Unfortunately,itsreputationforsuspiciousactivity and servingunderagestudents
finallycaughtupwithit,andthere’snosignsofitreopening.
SoeventhoughHenrythinksmyjudgmentisseriouslyflawed,thealternativeis
hangingaroundMapleHills,unemployed,beinghoundedbymymomtovisither.
Itwasaveryeasychoice.
“WhatI’mhearing,Hen,isyoustilldon’twanttocomewithme?”Itease.
“It’sstillano.Thanks.Butifyouneedafakeemergencytobeabletoleave,letme
know.I’llmakeacall.”
JJleansclosertoHenry from besidehimonthecouch,nudginghimwithhis
shoulder.“Theonlyemergencyyou’regoingtohaveforthenexttwoyears,Captain,
isdrowningintoomuchp—”
“JJ!”Stassiesqueaks,cuttinghimoff.
“Getyourmindoutofthegutter,”hechastises,“Iwasgoingtosaypaint.”
Stassie rolls her eyes at him, giving him the finger as he blows her a kiss.
Loweringherhand,shefocusesonme,asoftsmileonherlips.“You’llhavefun,
ignoreHenry.We’llmissyouaroundherethough.”
“Youdon’tevenlivehereanymore,”Mattiesays,eyebrowraised.
“You’ve never lived here!” she counters, starting off an argument about who
spendsmoretimeatthishouse.
AsgratefulasIamtohaveajobthissummer,itdoeskindofsucktobeheading
off when I’ve only just moved in with Henry and Robbie. Plus, our unofficial
roommates Mattie, Bobby and Kris, who magically appear whenever food is
mentioned.
It’sweirdhavingmyownroomaftertwoyearsofsharinginthefraternityhouse,
andbeforethatwithmybrotherEthan,butI’malreadysomuchhappierhere.
AsidefromtheobviousthingslikehavingmyownspaceandlivingwithpeopleI
like,itfeelsgoodtonothavetostrategicallyplanwhenIcanjerkoffor,onrare
occasions,getlaid.Henryhadthecourtesytoletmeknowthataftersixmonthsof
livingnexttoNateandStassie,hecanconfirmwithabsolutecertaintythattheroomis
notsoundproof.
“Areyoutwogoingtoargueallafternoonorshouldwegetreadyforthisparty?”
RobbieshoutsoverStassieandMattiebickering.
Tonight we’re throwing a party to say goodbye to the guys graduating, or a
“farewellandfuckoff”party,asRobbiecallsit.He’sstayingatMapleHillsforgrad
schoolandishappytoretainhistitleaspartyplanner.
Thatsaid,noonelooksparticularlyenthusiasticaboutpreparingthehouseforthe
hordeofMapleHillsstudentsdescendingonusinafewhours.Iknowitfeelslikethe
endofanerafortheguys;fouryearsisalongtimetospendeverydaywithsomeone.
ForNateandRobbie,it’sevenlonger;theyhaven’teverlivedindifferenttowns,
neverminddifferentcountries.
Forme,itfeelslikethestartofone.Ijoinedafraternityatthestartofschool
becauseIwantedafamilywhowouldn’tletmedownlikemyrealonedoes.Ithought
myfratbrotherswouldbetherethroughthegoodandthebad,thatI’dfinallyhave
peopleIcouldrelyon,butitdidn’thappen.IsensedI’dmadeamistakefreshman
year,butIperseveredthinkingit’dtakeawhiletofeellikefamily.IknewI’dmadea
mistakewhenalltheshithappenedwiththerinkatthestartoftheyearandtheonly
peoplewhowerethereformeareinthisroom.