“Hmmm…” She places a finger on her chin. Her nails are painted yellow and the bright color makes me think of Sydney. Hers are currently white and I wonder if that was also for me. “I’m banning the word drink. If you say the banned word then you have to take a...” Instead of saying the word she motions with her hand like she’s taking a drink.

I’m incredibly good at avoiding the word drink in all its variations from playing this game with Datson and our teammates. I learned the way everyone does—the super painful, incredibly drunk way where you pass out downstairs in the middle of the party.

And Sydney’s been present for a lot of those games, too, so we get to sit back and laugh as everyone continually trips up and is forced to drink. Richard is especially bad, but the tipsier he gets the more handsy he gets, and Jonah doesn’t seem like he minds.

Sydney leans over, her blonde hair acting like a curtain to hide her face from everyone else. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“I’ll show you.” I push my chair back and stand. “We’ll be right back.”

There’s a bathroom on the main floor, but there’s a line of girls waiting for it, so I take her upstairs.

“Second door on the left.” I hang back at the top of the stairs and let her go ahead.

“Thanks.”

I pull out my phone and take a seat on the top stair. Tara called again tonight and left a message for me to call her back so we can make plans for the Fourth. We always do it up big with a party at the house. The last three years have been awesome, and I want this year to be even better.

I shoot Tara a quick text to promise I’ll call her soon. I don’t hear the bathroom door open or Sydney approaching before her fingers slide over my eyes. I could tell it was her even if she weren’t the only other person up here. I’m highly attuned to her touch.

“Eww. Your hands are wet.”

“At least you know I washed them.” She takes a seat next to me on the stairs. “This house is amazing. What do Jonah’s parents do?”

“His dad is a judge. I can’t remember if he’s ever said what his mom does.”

“How did you two meet?”

“We played against each other in high school and AAU. The first weekend I came down here three years ago I ran into him. I couldn’t place him, but knew I recognized him from somewhere. Luckily, he remembered me.” I shrug. “That was pretty much it. I don’t hear from him during the year, but as soon as I get to the lake each summer, we fall back into hanging out. He’s a good guy.”