By Friday night, I'm standing in the middle of a house party I didn't want to go to, nursing a flat soda and trying not to strangle Finn for dragging me here.
"It's a rite of passage," he says, bouncing on his toes. "Besides, you need to have fun."
"Your definition of fun is questionable," I mutter, scanning the room for exits. That's when I see Ruby.
She's in the kitchen, laughing with a group of people who are clearly cooler than me. Her eyes catch mine across the room, and for a second, everything else blurs. Then she grins, raising her red solo cup in a silent toast, and I'm officially doomed.
I don't know how it happens, but somehow, Ruby and I end up on the back porch together. The music inside is loud enough to rattle the windows, but out here, it's quieter. Almost peaceful.
"So, are you gonna keep pretending you don't like me?" she asks, leaning against the railing. Her tone is casual, but her eyes are intense, burning into mine.
I choke on my drink. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." She steps closer, close enough that I can smell her perfume—something warm and sweet and a little dangerous. "You're not as subtle as you think, Asher."
"I don't..." I trail off, my brain short-circuiting. "What are you even talking about?"
She smirks. "Relax. I'm not asking you to confess your undying love or anything."
"Good, because that's not happening."
"Sure." She grins, leaning in so our faces are inches apart. "Keep telling yourself that."
I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, the door bursts open, and Ethan stumbles onto the porch. He's clearly drunk, his face red and his words slurred.
"Well, if it isn't the freak show," he sneers, his eyes locking onto me. "And look, you've got the queen bee wrapped around your finger. Cute."
"Ethan, go home," Ruby says, her voice cold and commanding.
"Not until I teach this little dyke a lesson."
The word hits like a slap, but before I can react, Ruby's already moving.
"Say that again," she growls, stepping between us.
Ethan laughs, but it's nervous. "What, you're gonna fight me? Please."
"No," she says, calm and deadly. "But I bet Asher will."
I don't remember throwing the punch, but I remember the way it feels—satisfying and painful all at once. Ethan stumbles back, clutching his jaw, and for a second, the porch is dead silent. Then Ruby bursts out laughing, and it's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.
"You're insane," I tell her, my knuckles throbbing.
"Maybe." She grins, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside. "But you like me anyway."
