No one saw the bombshell coming from Benito. We were hanging out in Riva’s bedroom, that’s what we do.
“Let’s do something special on Thursday Night. Carl dropped off the Killer-X last night,” Riva said.
“I think we should invite some guests,” Benito said.
“Are you crazy? Mother Fucker. We can’t bring people in on this. Don’t be a jackoff,” Kayla said vehemently.
“Well, we can’t go on forever. It’ll all be different next semester, you’ll see,” Jonas defended.
“Guests are not part of the agreement,” Tegan said.
“I think we need to at least break the pentogomy for the summer. Go back to playing tennis like everybody else, this shit is too complicated,” Jonas suggested.
After some awkward silence, “Who do you propose we should invite?” Riva probed.
“Well, we are three couples. I say each couple could invite one guest. If they want to, that is,” Benito said.
“I don’t want to invite anyone,” Jonas said.
“What about my friend, Brea? ‘You should invite Brea over for a swim,’ Just to watch us in our bikinis from the shower window. I know you want her,” Riva said to Jonas.
“If Brea is down with it… hell yes,” Jonas exclaimed, then scanning the rest of the room for expressions.
“So you want her bad, do you,” Riva said leaning in for what would have been a sloppy-wet kiss. Benito snapped them out of their shared Brea-lust.
“I was thinking Jocelyn. She’s greek, but she’s cool. She likes to party. And, she has been wanting to do something with me before school’s out,” Benito said.
“Yeah, you guys have spent a lot of time together,” Kayla said with a curious face.
“I like Joss, but I don’t like this,” Tegan said.
“Me neither,” I said.
“What if they agree to being blindfolded?” Benito suggested to Tegan. No one said anything so he continued, “Like a surprise or something…” indicating Riva.
Tegan jumps up, pushing me off the bed to the carpeted floor in front of the couch. “You son-of-a-fucking-bitch!” Tegan stomps out to the living room.
“Jack. You did not tell our sex stories, did you?” Riva asked as she stood over me. “That is part of the agreement. No one shares stories. Either you were there or you weren’t.”
“I’m sorry, he asked how it all started. What was I supposed to do?” I said. I made myself comfortable on the floor, it’s where I belonged, cast out beyond the reach of our paradise island we call a bed.
“It was a really great story. I think we all should hear it. I especially want to hear Tegan’s point of view,” Benito suggested.
Riva pushes Benito off the couch on top of me. “Maybe as a group. You guys know better,” Riva said. Riva follows Tegan. I try to get up with Benito on top of me to follow the girls, but Jonas leans off the bed and stops me anyway. “Riva told me the story. About the birthday present,” Jonas confided.
“Sweet story,” Benito said with excitement.
“So, I’m the only one that hasn’t heard it?” Kayla asked. “Feels like… What the fuck is that about,” she said as she pushes Jonas off the bed on top of both of us, following the other girls to the living room. She paused at the door, “Fuck-tards,” she said with a massive stutter. I’ve never seen her all pissyfaced and I missed this chance.
Three boys lie there, dog piled and confused. No one seemed interested in pursuing the girls at this point. Out of sight, out of mind. The drone of, Florida’s own, a Con Dolore song soothed us.
“What the hell is a fuck-tard?” Jonas wheezed.
We had been canned like sardines. It should have been an awkward moment; boys don’t tend to enjoy other boys invading their personal space. We were peaceful and reflective. Sure, we were remorseful, but we would endeavor to maintain the act of confusion. I finally spoke:
“So tell me about Brea…” I said.
