Page 6 of Always Love You More
“Can’t,” I answer.
He jumps down from the wall, landing in front of me. “Why not?”
“I’ve got stuff to do.”
His eyes light up like he’s in on a secret, as if everyone doesn’t already know. “What about after?”
“Don’t think so,” I say, my voice harder this time.
He kicks the rocks at his feet, and I know what’s coming.
“We were just hoping you might bring some weed.”
And there it is.
I roll my neck. “You got money?”
“Oh, come on, man; we’re friends,” he says, throwing his hands out in front of him.
“The shit’s not free.”
“But, I mean, we just heard—”
The glare on my face has him swallowing the end of the sentence.
His eyes drift over my head, and I follow them, finding Billy coming up behind me.
“Hey,” he says with that easy smirk he always has plastered on his face.
He must have ditched the blonde.
Mason’s shoulders relax as he turns his efforts toward Billy. “Been seeing you around with Madison Sanders. She’s hot, man.” When Billy doesn’t answer, he keeps going. “We’re allgoing to the park tonight. You should come. Ask Madison if she wants to come, too.”
Billy turns to me, and the look I give him lets him know I’m not going.
“Maybe,” he answers.
“Cool, cool.” Mason nods just as Dylan jumps down next to him.
Out of everyone, Dylan’s probably who I get along with the best. He doesn’t talk much, and when he does, it isn’t annoying.
“I finally got the garage cleaned out,” he tells Billy, “so we can start using it after school.”
“Hell yeah,” Billy shoots back.
They’ve been wanting to get a band together for months.
“I talked to Rowan, he’s in.” Dylan tips his head toward Mason, “He’s in, too, so I think we’re good.” Glancing over at me, he asks, “Sure you don’t wanna join?”
“Yeah, no, thanks. I can’t play anything for shit.”
His lips twitch, trying to keep a straight face. “We could put you on triangle. Something easy like that.”
Billy bursts out laughing. “Imagine him holding a triangle and hitting it with the little stick, looking like he wants to murder the thing.”
I shove his arm. “Fuck off.”
“Aw … don’t worry; you can come watch us practice.” Billy grins. “Be our groupie.”
