Chapter Three
Back at the twins’ place, Blake and I worked together to prepare the fire pit in the dark.
We had initially planned to leave the lake much sooner, but Blake, ever the mischief-maker, decided it would be hilarious to scare his sister out of her wits by leaping from the ledge into the blackness.
As Beck anxiously paced back and forth, calling out his name in a mixture of annoyance and concern, I tried to calm her nerves, insisting it was probably just another one of his infamous pranks.
During this, that asshole had quietly crept up behind us.
My instinct kicked in, and without thinking, I threw a punch that caught him square on the lip.
He knows me well enough to know I don’t do well with surprises.
However, the bruise blooming on his mouth made it more amusing to me when he nonchalantly claimed it was worth it to see the stunned expression on Beck’s face when he pulled off his scare.
He is always full of surprises. What I also thought was going to be a night with just the three of us, he didn’t think to tell me he had invited a few people from high school, including his latest crush, Andrea.
Beck was also unaware of it. The only thing that kept me from losing my temper was the thought of Blake having to explain his busted lip to Andrea.
I genuinely looked forward to witnessing that awkward conversation.
After we get the fire going well, Blake sprints into the garage, coming back with a clear bottle in his hand.
“Alright, dude, it’s time for a birthday shot.
” He gently shoves the bottle into my hand, Tito’s vodka bottle that has about a fifth left.
I shake my head, giving the bottle back.
Drinking has never been something I was fond of.
I think witnessing the damage it did to my father made me want to stay clear of it.
And maybe sometimes I wondered, since I was a piece of him, that I would one day turn into the monster he was.
Beck eventually joins us by the fire, still wearing her same clothes over her bathing suit. She glances at the bottle in Blake’s hand, quickly snatching it. “Where did you get this?” She cuts her eyes at him.
He nonchalantly shrugs his shoulders before responding, “It’s from Dad’s secret stash in the garage fridge.”
She rolls her eyes, shoving the bottle into his chest. “Try not to drink it all.”
He gives her a devilish grin, gripping the bottle in one hand. He then dramatically places his other hand over his heart. “I would never do such a thing, dear sister. Ez and I were about to take a shot together.”
She glances at me, pressing her lips into a fine line. I run my hand through my hair, letting out a sigh. Blake squints at me as he pops the cap off the vodka. “Dude, it’s one fucking shot, just live a little.”
Beck’s eyes stay on me, waiting for my response.
“You don’t have to, if you don’t want to, Ez,” she mumbles calmly.
She knows how I feel about alcohol. But after thinking for a moment, I realize I might be overthinking it more than I should.
One shot won’t hurt anything; maybe it’ll even calm my nerves a little before the others arrive.
“Fuck it, one shot. But only if Beck takes one with us.” I playfully nudge her arm with mine.
She swirls her tongue around the inside of her cheek, glancing back and forth between us, then snatches the bottle from Blake as she turns to me. “Of course, but you first, birthday boy.”
I grab the bottle, clutching it tightly. Without thinking, I turn it up and press it against my lips. The cool liquid flows down my throat, instantly warming me from the inside out.
“Damn, dude, I said a shot, not three in one gulp.”
I shrug and hand the bottle to Blake. Both twins take a generous gulp from it and immediately break into song, singing me Happy Birthday. What would I do without these two?
Andrea and her cousin Tristan arrive shortly afterward.
Andrea’s friend, Macey, had been planning to come, but something came up, which was fine with me.
Andrea is in the same grade as me, and had second period with me in 9th grade before I was pulled out for homeschooling.
Tristan was a junior then. I never really spoke to him or cared to.
He was big into sports and, honestly, had a cocky mentality.
It’s been years since I last saw him, and from what Blake has told me, he hasn’t changed a bit.
I think Blake has only put up with him because he’s Andrea’s cousin, and they seem to spend a lot of time together.
I watch as they walk up, waiting for Andrea to notice Blake’s lip.
I look over to Beck, seeing if she’s paying attention.
Sure enough, she is eyeing them both with her arms crossed.
Blake gives Andrea a gentle kiss, wincing a little as he does.
She pulls back, looking at him to see what’s wrong.
