“That’s right,” dad said. “You didn’t open it, you don’t drink it.”
“I don’t drink,” I replied, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “And you do this every time.”
“Eventually, you will,” he said gruffly, looking slightly green. “Don’t be stupid about it.”
“The boys are here,” my stepmom Rose called from the living room. “Oh, they look good, too. Daaaaang.”
“You look especially gross saying that with your huge belly,” Charlie pointed out as we hurried to the living room.
“You never look gross, baby,” my dad said, making me snort. “But it is kinda creepy.”
“They’re practically my nephews,” Rose said, waving him off.
“We’re not related to them,” I argued, occupying myself by grabbing my small purse off the back of the couch.
“Fine,” Rose said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “I’ve known them since they were babies, and even if I didn’t, I don’t go for high school boys.” She gave me a squeeze. “Better?”
“Can we just drop it?” I hissed.
“Consider it dropped—hey, guys,” she called out as my dad answered the door and stood in it, his arms crossed over his chest.
I resisted the urge to stomp my foot as he continued standing there, staring them down, like I hadn’t spent every weekend in their company since I was eleven years old.
“I know where you sleep,” he said ominously before taking a step to the side.
“Very well done,” Curtis said, nodding as he stepped past my dad.
“Agreed,” Draco mumbled, patting my dad on the shoulder. “Very scary. Intimidating, for sure.”
My dad laughed, but I was barely paying attention.
I knew that none of the boys could get into the dance without a coat and tie, but I hadn’t even been able to imagine the boys I’d grown up with fully decked out. Struggling to keep my mouth from dropping open, I took them in. They were in tuxes, and not the dorky kind that were all boxy and uncomfortable looking. These tuxes looked made for them. Slim fit and dear God, were they wearing cufflinks? Draco was wearing a black shirt and black tie under his black suit, and I’d normally think that it was a little overkill, but it wasn’t. It definitely wasn’t.
Curtis was wearing a white shirt under his matching black suit, but instead of a tie, he had an untied bowtie dangling around his neck and the top button of his shirt undone. I gulped.
“They said I had to wear a tie,” he said to me when he caught me staring. “They didn’t say how I had to wear it.”
He shot me a small grin and I cleared my throat, trying to find a single thing to say.
“You guys clean up good,” Charlie said. Even she was impressed. “Your mom shop for you?”
“Your mom did,” Draco shot back.
“That comeback would work if you weren’t talking about your grandma, idiot,” Charlie said, laughing at him.
“No, really,” Curtis said. “Gram took us. Mom said she wouldn’t go in a tux shop because they all smell like feet.”
“No curfew,” my dad said. “But you better check in every couple of hours and if I text you and don’t hear back within twenty minutes, I’m comin’ to find you and it won’t be pretty.”
“Got it,” I said.
“Ready, date?” Draco asked, bending his arm so I could take his elbow.
“Yep.”
“Wait, let me take a picture!” Rose said hurriedly. “Where’d I put my phone?”
“Here, baby,” my dad said, handing her his phone.
We posed for pictures in a line, with me and Charlie in the middle. and by the time we were finished, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling.
“Give Brody a kiss for me,” I said as we moved toward the front door.
“I will,” Rose replied.
“He’s takin’ his nap so late, he’ll probably still be awake when you get home,” my dad said dryly. “Be careful.”
“Always.” I smiled at him over my shoulder as I followed the group out of the house.
“Your chariot awaits,” Draco said dramatically as we reached the sidewalk outside.
“What the fuck?” Charlie asked, stopping abruptly as she caught sight of the souped-up muscle car.
“Finally finished it,” Curtis said excitedly. “It only took four years.”
“When?” I asked, pushing past Charlie so I could get a good look at it. The last time I’d seen the Chevelle in the boys’ garage, it had been in pieces. I had no idea how they’d kept it a secret that they’d finally finished it.
“Last week,” Draco said, running his hand over the hood. “Curt wanted to surprise you guys.”
“Nice surprise,” Charlie said, looking into the back seat. “You even got the upholstery done?”
“Yep. Found a guy willing to do it on trade,” Curtis answered, opening the passenger door.
“Shotgun,” I called first.
“Dammit,” Charlie griped. She huffed and puffed with annoyance as she climbed into the back seat.
“You know my legs are longer than yours,” Draco said, staring at me.
“You’ll survive,” I replied dryly, waving him toward the car.
Curtis continued holding the door open until I’d climbed in the front seat, then shut the door gently.
“I bet you’re wishing you guys worked on your bike first, huh?” Charlie joked to Draco.
“Nah,” he replied. “I don’t mind ridin’ around in this. Curt’s not ridin’ bitch on the back of my bike.”
We laughed as Curtis rounded the hood and climbed inside.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, glancing at me as he started the car.
“I said we’re not ridin’ double on my bike,” Draco said, leaning up to pat Curtis’s shoulder. “No matter how much I love ya.”
“I mean, if you got a sidecar, I’d be all over that shit,” Curtis joked.
“The idea has some merit,” Draco said, leaning back in his seat.
“If you put a sidecar on your bike, I’ll pay you a hundred dollars,” Charlie said seriously. “No joke. I’ll pay you.”
“Can you even find those anymore?” Curtis asked.
The conversation flowed around me and I sighed happily. We always had a good time when we were together, but it felt different somehow all dressed up in Curtis’ new car. Special or something.
“Where are we going for dinner?” Charlie asked as we made our way through town.
“McDonalds,” Draco answered.
At the same time Curtis said, “Taco Bell.”
“You better be freaking joking,” Charlie replied, leaning forward. “I’ll kill you.”
“We are,” Curtis said, glancing at her in the mirror. “We’re goin’ to that Italian place Kara loves.”
“We are?” I asked, my eyes widening. “Seriously?”
Curtis smiled at me. “Charlie’s a raccoon, she’ll eat anything—”
“Hey,” Charlie complained.
“But we knew you love this place.”