Page 46 of Hypothetical Heart
“Jeez, could you not drool all over my bedroom floor?” she jokes.
The green T-shirt is off the hanger, perfectly conformed to Winnie’s perfect body, only falling just under her ribcage.
“I—” I’m trying to think of something to say that doesn’t make me sound like an idiot. “I’m surprised it still fits you.”
She looks down before turning around toward the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. She smooths her hands down the shirt, tugging down on the bottom hem.
“Better?” she asks.
“I’d rather your stomach be showing than your chest, but I also don’t have a say in the matter.” I’m not going to act like a controlling asshole. Winnie can do what she wants.
She pulls the top of the shirt back up, covering her chest and exposing her stomach all the way up to her ribs. “Better?”
I nod.
“Do you think these jeans look okay with it?” She asks. One thing I’ve learned about being friends with girls for so long is when they ask how they look, they want the truth.
“Yeah. You look good, Win.”
“Thanks.” She smiles, smoothing her hands back down her waist and into the back pocket of her jeans. “I’m ready to go if you are.”
I hand her my car keys as we walk down the stairs and out the door. She has agreed to be my designated driversince I’ve already started drinking and don’t plan on stopping soon enough to be sober by the end of the night.
It’s not the normal circumstances since I’m usually the one hosting parties, but since my parents are home this weekend, that wasn’t an option.
Winnie pulls my car into the subdivision where Briar Hart lives, parking a few houses down before we head toward the sound of blaring music and screaming high schoolers.
Eloise and Genevieve have both become good friends with Briar and since I found out about Eloise’s crush on her, I’ve noticed how she’s been coming around more often, which is why we all got invited to this party.
“Wait,” I say when I see Eloise’s car. Reaching into my glovebox, I grab the supplies I need.
The sight of me approaching our friend’s Porsche makes Winnie groan. “You’re still doing this?”
I scatter condoms all over the hood of Eloise’s car, laughing to myself as I use my teeth to uncap the dry-erase marker.
“Don’t you think this is the tiniest bit childish?” Winnie asks, taking a closer look at the condoms I’ve picked out. “Eggplants? Really?” She can’t help but laugh.
Eloise, our very out, very lesbian best friend, also finds the joke hilarious. Since freshman year, when she came out, every gift I’ve given her has had a handful of funny condoms thrown in the gift bag, and then she covered my car in lube.
Since then, I’ve dedicated my life to messing with her car every time I see it. I’ve gotten creative over the years, finding glow-in-the-dark condoms, flavored condoms, and all types of funny ones.
“Oh, it’s totally childish,” I admit, leaning over the windshield, writing my very thoughtful message:UR GONNANEED THESE.“But it’s also funny as fuck.” At this point, Eloise has grown to expect it, which only makes it harder for me to get away with. So, when I get the chance, I can’t not do it.
“Come on, Evie’s texting me asking where we are,” Winnie says, still laughing as she pulls me up the stone path toward the front of the house.
The sight of Briar’s house makes complete sense for a high school party. The marble floors are sticky with alcohol, and the entire downstairs is destroyed. At least Briar was smart enough to block the staircase off.
“Logan!” I hear Eloise from afar. “What the fuck are you drinking?” She and Genevieve stumble up to us, both entirely intoxicated and holding solo cups.
I hold up the jug I’ve been carrying around. “Vodka and Hawaiian Punch!”
They both grimace. “That’s fucking disgusting,” Eloise says.
“What can I say? I’m festive!”
“Where the fuck is Briar?” Genevieve suddenly says, looking down at her empty cup. “She needs to make me another drink.”
“She’s in the backyard, come on!” Eloise yells, motioning for us to follow her.
