THE RUM DOES its work. Hours later, Lulu is drunk and losing at beer pong. Emily is playing extra-hard to get, or maybe she just really hates pong. Either way, Jules is stuck with Lulu for a partner, and he’s pissed about it.

“Keep it together, Shapiro,” Jules warns her as Lulu lines up a shot.

“I’ve got it,” Lulu says, and promptly misses. The ball arcs over Jenny Price’s head and into the darkness beyond.

“You can go get it,” Jenny suggests.

Lulu grumbles, but she sets off toward where the ball seems to have disappeared, a loosely populated patch of grass where a group of guys is standing around in a circle talking.

“Lulu,” one of them says, and holds up a hand for a high five.

“Hi Oliver,” Lulu says.

“You’re hittin’ ’em wild tonight,” Oliver says.

“Mmmhmmm.”

“Is it going to get wilder?” he asks.

“Might.”

“Hell yeah.” Oliver turns to high-five Jason, who’s standing next to him. “Don’t you wish more girls were like Lulu?” he asks.

Lulu imagines the small white ball smacking Oliver right between his wide-set blue eyes.

“What’s Lulu like?”

Lulu turns to see Ryan standing at the edge of their circle. He’s holding the ball she came to retrieve. Cass is standing slightly behind him. Lulu doesn’t know that she’s ever seen Cass look so small before, or so uncertain.

Oliver is delighted to see Ryan. “Ryan Riggs!” he exclaims. They give each other a bro-y, backslapping hug. “Dude, in the fucking flesh.” He looks between Ryan and Lulu and says, “Oh damn, wait, did you come with Shapiro? Are you guys, like, happening?”

“Nah,” Ryan says at the same time Lulu says “No.”

“We’re just friends,” Lulu says. She reaches out a hand and Ryan drops the ball into it. “Sorry, I gotta finish this game.”

“Riggs, stay and drink with us,” Oliver orders. He starts introducing Ryan to his friends. They did AYSO together, apparently. So someone does know Ryan, but of course they do; when it comes down to it, someone always knows you in this world.

“Hey,” Lulu says to Cass. “I’m almost done if you want to come hang out for a minute?”

“Sure,” Cass says, and falls into step with her. “I mean, you don’t have to babysit me. I saw Owen on the porch, I can—”

Owen and Kiley have been all over each other all night. Lulu doesn’t know why she hates the idea of Cass being a part of that, only that she does. “It’s not babysitting,” she says. “I invited you to a party where you don’t really know anyone. It’s my job to be your guide.”

“Okay.” Cass gives Lulu a small smile. She looks around, taking in the scenery. “Thanks for inviting me, also. This place is kind of amazing.”