Page 29 of Summer Shot
A pillow soars through the air, softly hitting my shoulder, breaking me out of my stress-induced trance.
“Earth to Laur!” Bren snaps at me. “Did you order the pizza?”
“I’ve been craving Tailgate’s buttery crust since I left,” Suz comments, licking her lips.
Calling from the stairs, Jaylinn confirms she’s already ordered. “Libby graciously offered to pick it up on her way over too!”
“Speaking of Libby . . . are you ready for some new tea, Suz? It’s piping hot.” Bren beams with bubbly delight, practically bouncing on the couch, eager to share.
“Let me grab the wine first!” Suz exclaims, clapping her hands, “God forbid we share any gossip without a drink in hand!”
Ding-dong.
Thunderous steps rush down the stairs as Jaylin shouts, “I got it!” while answering the door. The delicious smell of pizza fills the living room as Libby enters the house.
“Oh marvelous, she can spill her own tea,” Bren mutters, her guilty eyes meeting mine. She knows I loathe being involved in gossip. Do I like to hear it? Absolutely, what female doesn’t? I try not to share what’s not mine to tell, but apparently I have a big mouth today.
Wine glasses clink in Suz’s hands as she carries in two bottles of cheap red wine and three glasses, Jaylin behind her with plates and the other two glasses, followed by Libby with our dinner.
“I’m starved,” Suz proclaims, setting down the wine on the coffee table and immediately opening the giant pizza box as soon as Libby puts it down next to the wine.
“And thirsty apparently,” Jaylin remarks, opening one of the screw top bottles of wine. “Are you expecting more people than just the five of us?”
“Well, I didn’t want to have to move and miss the scandalous scoop of what’s going on with Libby,” Suz declares, wincing as she takes a bite of the still steaming pizza.
Through pursed lips, Libby asks what in the hell Suz is talking about.
Silence fills the room, no one willingly brave enough to break it. Without thinking, I hold my breath automatically, waiting for the drama to ensue as soon as a word is uttered.
“I didn’t tell her anything!” Guilt laces Bren’s voice. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve seen my cousin stay quiet this long my entire life.
Libby’s eyes narrow, harshly glaring at Bren as if trying to pull an admission out of her.
After guzzling her wine, Bren confesses, “I just told her there were some spicy rumors!”
With delight sparkling in her eye, Suz chimes in, “Spicy? You did not tell me anything about it being spicy. Now, I’m sure we need the third bottle of wine.”
Libby holds up her empty glass for Suz to fill, taking a big, sloppy sip and wiping the remnants of the shitty wine off her lips before lettingout a big sigh and starting to explain. “I guess I kind of have a thing with Blaine Mitchell.”
A tiny gasp rises from Suz. “Well good thing I didn’t just take a sip of wine.” She nervously laughs. “I would have spit it all over the cream-colored carpet.”
Bren narrows her eyes at Libby, questioning her, “What do you mean kind of? It’s a definite thing. I’ve seen it. Laur has too!”
My voice sharp and defensive, I cut in, “Don’t bring me into this. I’m just here to eat pizza, and spend time with my favorite people before another one of them leaves me.”
Jaylin, usually just a bystander in the Suz and Bren Gossip Brigade, joins in on questioning Libby. “You know he’s an asshole, right? I mean you have to know you’ve been around him.”
Libby releases a big sigh, as if the question alone exhausts her to her very core. “He can be, but he isn’t always.”
Ever the gossip, Bren interjects, “Actually Tyler has been more of one lately.”
Suz dramatically puts a hand to her heart, as if the shock of this news has wounded her. “Wait what? I leave campus for a few months and everything changes.”
Not ready to start thinking about Tyler’s antics again, I blurt out, “Blaine is less of a douche, Tyler is more of a douche. Ryder King is a hot commodity. Not everything has changed.”
Suz claps her hands enthusiastically, practically jumping off the couch to hear more. “Oh I was waiting for Ryder to come up! But now I’m more interested in hearing about Blaine.” Suz cocks her head at Libby. “Not to be rude, but . . .” Her lashes lower, her eyes becoming mere slits, as if trying to understand Libby’s soul. “Why Blaine?”
Bren inserts herself. “He still has a bad reputation, even if he has been less, “she pauses searching for the right word. “Blainethe last month or two.”
