Free Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle Page A

Carrie added with a grin.
    “Then you two can gladly have him,” Lauren said.
    “He doesn’t want us,” Gina said. “He wants you.”
    “Great. And I should be flattered?”
    “Definitely not,” Carrie said. “You’ve got a much better catch already. We just like giving you a hard time.”
    Lauren smiled, shook her head. “Such great friends.”
    Carrie said, “I guess Stephen’s in a little deep.”
    “That’s for sure,” Lauren muttered.
    “Don’t read too much into one evening,” Gina said. “So he was drinking and he copped an attitude. That’s nothing we weren’t doing at his age.”
    “He was doing more than drinking,” Lauren said. “And a pint of whiskey isn’t having a few drinks at a party.”
    “I know,” Gina said quietly.
    “Anything we can do?” Carrie asked.
    “I wish I knew.”
    Lauren gazed out the window at the passing traffic. She wished she’d skipped the party and gone out with Jesse instead. Though she wasn’t ready to admit it, even to herself, she missed him. She enjoyed being with him. Maybe too much.
     
     
     
    8
     
    Lauren stood in front of her mirror brushing her hair. She pulled it up in a loose twist and studied her reflection. Frowning, she took it down and brushed it once again.
    “Looks good,” Stephen said from the doorway. “Leave it that way.”
    Lauren twirled around. “You like it better down?”
    “Yeah.”
    Stephen disappeared down the hall. Lauren turned back to face the mirror, sighed, and put down her brush. She walked out to the hall and glanced into Stephen’s open doorway. She hadn’t seen him since the incident at Kevin’s the other night. Maybe she should apologize, although she wasn’t sure exactly what she should be sorry for.
    “Looking for me?”
    Startled, Lauren spun around to find Stephen watching her with a goofy grin. In that moment he looked like the boy she’d spent hours with in their living room, building tents with blankets, pillows, and empty cardboard boxes. She said, “Yeah, I was. I wanted to talk to you about the other night.”
    “Let’s just forget it happened.”
    Lauren shook her head. “No, I want to apologize. I shouldn’t have shown up there without letting you know. It must have been awkward for you.”
    “No big deal,” Stephen said. “You going out with Kevin tonight?”
    “Kevin?”
    “Yeah. He told me he wanted to ask you out.”
    A meal of chocolate covered ants was less revolting. “I haven’t spoken to Kevin since that night at his apartment,” she said. “I’ve been seeing someone for awhile now.”
    “Oh.” Stephen shrugged. “Kevin’s probably waiting for you to stop by again. You can, you know.”
    “Maybe I will.”
    Stephen regarded her for a moment, then said, “Have fun tonight.”
    “Thanks.”
    He stepped into his room, closing the door behind him. Seconds later his stereo blasted through the solid walls.
    Lauren started down the hall just as the doorbell chimed. Her stomach did a nervous flip. Goosebumps erupted on her skin. She rubbed her arms as she skipped down the stairs.
    Out in the driveway, Jesse held the passenger door open for Lauren. “What are you in the mood to eat?” he asked.
    “You really want to know?” Lauren said.
    “I really do. Unless it’s something weird, like squid or ostrich. Then we might have to settle for pizza.”
    Lauren laughed. “I don’t like squid and I can’t imagine eating an ostrich.”
    “Then we’re probably safe.”
    “I’m actually in the mood for Mexican.”
    “My favorite,” Jesse said. “I know the perfect place.”
     
    ***
     
    Lauren and Jesse sat in a small Mexican restaurant in downtown Boston. The mood was light, the pace slow. They talked about art exhibits, fad diets, alternate realities, and the waiter’s pierced eyebrow. Jesse was playful and kept Lauren giggling through most of the meal.
    By the time they arrived at the Back Alley Blues club, Lauren’s nervous butterflies were long gone. The