Page 106 of Stealing for Keeps
I pick up Lacey on my way to Austin’s house. She comes out of her house carrying a massive bundle of balloons that look like they could carry her away in a breeze. She opens the back door and then tries to wrangle them into the back seat.
“What is that?” I ask when she finally manages to force them in the car and gets up front with me. “I can’t even see out the back window.”
“I couldn’t decide what to get him. I wanted to get condoms, but you said his family was going to be there, so I thought that might be awkward.”
“And it wouldn’t be awkward for me?”
“I was doing it for you.” She beams.
“We’ve got it covered. And since when are you in favor of sleeping with high school guys?”
“I’m still not, but if you’re going to keep having sex with him, I need to make sure you’re being safe. Do you need to borrow my book on the female body?”
A laugh escapes from my lips, but my stomach does a funny flip, thinking about that night with Austin.
When we get to the birthday boy’s house, the guys are out back. Some are playing cornhole, others Ping-Pong, and everyone else is sitting around the firepit to keep warm.
When Austin spots me, he tosses his last remaining bag and then heads for me. He hesitates like he was going to hug me, then does, letting go too quickly. He hugs Lacey too.
“You guys made it.” His smile stretches across his face.
“Happy birthday,” Lacey says. “I left your present inside.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” he says.
“I know, but I’m just that kind of girl, Disco.”
“Here.” I hold up the little gift bag with the present I got him.
With a grin, he digs into the bag around the tissue paper and pulls out the disco ball key chain. He palms it, smile widening. “I love it. Thank you.”
“Austin!” his dad yells, beckoning him back to the game.
“Your dad’s here,” I say as his presence finally clicks. Austin said he wasn’t going to make it.
“Yeah.” Austin looks happier than I’ve seen him look in a while. “He surprised me. Staying through the weekend.”
“That’s great.”
His dad and the other guys playing cornhole call for him again. “I’ll catch up with you guys later. There’s pizza and cake inside, stuff for s’mores over on the table, and drinks in the cooler.”
After he runs off, Lacey looks at me. “They really do have a whole Disney family vibe going on here, don’t they? Are you sure they aren’t all secretly serial killers?”
I feel a hint of defensiveness creep in. “They’re just one of those rare families who all get along.”
“Weird,” she says. Her voice drops. “I wonder what that’s like.”
“I think it’s nice.” I turn and walk over to the cooler. I grab a sparkling water for myself and Lacey. Torrance and a girl I don’t recognize are sitting around the firepit roasting marshmallows.
I start toward them.
“Is that his sister?” Lacey whispers the question.
Torrance has on way more makeup than normal, and both she and her friend are in tight dresses and heels like they’re going to a dance or something instead of sittingoutside at a family-friendly birthday party. And the girl with her…as we get closer, I finally recognize her. It’s Sophie, dressed up like I’ve never seen her before.
“Hey, Torrance,” I say as I take a seat across from her. I smile at the girl next to her. “Hi, Sophie.”
Lacey lifts a hand in a wave.
