Jacob was an automatic choice, along with all the guys on the lacrosse team, because they overlapped with Haley’s swim team circle. He had a reputation for being a partyer and a commitment-phobe, but in that charming way that guys can get away with. He looked kind of like Chris Hemsworth, but less built. I knew who he was, but before the party, I’d never given him much thought. It wasn’t that he was out of my league; our leagues were simply different.

The day of the party, I walked over to Haley’s to help set up. Her house was only about a mile away from mine, but it was in a different universe from the condo my dad and I lived in behind Central Street. We dealt with drafty windows and old doors that either stuck or didn’t quite close. Haley lived in a mansion on a hill. It looked like a classic white colonial with black shutters, but it had been extensively remodeled. Everything inside was new and seemed to be made of marble or glass.

When I arrived at the foot of the long driveway, I saw Tasha’s red-and-black Mini Cooper already parked at the top. It was early evening on a Saturday in May, and it finally felt like spring. It was just warm enough to wear shorts, and the trees were thick with white and pink blossoms. I headed for the gate to the back patio, where I knew Haley and Tasha would be setting up for the party. Haley’s mom had taken us to Whole Foods the day before, and she’d paid for huge amounts of guacamole and chips, fancy cheese and crackers, organic sodas, and bottled water. Haley’s mom had even gotten us a bunch of prosecco to celebrate our upcoming graduation. We expected people to sneak in beer and liquor, and we expected Haley’s parents to look the other way. As long as nobody drove drunk, it would be fine. We were seniors and deserved to let off some steam.

As I came around the side of the house, I saw Haley and Tasha before they saw me. They sat facing each other on the edges of two loungers. Haley was saying something and leaning toward Tasha, one hand outstretched. Tasha was looking at her through her oversized sunglasses, so I couldn’t see her eyes, but there was a weird stiffness to her face. I wondered if they’d had a fight. But then she caught sight of me and jumped up.

“There you are!” Tasha said, looking relieved. She pulled a bottle of prosecco from the giant cooler nearby. “Let’s have a toast!”

“Hey, Ari,” Haley said. She got up and grabbed three red Solo cups from the party supplies, passing them out.

Tasha poured in generous slugs of fizzing prosecco and said, “To graduating.”

“To partying,” Haley said.