Page 72 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
“What?” Even as I turned to see what was happening, Jeremy tugged me back against his stomach.
Julian swung at the guy from New Jersey, hitting him square in the mouth. Barrett, nearby, jumped back, his beer spilling all over his scratchy shirt.
The kid reared back and then lunged at Julian, both of them going down onto the sand. “Stay back,” Jeremy yelled to me then rushed to assist his twin. Phoenix arrived at the scene, and seconds later, I couldn’t see anything because everyone had circled around the fight. They were like animals, calling for more violence, howling for blood, while my heart thudded in my throat.
I tried to push my way through the crowd to find them.Is Julian okay?Why did he hit that kid?
Jeremy appeared again, hauling his brother out of the circle and back toward me. “Dude, what the fuck? I have never seen you hit anyone before.”
“I didn’t fucking like how he spoke about Alatheia, okay? I didn’t like it, and then he said something about you stealing the girl from Barrett, so I just fucking lost it.”
Julian was shaking and as he turned to face me, then pulled me into a hug. His body seemed to vibrate, his breaths still wheezing out of him. I hugged him as he shook.
Aloud, I said, “Don’t ever hit anyone because of me, okay? You could get hurt or in trouble.”
He laughed. “I can’t get in trouble. I have born immunity.”
“I doubt that’s true.”
Phoenix joined us, patting Julian on the back before he threw back his head to laugh heartily. “Jules, the peacemaker, takes a swing. I love it.” He shook his head, and I noticed the vacant, bleary look of drugs in his gaze. “I said let’s get wild and you did.”
White clouds of smoke pooled upward as Barrett, who apparently had acquired a bucket, doused the bonfire with water. “Everyone home. Now. Go be stupid somewhere else.”
Jeremy hugged Julian and me to him at the same time. Some of Julian’s shakes were slowing down, becoming more like trembles. “Good job, Julian. Sometimes assholes just need to get punched in the face, but we’ll have to work on your swing.” He was quiet for a second. “What did he say? Because if it’s bad enough to make you punch him, he is really going to hate what I’ll do.”
“He said if she was going to fuck both of you, then maybe he should take a turn with her, too.” Julian met my gaze. “He doesn’t get to talk about you that way. Not you. Not ever.”
I sighed then shrugged. “I was dancing with both Jeremy and Barrett. It was bound to get some attention. I mean, you might all be okay with sharing me, the three of you, or whatever you’re doing, but it isn’t normal. I don’t think it is, at least, and maybe I shouldn’t do it.”
“No,” they spoke in unison. Around us, the crowd started to dissipate, and somebody cut the music.
“Three of them?” Phoenix knocked into my shoulder, nudging me. “There are four of us.”
Really?I blushed, but I said, “You have never expressed romantic interest in spending time with me.”
“Well …” He kissed me square on the lips, his mouth a slash of fire across my own. “I’m expressing it now. Does everyone see? I kissed you, and if anyone mentions it, they’re going to wish they didn’t.”
No one seemed to be looking at us, since almost everyone was moving away. Barrett shook his head, staring at us. “I wish you’d let me hit him.”
My lips tingled from Phoenix’s kiss. I tried to make sense of any of it, but somehow I managed to end the bonfire and get kissed.
How had that worked?
I was still pretty sure I should leave the next day. I’m a stray. I didn’t want to be held responsible for screwing up the lives of the wanted family pets, even if all the stray dog was doing was dancing.Maybe I overthought the metaphor.
I just didn’t know anything anymore.
We all sataround a table on the patio on the side of their grandmother’s house. My phone died, but I would bet it was around two in the morning. Beer bottles littered the table. Phoenix didn’t drink but he was wasted on something just the same. I was the only truly sober one among us.
Julian looked like he might faceplant on the beer-covered table any second. I rubbed my arms, the chill of the beautiful night finally starting to get to me.
I loved the sound of the ocean in the distance, though, so I wasn’t in a hurry to go inside. The gentle pulsing roar calmed me, making it easier to breathe, it seemed.
I got to my feet, still rubbing my arms. “Come on. It’s time for bed, I think.” A blush stained my cheeks, since part of me recognized how unbelievable it was for me to think I could give them orders.
Jeremy nodded, gesturing with his thumb at the house. “We’re all staying with you. Hope that’s okay?” He lifted his eyebrows in a Jeremy- style challenge, as if daring me to tell them to go away or to cede and give him what he wanted—a sleepover in my room.
Like I would tell all the hot guysnotto come to my room. “Come on, then. I don’t want to wake your granny, so try not to sound like a parade of monkeys going through the house.”