Her eyes immediately go to his lip, and her mouth drops.
“Blake Evans! What happened to your freaking lip? Wait—are you wearing concealer?” I stifle a laugh at her question.
“Dude, did you dig in my makeup?” Beck chimes in with annoyance in her tone.
He shrugs his shoulders, carelessly running his hands through his short hair.
“Listen, I may or may not have pranked the two of them. And in return, startled Ezra so badly that he started flailing his arms like a damn walrus and clipped me in the lip. It’s unfortunate, really.
” He nonchalantly picks at his nails. Beck and I shake our heads while Andrea rolls her eyes, unable to hide her smile and knowing Blake’s full of shit.
We all eventually gather around the fire pit. I watch Blake and Tristan compete to see who can shotgun a Coors Light the fastest. Andrea sits directly across from me, while Beck is on my right.
Andrea clears her throat. “So, how have you been, Ezra?” she asks. I look over at her through the smoke.
“I’m doing all right.” She clicks her fingernails on the side of her beer can. “So, do you still have—”
Tristan cuts her off, sluggishly plopping down between her and Beck. “Yeah, man, you still having those uh—panic attacks and shit?”
My lips press into a fine line as I make eye contact with him. “They are manageable now.” I give my best fake grin. I catch Beck adjusting in her seat from the corner of my eye. Tristan gives a dramatic nod before throwing back another beer and crushing the can.
“It must be weird as fuck being around people, considering you’re homeschooled, huh?” A slight smirk pulls at his mouth.
I roll my shoulders to ease the tension. “Again, manageable.”
I watch Tristan’s mouth quickly open to give me another snarky comment, but Blake cuts him off as he leans behind Andrea with his arms around her shoulders.
“Well, guys, Andrea and I are planning to make it official soon, and waiting until after her graduation next year before going all the way.” Andrea rolls her eyes while slapping him lightly on the arm.
We all let out a joking laugh, knowing that they’ve already done the deed many times.
Tristan exaggerates a cough. “Oh, speaking of. So, Beck.” Everyone goes quiet, wondering where he’s going with this.
I glance at her as she stiffens in her chair.
She turns and looks at Tristan, chewing on the inside of her lip.
He takes a sip of his freshly opened beer, then glares at her.
“So, how was it?” he croons. Beck keeps her focus on him, looking unbothered. “How was what?”
He takes another gulp, then wipes his mouth with the back of his forearm.
“How was it losing your virginity the weekend after graduation?” Blake unintentionally spits beer from his mouth.
I look over at Beck without turning my head.
I can see the embarrassment in her expression.
My heart pounds. Without thinking, I reach down and grab the Tito’s vodka from the ground, popping the cap and taking a huge gulp.
She graduated a couple of months ago, and I had no idea this ever happened.
Beck watches me before crossing her arms and looking back in his direction.
“I don’t think it really matters, or even concerns you, Tristan.
” He lets out a low laugh, throwing one of his hands up.
“No, no, you are right. Plus, I’ve heard enough of it from Davis.
He’s made sure to express just how tight your—” Everything goes blurry around me.
One minute, I’m sitting; the next, I’m across the fire pit, grabbing Tristan’s shirt and pulling him up from his seat.
He may be a few years older than me and have a bulkier build, but that means nothing when it comes to height. We now stand eye to eye.
I hear Blake beside me, patting me on the shoulder, but I block him out as I focus on the douchebag in front of me.
I let out a long breath through my nose.
“Beck’s personal life doesn’t concern you, and never fucking will.
” I can feel the vodka pumping through me, causing heat to radiate from my face.
Tristan throws his hands up and gives a fake laugh. “Whoa, man, I’m just fucking around.”
I shove him a little before releasing his shirt.
I form fists on either side of me, digging my fingernails into my palms in an attempt to calm my racing heart.
I turn to Beck to check on her and find she is wiping at her clothes.
I then notice a huge wet spot on the bottom of her shirt and all over her shorts.
I look down and see Tristan’s beer on the ground beside her chair.
I must have knocked it out of his hand when grabbing him, causing it to dump on Beck’s lap without realizing.