand behind him and rubs circles into the small of Emir’s back.

Willie eyes them. “Welcome to the pits of hell, Emir.”

Sebastian says, “Better known as the geeks of the team,” as his friends shuffle and squeeze to make space on the bench for them.

“Speak for yourself!” cries Mason. “I’m the top of the food chain around here.”

Grey sighs. “Face it, you’re a bottom-dweller now that you hang with me.”

Mason mocks her, sticking his tongue out. She chucks rainbow sprinkles in his hair. Willie hefts his legs up; the backs of his knees cross Grey’s lap and his Vans rest on Mason’s thighs, while Mason and Grey bicker.

Sebastian considers disowning all of them.

But then Emir says, “Well, I obviously bring the group’s loser level up five points for having better hair than Riley.” Grey nearly spills her ice cream giggling.

Squinting, Mason points his spoon at Emir. He grins. “You can stay. I like you.”

Emir relaxes against Sebastian’s side.

Well, it’s decided then. This isn’t the worst idea Grey’s come up with.

It’s a hard fit, five teens stuffing their faces with ice cream on one bench, but they make it work, mostly. It takes some Cirque du Soleil maneuvers, with Willie spread out in Grey’s lap and Sebastian smooshed in the middle, Emir’s thigh pressed tightly to his, but Sebastian’s not complaining.

He’s overwhelmed with laughter.

It’s Willie’s fault. For a half hour, he’s been telling grand tales of their adventures, each more embarrassing than the last. Sebastian could do without remembering that time he drank too many wine coolers and took a dare to do keepie-uppies naked. But Grey’s face is streaked with fat tears. Mason is choking. Emir is guffawing, his face pressed to Sebastian’s shoulder. Sebastian can deal.

Mason and Willie argue over their respective teams. Willie stalks FC Dallas and Mason has had a man-crush on Beckham since puberty, so things get heated quickly.

“You’re both wrong,” Grey says. “It’s all about Kansas City.”

Willie scoffs at her. “Who made you the authority?”

Grey says, like a badass, “I justam.”

“Shut up,” Mason says, no heat in his voice. He nudges her, and she quickly turns pink. Mason rolls his eyes when he notices.

---