“Why can’t you go with me?” Titus groaned.

“Do you want to ride over with Chris?” I pulled on a blue T-shirt.

Titus fell silent as he lay across my bed. For once, the boy had proper clothes and shoes on. He was even wearing jeans. Seeing him dressed up like a normal person for once was weird. 

“You could come with me?”

“I already told Chris that I needed a ride. He’s probably on his way right now.”

Titus rolled onto his back and dramatically threw his arms over his head. “You did a horrible job of thinking this through.”

“I thought I was meeting you there. But for some reason, here you are.” I peered over my shoulder. “That was the plan, remember?”

Titus rolled his eyes. “Whatever. 

“At least you didn’t have to climb through the window.” I sat on the chest at the end of my bed and pulled on my socks. “You would have ruined your fancy new outfit.”

He crawled to me and draped his arms over my shoulders. “I hate these clothes.”

“I know,” I laughed. “It’s weird to see you in them.”

“I’m not meant for this city living.”

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “You’re a country boy.” I stood and looked at myself in the mirror. “Sorry, but you’ll have to be civil for one night.”

“Never.”

“You sure are whiny tonight.” I ran my hand through my hair, trying to tame some of the waves.

Titus climbed off the bed and walked up behind me. “You look nice.”

I shrugged. “I look alright.”

Titus leaned down and nuzzled my ear. “You look better than alright.”

I smiled.

“Aden!”

I threw open the closet door and shoved Titus inside.

“Thanks a lot,” he muttered as I slammed it shut. 

“Aden.” The bedroom door opened, and Chris stepped inside. “Hey, I rang the doorbell, and no one answered.”

“Oh, sorry.” I grabbed my phone. “My parents went to dinner, and I didn’t hear it.”

“Is that new?” He took the phone from me.

“Yeah, I accidentally broke my other one.”

He smiled and tossed it back to me. “Nice.”

“Yeah.” I slipped it into my pocket.

“Let’s go.” He stopped and stared at the wooden animals lining my dresses. Chris glanced at me, and it said plenty. 

I snatched a shoebox off the ground. “Sorry, my mom was going through my things.” Holding it to the edge, I swiped the animals into it. 

Chris laughed. “You worried me there for a second. I know you’re bored, but I didn’t think it was that bad.”

Laughing along with him, I shook my head. The closet door creaked open. I ran over to it, shoved the box into Titus’s hands, and slammed it shut. “We better go.” 

He shrugged and walked into the hall. I was right behind him. At the bottom of the stairs, Demon ran over to Chris and pawed at his leg.

“You got a dog?”

I sighed. “My mother’s little monster.”

Chris laughed. “Still hate them?”

“All it does is bite and poop.” I opened the front door. 

Chris stepped outside while I kept Demon back with my foot. Titus was standing at the top of the stairs with his arms folded. I gave him a weak smile and a small wave before hurrying outside so the dog wouldn’t escape. 

We climbed into Chris’s truck, and he started the engine. 

“So, how’s your summer been so far?”

“Interesting,” I replied. “Very interesting.”

***

I elbowed my way through the crowd, trying to reach the couch. Chris had disappeared the moment we arrived. I kept looking for Titus, but he hadn’t shown up yet. 

“Hey, Aden.” Jack waved me over.

I took the spot beside him on the couch.

“How have you been?”

“Fine. I didn’t expect to see you here.” I glanced at the front door when I heard it open.

“Coach gave us a week off for the Fourth of July,” said Andrew, sitting across from us.

He repositioned his girlfriend on his lap. She giggled and whispered something in her ear. The smile that spread across his face was enough to know what she said. He grabbed her hand, and they disappeared into the crowd. 

“Are you looking for someone?” asked Jack.

“No.” I shook my head and stretched my neck to see around a group of people. 

“Are you sure?” laughed Jack.

“Yeah, I—I’m just wondering where Chris went.”

“He’s probably upstairs with Katy or playing beer pong in the other room.”

I sank into the couch. “Oh.”

A group of girls moved in, and I inched to the side. One quickly filled the space between Jack and me. 

“I’m going to get a drink.” I didn’t think Jack heard me, but it wasn’t like he’d miss me, either. 

I trudged to the kitchen. I had never been that popular with girls. They never swarmed me like my friends, but at the same time, it would have been annoying if they did. Sitting down at the bar, I laid my head on the counter. I wanted Titus to come already. Driving from my house to Chris’s didn't take this long. Maybe he was lost. 

I watched a couple of girls mix some drinks and return to the living room. Someone had turned the music up, and it was blaring into the kitchen. I was going to have a headache without even having a drink. 

Yelling and chanting came from the den. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a group of girls run off to see what was happening. I rose from my chair and followed them. My eyes widened when I rounded the corner and saw Titus and Chris sitting across from one another. 

Chris poured the shots. “Ever done this before?”

“Nope,” said Titus, staring at his opponent. He placed the glass to his lips and downed it. 

“It’s pretty simple, shot for shot, first one to bow out or puke loses.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Titus with a smirk.

I maneuvered my way through the crowd. Titus tipped a shot to me before downing it. 

“What are you doing?” I said under my breath.

Chris finished off his second glass. “You know this guy?”

Titus scooted over, and I sat on the couch.

“Yeah, I met him over the summer.”

“You should have warned him about my tolerance.” Chris threw back another.

Titus did the same. 

“You don’t have to do this,” I said in a hushed voice.

“He challenged me.” Titus grabbed another shot. “We had a little chat, and what better way to settle things than over a drink?”