A Not So Rosy Vintage by Lily Stirling

Author:Lily Stirling [Lily Stirling]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stirling Options
Published: 2024-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Cop Kid was smaller than me. The shorts were tight and stopped well above my knees. As for the sweatshirt, I’m totally serious when I say it was for a high school wrestling team. There was no year printed on it, or I would have done the math to figure out how old my young friend was. Regardless, the cop was right; it was better than the disposable scrubs.

When Britt and I returned to the car, Paul eyed me, trying to figure out if I would stain his seats. I decided to sit on the tarp without comment. As long as Britt sat beside me, I had no complaints…Well, Juniper could have moved her seat forward so I had more legroom, but other than that, no complaints.

“We’ll all need to change when we get back,” Juniper said. “I texted Sue, and she said we can use the laundry room that’s across from the kitchen. Now, is anyone besides Holt showering?”

Why were they all changing?

What with all the brain fog brought on by carbon dioxide poisoning, I was still operating a couple of steps behind. Then I noticed it. Britt’s clothes were splotched red like they’d gotten a strange tie-dye, Paul’s shoulder and down his side were dyed red, and when Juniper twisted back to face us, I could see she was the worst of the bunch. Her shirt was practically one big stain. Why hadn’t Paul made Juniper sit on a tarp?

Juniper caught my gaze and shook her head. “Yes, you’ve ruined a lot of clothes today.”

“I blame Joe,” I said.

“Not the person who pushed him?” Juniper asked.

I shrugged. “That works too.”

Back at the house, Juniper and Paul quickly disappeared upstairs. I was still weak and a little dizzy but was able to walk up the stairs. The problem was, Britt felt the need to supervise.

I was resting at the second-floor landing with sweat breaking out around my temples, when I side-eyed Britt. “You know I’ll make it.”

Britt nodded. “Of course you will.”

“So you”—I paused to take a few deep breaths—“can go, and I’ll see you in a minute.”

Britt smiled, but there was hardheaded stubbornness just under the surface. “Not a chance.”

When I finally made it to the room, I was tempted to collapse on the couch to recover, but I might not get up again. Juniper was right. I needed a shower. I reeked of wine, and while not exactly purple, my skin wasn’t a normal color. After stopping by my room to get clean sweats, I was ready to shower. I’d made it to the bathroom door, when Britt stopped me.

“Holt, could you do me a favor?”

What could Brittany want? “Um…maybe.”

“Leave the bathroom door unlocked.”

I looked from Britt to the door, then back to Britt. “Excuse me?”

Britt shrugged, trying so hard to seem nonchalant. “Just this once.”

My eyes squeezed shut as realization hit. “I’m not going to pass out in the shower.”

“Of course not” is what she said, but from the set of her jaw, I got

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