He dropped to one of the chairs. The phone was on the table and his forehead was by it. He remained like that the rest of the convo. His legs were bouncing, restless, and he had his hands in fists, bouncing right alongside his legs.

“She was there the whole time.” Zellman was glaring out the window. “I should’ve known. I should’ve just known. I mean, I couldn’t have known, but I should’ve. She and Sunday got close at the end. They were both our girls. I mean, besides Bren and Tasmin, but it’s different with both of them. Those two got close.” He drew in a breath, his voice bleak. “We should’ve known.”

Yeah.

We should’ve.

But we didn’t.

Bren sighed. “We know now.”

It was midnight when Jordan came back inside. He’d been out there for hours, only taking a break to come in, piss, grab a new beer, get a phone charger, and head back out. The phone was always in his hand. He left it on the table when he went to the bathroom, but swooped it back up as soon as he went to the backyard.

He looked like shit when he was out there, even before he was out there. Now he looked like a wrecking ball came at him and targeted him for a direct hit. He tossed the phone to Zellman. “You need to charge it.”

Zellman caught it, didn’t say a word, moved from his seat, and slid it into his pocket. He never took his eyes off of Jordan.

None of us did.

“She quit school.”

Fuck.

Bren’s hand found mine on the couch. Her pinkie wrapped tightly around mine and she squeezed hard.

Jordan’s voice came out sounding strangled. “Said this thing with Harper hit her harder than she thought. She went to Roussou Friday night and she’s been there the whole time. She took a leave of absence, but she’s probably done. So yeah, she quit school. Gonna stay there, help Sunday with the kid.”

Zellman swore under his breath. “Sunday’s due soon, too.”

Jordan nodded, both his hands going to his hair. His eyes were wild, crazy. He found me. “I need a party. I need girls. I need loud music. I need booze. I need to not think right now, and a party will help me really not think. Does your brother know of a party happening right now?”

My brother had a soccer game tomorrow, so he was probably in bed.

But I said, “I can text him.”

Zellman snorted. “The guy doesn’t party unless it’s with Allen.”

“Fuck!” Jordan threw his head back, starting to pace. It was just like outside, only worse now because he knew everything.

Bren leaned forward. “We can go to Cougar Lanes? My job.”

“Isn’t that closed?”