I laughed. “You’ll have to be more specific. They’re all identical.”

“I guess that’s true, huh? Anyway, the one in the green bikini who was stuck to me the whole time?”

“Oh…yeah.”

“That’s my ex-girlfriend from high school.”

“Okay…”

“You know the guy wearing the orange board shorts?”

“Yeah?”

“That’s my former best friend, her current boyfriend. I’m sure you can put two and two together.”

“She cheated on you with him?”

“Not exactly. We broke up after I went away to London. I used to go to the high school here before my mother decided boarding school was a better idea. Anyway, I came home that first summer to find them together.”

“That sucks. And now she’s flirting with you in front of him. What a cunt.”

He laughed. “Which one, her or him?”

“Both of them.”

“You’ve got a dirty mouth, Raven. I like a girl who’s not afraid to say cunt.”

“It just came out. They deserve each other. Why do you even invite them over?”

“None of that really bothers me anymore. Those days seem like forever ago. I’ve moved on. These are just people I grew up with. I’ve known them since we were kids and can’t seem to get rid of them. They all live nearby and just come over uninvited.”

“What about the other girls? Are you dating any of them?”

He hesitated. “I’ve hooked up with a couple in the past.”

I couldn’t help but add, “At the same time, apparently.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I overheard an interesting conversation when your friends were changing in the powder room this morning. They were comparing notes and might have mentioned a certain threesome.”

They also mentioned how huge you are.

He rolled his eyes. “Great.”

His ears turned a little red. I found that interesting, because he didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who got embarrassed about stuff like that. But apparently he did.

“That was one time. It was stupid. I’d gotten a little drunk and—”

“Yeah. You don’t need to explain.”

“Anyway, I’m not currently involved with any of them. That was a long time ago. It would be nice if they weren’t blabbing where people can hear them in my parents’ house, though.” He seemed genuinely irked.

“Trust me. Girls are worse than guys,” I said.

“Oh, I have no doubt. Especially those girls.”

We pulled up to the drive-thru. He turned to me. “What do you want?”

Caught off guard, I shook my head. “Oh...I shouldn’t.”

“What do you want?” he repeated.

“A grande, hot caramel macchiato.”

He spoke into the intercom. “A grande, hot caramel macchiato and a triple shot on ice, please.”

“Anything else?” the woman asked.

“No, thank you.”

“What about everyone’s drinks?”

“They can wait. Let’s have ours in peace first.”

Huh? This was becoming an interesting outing.

She gave him the drinks at the next window, and he handed me mine before proceeding to the parking lot, finding a shady spot to park, and blasting the AC.

I took my first sip of the hot, foamy liquid. “Thank you.”

He rested his head against the seat. “Ahhh...this is nice.”

“It doesn’t bother you to leave your friends hanging?”

“Not in the least. If they need their coffee that badly, they can go into the kitchen and make some.”

I chuckled. “How did you end up so different from your brother?”

“Oh. I heard the nanny dropped him when he was a baby.”

“Really?”

“No. Just kidding.”

“I might have believed it.” I sighed, looking down at my cup. “Well, this is a nice, unexpected break. But I’m certain your mother would flip out if she knew you were here with me.”

“She doesn’t have to know.”

He made no attempt to downplay what her reaction would be: irate.

“Yeah, pretty sure I’d be toast.”

He frowned and changed the subject. “What do you like to do for fun, Raven?”

I didn’t have to think long about my answer. “Jiu-jitsu.”

His eyes widened. “No fucking way…like, you could kick my ass?”

“Maybe. Don’t make me want to, and you’ll never have to find out.” I winked.

“Well, damn. Tell me more. How did you get into it?”

“I walked by the studio one day a couple of years ago, looked through the window at someone pinning someone else down, and thought it might be fun to try. So I signed up for classes, and the rest is history.”

These days much of the money I made went to martial arts classes.

“Do you do it to protect yourself?”

I shrugged. “There’s this misconception that the only reason girls might learn it is for self-defense. I mean, that’s a benefit, for sure. I don’t live in the greatest neighborhood, and it’s nice to know I’d have a chance to defend myself if something were to happen. But that’s not the primary reason I do it. It’s just…fun. It’s amazing what the body can do, like being able to choke someone out with your legs.”

“Damn. Remind me not to fuck with you. No offense, but you’re tiny. I would never have imagined you could pin me down.”