Page 121 of Forever

“What? No.” Rob shook his head and looked even more grossed out as he stared down at the contents of the glass. Why did Nigel always respond to that question that way? He definitely skeeted in his secret green juice.

“Maybe let’s wait on the juice,” Mason said and patted Jacob’s shoulder.

Jacob shrugged.

“I thought your green juice was for hangovers?” I asked.

“I have a variety of recipes. Drink up boys and I’ll call the strippers. Wait.” His shoulders slumped. “No strippers. But I did already pay for them. So I guess I just get them all after the party ends. All 14 of them.” He smiled. “That’s 28 boobies to rate. So many strippers for me.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell my mommy,” Jacob said.

“Good lad.” Nigel nodded at him.

I pressed my lips together. I wasn’t sure we were teaching Jacob the best things here.

Mason must have seen my face because he grabbed Jacob’s hand. “How about some water instead, kid?”

“Yessie.”

They walked off to the water table.

“Speaking of water, we should probably hit the baths,” Nigel said. “It’s almost time for the kidnapping.”

I looked down at my watch. He was right. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked. “After everything?”

“That’s what makes it more thrilling,” Rob said. “And you know girls give the best head when their hearts are racing.”

“Yeah, but…”

“It’s theonething you let me plan. Let me have this,” Rob said.

I laughed. He was right. About the kidnapping thing. Not the overall plan. I’d been planning this for weeks. And it was time to kidnap my girl.

Chapter 28

Friday

Brooklyn

“They were all basically the same as they are now,” I said.

“You have to give us more than that.” Daphne took another sip of her champagne. “Seriously, what were the four of them like back then? I need all the details.”

“Honestly? Kinda mean until they let us into their circle,” Kennedy said.

Penny shook her head. “I feel like I’m picturing them as little gangsters. Probably because of the name the Untouchables.”

I laughed. “In a lot of ways they were. Except the mobsters were in my family, not theirs.”

Daphne nodded. “But like…what were theylike?”

I laughed again. “I don’t know. They were…” I let my voice trail off. Kennedy was right. They had been kind of mean. But there was a lot more to it than that. I’d gotten to know them better than she had. I could so easily picture them back in high school. James trying to forget his pain by drinking and smoking too much. Mason having the weight of the world on his shoulders. Rob masking his issues with jokes. And Matt. I remembered thinking he was the only one who truly knew how to smile. But I was wrong. He was hiding pain too. “They were all a little…sad,” I said. And I’d made Matt so much sadder. I pressed my lips together.

Penny put her hand to her chest. “I’m just picturing baby James all sad now.”

“TeenageJames,” I said with a laugh.

“But baby James is such a better name for little James.”

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