From What I Remember (53 page)

The lyrics to the My Morning Jacket song keep going around and around in my head as Juan and I sit in the car, driving to Kylie’s. It’s been an hour since we kissed in my bedroom, and I’m literally going insane. Juan is my drug and I need a fix. My phone buzzes with an incoming text. Despite the fact that I’m on the 405, I take the phone out of my pocket, but Juan snatches it out of my hand before I can read it. “Kylie says she and Max are going to Charlie’s party and she wants us to come,” Juan says.

“Girlfriend, say what? That is insane!”

“Why?”

“For starters, we don’t do Freiburg parties. I hate to break this to you, but I wasn’t exactly the prom king. And secondly, we just bought a boatload of In-N-Out burgers for the John Woo film festival. What are we supposed to do with them?”

“We’ll throw them out and probably live ten years longer,” Juan says.

Throw out In-N-Out burgers? I’m horrified by Juan’s suggestion. Nobody’s perfect, I suppose.

“Tell her we’ll be there. With bells on,” I say.

“Bells?” Juan asks.

“Kidding.”

“I never know with you.”

“No bells. Promise,” I say. “But you’re sure you’re good with going to a high school party? Isn’t it all a little juvenile?”

“If it is, we’ll make our own party.”

I take it back—my man is flawless. In fact, everything’s been kind of peachy since I met Juan. To be honest, it’s kind of freaking me out. I’m not used to life going so swimmingly. I’m kind of waiting for the other high heel to drop.

At lunch with my parents today, I almost had a heart attack as I watched my dad yakkity-yak architecture with Juan. I know my parents were thrilled to see me in pants, but that doesn’t really account for the way my dad just sat there chatting it up with my new boyfriend as if he’d known him for years. I think at one point he even invited him to play golf at the club. And now I’m off to
the
graduation party of the year with my boyfriend, and Kylie is going with Max. It’s opposite world. At least for the moment, I’m not the huge, wonking loser I’ve played my whole life. I’m a leading man. Hopefully, it all won’t end tragically. Like maybe with some kind of shoot-out at Charlie’s.

hen Max and I pull up to Charlie’s house, which is a monumentally large Spanish-style villa, I feel my body stiffen with tension. Anxiety floods my system. This is the sort of place I avoid, the kind of situation that makes me want to crawl right back into my corner and scowl at everyone. There are cars everywhere—on the street, in the vast driveway (that looks more like a helicopter landing pad), and on the lawn—Range Rovers, BMWs, and Audi sports cars. I’m in a foreign land without a guidebook, despite the fact that I’m with Max. This is his country. I wish Will was here, waiting to greet me as I step out of the car, but he’s not. And who knows when and if he and Juan will get here.

I briefly consider asking Max to turn around and take me home, but something in me shuts that idea down. If not now, when? I survived Mexico, I survived my speech, I can survive this.

Charlie comes out of the house to greet us, but before he can say anything, Jason Simon rides up on a beach bike and nearly runs Charlie down. “Duuude! We need more salsa and chips at the beach!”

He’s drunk, wearing a wet pair of surfer shorts, and his eyes are rheumy. I don’t really know Jason, but I assume he’s surprised to see me here. I gird myself for a rude comment.

But all he says is: “Hey, Kylie. Rockin’ speech.”

“Thanks,” I say.

“I’ll let someone know,” Charlie tells Jason, and then he turns to us as Jason zooms out of sight.

“Hey, hey, hey.” He and Max bump shoulders. “Glad you guys are here.”

“Thanks for, uh, having me,” I say. Jesus, I’ve got to stop thanking people.

“Um…about what I said in the car…I don’t really want to get into it tonight,” Charlie says to me, after throwing Max a significant look. I gather he and Max have already discussed this.

“I would never say anything,” I promise.

“I just need to do this in my own way, in my own time,” he says.

“I get it. Totally,” I say. And I do. I respect Charlie enormously for what he’s done, but I’m aware that it’s a long road and he’s only at the beginning of it.

Charlie leads us through a lush courtyard and into the house.

“I need a beer,” Max says.

“Outside by the pool, bro. But it’s a friggin’ packed house, so it could take a while. I’ll catch you guys later.”

Charlie disappears into the crowd. Max takes my arm and leads me through a sumptuous hallway and into a living room the size of my whole house. There are people everywhere, hanging out on huge leather couches, their feet splayed across heavy wooden coffee tables. The room bleeds into a high-tech open kitchen and dining room, with a table that must seat twenty. This place could seriously give Cloudbank a run for its money.

I feel like I’m getting the stink eye from people as Max and I make our way through the living room. Maybe I’m imagining it. People are going out of their way to say hi to Max, but no one really acknowledges me. Sonia Smithson rushes over and hugs Max. She pulls back and stares at me.

“What are you doing here, Kylie?” she asks. I guess I’m not imagining it. What did I expect? I hate her.

“I’m a part of the catering staff—you know, summer job,” I say.

“That’s awkward,” Sonia states, without any sense of irony.

Max laughs. “She’s here with me, Sonia.” He throws a proprietary arm around me.

Sonia’s eyes go wide, like she’s seen a ghost. And then she sort of backs away.

“Ignore her, she’s an idiot,” Max tells me.

