Page 36 of The Last Thing You Said

Hannah laughs. “You won’t quit, Lucille. You’re too loyal.”

Loyalty. My biggest flaw, apparently.

“You’ll get over it and so will she, whether you pick up Monday nights or not.”

It doesn’t feel like we’re getting over it.

“So . . . what else is new?” she says. “You see much of Simon the Renter?”

At this, my cheeks go warm, pink.

“Ha! I knew it! Spill.”

I tell her about our date to Cloud 9 and the night at the beach.

“You kissed him, didn’t you? I mean, how could you not? Cute boy, romantic night at the beach . . .”

I nod and am surprised to find that my lips turn up in a small smile. “Well, not really. He kissed my cheek.”

“Close enough! When are you going to see him again?”

“I’ve seen him. He’s right next door, remember?”

“No, I mean see him again. Like a date.”

I shrug.

“Lucille. What have you got to lose?”

When I don’t reply, she says in a soft, gentle voice, “You can’t lose what you don’t have, Lucy.”

She’s right. I know she’s right.

I would write that one in the Book of Quotes if I still had it.

Hannah claps her hands together once. “Oh! I just remembered! There’s a party at Guthrie’s tomorrow night and you’re going! And you should invite Simon the Renter!”

“Um, okay.” I don’t know enough about Simon to know if he’s the party type, especially with a bunch of people he doesn’t know. “I’ll ask him tomorrow.”

“No, Lucille. I mean right now! Text him right now!”

I do: Party tmrw nite. Wanna go?

I’m almost nervous for his reply, but I only have to wait a few seconds: Hell yes.

Hannah snatches the phone from me. “What did I tell you? You got this, Lucille.”

There’s a piece of me that feels brave and proud. Simon said yes.

20 · Ben

Friday night a bunch of us head out to Guthrie’s. His brother Eddie’s having a party. Dana brings her friends Gretchen and Kiersten along. I soon realize this is a huge mistake, because all that Dana’s friends are capable of doing is ripping on every single person at the party. And the more they drink, the cattier they get.

The more I drink, the more I want to get the hell away from them.

“Oh my God,” Gretchen says. “What are they doing here?”

I look over to see four people moving toward us, and one of them is Lucy.