“Fifteen,” I say. “And the living room couch, while everyone was home.”

“Eighteen for me,” Chloe goes on. “And it was in Jason McCleary’s bedroom.” She looks out at Lennon. “I have my regrets too. Mostly because I wasn’t ready but didn’t want to say no.”

“Me too!” Lennon takes a sip of her drink. “I wish I could talk to my teenage self and give that girl a boost in confidence.”

“Oh, same! I mean, I wasn’t forced into anything, but I wish I stuck up for myself a lot more. There are a lot of incidences where I wished I had.” Chloe shakes her head. “Things worked out for me, though. I hope they did for you too.”

“For the most part,” Lennon agrees and takes another drink. “Though I could use another boost of confidence when it comes to standing up for myself.”

“It’s hard,” Chloe agrees. “And I know this is lame, but a lot of times, I pretend that I’m my main character from Nightfall and do what Kellie would do. She’s so much more badass than me.”

“I think you’re pretty badass,” Lennon tells her with an encouraging nod.

“I do too,” Mason agrees, holding up the bottle of whiskey as a toast. “Even more so for putting up with his cranky ass.”

“Hey,” Chloe laughs, turning around to cup my face in her hands. “I happen to like this cranky ass.”

The sliding glass door opens, and we all turn to see my mom come out onto the patio. “Sorry to interrupt whatever is going on,” she starts. “Chloe, your phone keeps ringing. Someone named Karina has called a few times.”

“Really?” Chloe sniffles and gets up, turning her head to cough. She’s sounding sicker and sicker as the night goes on. “Thanks.”

“Who’s Karina?” Lennon asks, finishing her wine.

“My publicist,” Chloe tells her. “And I don’t know why she’d be calling me this late on a Satur--ohhhh.” Chloe makes a face, looking at the glowing screen of her phone. “I think this is what she was calling about.”

“What?” Mason asks, peering over. Chloe turns the phone up for me to see, and a photo of us locked in a kiss at the airport is the last thing I expected. The article headline mentions Chloe’s famous relationship with Charles Baldwin, who sources—according to this article at least—claimed was still dating Chloe.

“Who the hell took this photo?” Chloe asks, eyes narrowing as she reads the caption.

“What photo?” Lennon is on the edge of her seat—literally as well as figuratively—trying hard to look over at Chloe’s phone.

“This,” Chloe sighs, holding up the phone to show everyone the rather passionate photo of Chloe and I reuniting at the airport after days away from each other. “I still don’t get who took these photos. No one knew we were together or that I was even coming to the Chicago.” She looks up at me, brows furrow. “You’re not named,” she says quickly, worried I’m going to get upset for being dragged into the middle of her PR affairs. “You’re just an unidentified male kissing me.”

“So does this mean we don’t get to leak the sex tape now?” I joke. “And there was a girl at the baggage claim,” I remind her. “She was excited to see you and had you sign her book.”

“Ohhhh, right.” Chloe says with a nod. “I remember her now. Good thing she didn’t follow us to the car. Though if she did, there’s your sex tape.”

“Where’s the fun when we don’t have a copy of it?”

Chloe laughs, looking up from her phone. Her eyes meet mine and a rush goes through me. I never want this night to end. Because when it does, I have to tell her the truth.

“What are you talking about?” Jack asks.

“This.” Chloe flips her phone around and shows everyone the photos. “We, uh, were excited to see each other and I didn’t realize someone took photos, which they sold to the media.” She lets out a sigh as she rolls her eyes. “And I took a selfie with that girl and everything.”

“Do you have paparazzi following you around?” Lennon asks, leaning forward.

“Not usually,” Chloe tells her. “I’m not that interesting, and I think most of the time when someone sees me, they’re hoping to see Charles instead. We’re still friends and hang out when he’s in LA,” she adds with a shrug. “We go to the same gym and sometimes the paparazzi get all excited when they see me come out, and then when they realize it’s just me, they all leave. I’ve yet to take that as an insult,” she laughs. “I like to be the voice behind my characters, but not be the center of attention, like I said today.” She looks at me again.

“Because getting pizza and sitting at the table gives you more attention than that.” I look at the photo on her phone.

“Right? My life is hard.”

We laugh and Chloe yawns. It’s only around nine, but the sun already set, and it feels much later than it really is.

“I should call Karina back,” Chloe says and lazily stretches her arms out in front of her. “And I have to pee.”

“I’ll walk you in,” I tell her.

“I’m coming in too.” Lennon stands, wrapping her arms around herself. “It’s getting cold out here and we’re almost out of firewood.”

“There’s more in the shed,” Jacob says. “Feel free to go get it.”

“Exactly why I’m going inside.”

Mason pokes at the dwindling fire and I gather up the cups and glasses. Chloe goes in first, and is upstairs on the phone by the time we get in. Dad took Nana Benson back to the assisted living facility, and Mom is sitting at the kitchen table, reading a book.

“Are you kids calling it a night already?” She folds a napkin in half and sticks it in her book to mark her place.

“I think I will,” Jacob says. “I’m on rotation to go into the clinic tomorrow morning.”

“Then you better get some sleep.” Mom gets up and pulls a plate from the fridge, already prepared with leftovers for him. “Drive safely. I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom,” Jacob says and gives Mom a hug. “How long are you two staying?” he asks as he makes his way to the door.

“I figured we’d leave here around four or five at the latest.”

“I’ll probably stop by before then.”

“Sounds good,” I tell him.

“The night is young,” Mason says with a sigh. “You want to go to La Cantina?”

“If Chloe wants to go, we will. But since she’s not feeling well, we’ll probably head out too.”

“You just want to go back to her dad’s place so you can bang her.”

“Mason,” Mom says in warning, and I don’t have to turn to see her to know the look on her face right now. “Be a little bit more mature.”

“It’s physically impossible,” Lennon says. “And I’ll go to La Cantina with you. You can be my wingman and prove to my mom and Aunt Jeanette that there are no good guys left in town or maybe the world.”

“You don’t need a good one. Just a good time.”