He ushers me out to the back patio, which has an unimpeded view of the ocean that momentarily takes my breath away. Wow. I can’t even fathom waking up to this view every day. There’s a pool on the expansive lawn, and a guy wearing a chef’s hat is barbecuing at a huge outdoor grill, flipping burgers and shrimp kebabs.

“Pretty awesome, huh?” Max asks as he sees me taking in the scenery.

“Yeah. Totally.”

Max and I take a seat on a lawn chair, looking out at the pool. Lacey Garson and Richie Simson play tongue hockey on chairs across from us. Other couples lie on the lawn, drinking and making out. A few guys toss around a football out by the cabana. A small crowd of people are dancing on the far side of the lawn, where a DJ is set up. It’s my first high school party. Possibly my last. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.

“You okay?” Max asks.

“I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“I am. I just, I don’t know. I guess I need to get used to…everything. Being here. Us. Them. You know, it’s all new to me.” I smile at Max to reassure him. I know I’m giving him a false sense of security. But what else can I do? I’m trying.

Max pulls me close, holding me tight. I see Lacey gawking at us. She leans in to Richie and whispers. He turns to stare at us as well. Here we go.

“Lacey and Richie are looking at us like we’ve just robbed a bank,” I say. Max doesn’t even bother to look at them.

“Who cares?” he says, and then he leans in and kisses me for the whole world to see. At that moment I understand with total clarity that he believes in me, in us, and it gives me a shot of confidence. He’s right; who cares?

“I’m sorry about Lily,” I say. “Is she okay? Is she here?”

“You didn’t see her when we came in, sitting on Luca Sonneban’s lap?” Max laughs. He doesn’t seem bothered at all by the turn of events.

“I missed that. Probably the stage fright. I think I was focused on the floor.”

“Yeah, you were pretty freaked out. It was cute.”

“I’m glad I amuse you, Langston.”

“What can I say, Flores? You’re a quirky chick. And I dig that about you.”

I laugh, because it’s true and it’s probably not going to change anytime soon. Good thing Max likes it.

“That was fast, Lily hooking Luca,” I say.

“Not for Lily. She’s kind of a record holder in that category.”

“Isn’t that awkward? I mean, you and Luca are friends.”

“Not for me. Luca’s really into her and has been for years, and I’m really into you, so it’s all good.”

“I’m really into you too,” I say.

“Well, isn’t that special.…”

Max and I look up to see Will looming above us.

“You two lovebirds are a sight to behold,” he says. Next to him stands Juan. They’re both wearing well-tailored suits. Will’s is a dark gray with pinstripes, Juan’s is navy blue.

“You’re wearing a suit!” I say.

“You know how I love Tom Ford’s work,” Will says.

“Your idea?” I ask Juan.

“All Will. He insisted on buying us matching suits. I didn’t really have much to wear, but I would have settled for clean shorts and a T-shirt,” Juan says. “I think we’re ridiculously overdressed.”

“We come bearing In-N-Out burgers,” Will says, holding up a large bag.

“Excellent,” Max says.

Will reaches into the bag and plucks out a burger. He hands one to Max and then passes out burgers to me and Juan.

“No way I’m eating one of those. Have you seen the spread here?” Juan says.

“You have no idea what you’re missing,” Max says.

“He’s from Mexico. Forgive him,” Will says.

“Those burgers will kill you,” Juan says.

“Maybe, but they’re worth it,” Max says, polishing off the burger. “Loved the mirror. Impressive work,” Max tells Will.

“I thought you’d appreciate it,” Will says.

“I’m keeping it as is,” Max says. “For posterity.”

Will laughs. I have no idea what they’re talking about.

From across the lawn I see Jemma Pembolt, one of Lily’s faithful lieutenants, striding toward us. She looks determined and pissed. Shit. She comes right up to Max.

“You are such an asshole, Max. I can’t believe you brought Kylie to the party. I mean, the body’s still warm.”

“Lily’s here with Luca. I think she’s okay with it,” Max says.

“You’re such a self-centered prick. Of course she’s not ‘okay’ with it. She’s just letting Luca lick her wounds,” Jemma says, her well-toned arms folded across her chest like some kind of South American despot.

“Jemma, chill.” It’s Lily who has suddenly materialized, with Luca at her side. While he stands dutifully next to her, Luca looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here.

Lily gives me a level gaze. It’s not hateful, but there’s no warmth to it either. I get it. She’s doing the best she can to preserve her dignity, and I’m certainly not going to make it any harder on her.

“Jemma’s just being protective. But I can take care of myself,” Lily says. “C’mon, J, let’s get you a drink.”

“Whatever. He’s still an asshole,” Jemma says, giving Max one last icy look, and then the three of them walk away.

I feel bad for Lily. This is her turf, and my being here with Max can’t be easy for her.

“Do you think we should leave?” I ask Max.

“No. She’s fine. She’s happy to parade Luca around with her. And Charlie’s my best friend; I have a right to be here. And we’ve got a whole lot of summer parties ahead of us. Might as well get used to running into each other.”

“We’re going to feed Juan some real food,” Will tells me. “We’ll be back.” He and Juan wander off.

“How about I get us some beer?” Max asks.

“I think I need to detox tonight.” I also want to see if we can have fun without the alcohol.