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I might’ve had a couple of White Claws. So I’m buzzin’.
“We almost didn’t show,” Carson admits with an embarrassed smile. “These two didn’t want to come.” He jerks his thumb toward his friends standing behind him.
“What are your names?” I ask them, swaying a little bit on my feet. I need to keep my stuff together. Not act like a drunken fool.
“I’m Jonah,” one of them says.
“Danny,” says the other.
“Jonah and Danny, don’t crush your friend’s spirit,” I tell them, wagging my finger in their direction. “Let’s go find drinks for you guys.”
I lead them into the throng of people crowding the living room, making our way to the kitchen where all the alcohol is. Once we’re in there, the crowd lightens up a bit, and I find Tony sitting at the counter on a barstool, Hayden standing in between his spread legs with her arms around his neck.
“You two are cozy,” I say with a sly smile.
Hayden checks out the three dudes following me. “Hey, Snow White. Who are your friends?”
I laugh. “Carson, Jonah and Danny.”
They smile uncomfortably and nod toward Tony and Hayden. I can tell they’re not the partying type. Kind of nerdy.
Kind of adorable. Especially Carson.
“Let’s get you guys some beer,” I tell them. “You want cans? Or there’s a keg out back.”
“It’s almost out,” Tony says. “Give them cans.”
I dole out the beers and they all say thank you like the polite boys their mamas raised. I spot Caleb in the far corner of the kitchen, leaning against the sliding glass door and talking intently to Baylee. She’s waving her arms every once in a while, like she’s mad at him, and I wonder what they’re up to.
They’ve been off and on since high school. I once predicted they’d get married, but I don’t know…
Gracie bursts into the kitchen from the patio, leading a tall, pale, blond guy by the hand. She sends a disgusted glance in Caleb and Baylee’s direction before she spots me. “E-dog!”
I frown. “E-dog?”
“Just go with it,” Hayden whispers as Gracie drags her blond boy with her toward us.
“You look so good,” she says, crushing me in a hug and whispering in my ear at the same time. “Which one is yours?”
“Gracie, this is Carson,” I tell her once she’s released me. She crushes him in a hug too. “And his friends, Jonah and Danny.”
“Well, aren’t you two cute as a button,” Gracie drawls to the friends, who both turn red cheeked. She swivels her head in my direction. “This is Franz.”
“Franz. I’ve heard so much about you,” I tell him as he reaches out his hand and I shake it.
“Nice to meet you, E-dog,” he says with the utmost sincerity in his German accent, making me laugh.
“It’s Ellie,” I correct.
We chat and drink, and the conversation flows easily. Franz is nice. Quiet. Polite. So are Jonah and Danny. A couple of girls I don’t recognize stop to talk to our group, the two of them sidling up to the boys and engaging them in more one-on-one conversation.
“Looks like they’ve made friends,” I tell Carson.
“Good. They were both so reluctant to come with me,” he says, rolling his eyes. “They’re both total homebodies.”
“Are you a homebody?” I ask him.
“Yeah, kind of,” he admits, sounding bashful. “But I really wanted to see you tonight. Couldn’t believe you invited me to your party.”
