Our Way Back to Always by Nina Moreno

Author:Nina Moreno [MORENO, NINA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2021-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

TONIGHT’S PARTY IS taking place at some football player’s house, which means that I am going to an honest-to-god house party. Unfortunately, I still don’t have a car, so I told Sam I would meet him there; that way he doesn’t have to drive all the way back home from the fire station to pick me up and then also go pick up Rocky, who I of course invited. All of this is why my very pregnant sister’s boyfriend is driving us instead, with Elena along for the ride.

“Thanks for the ride, Nick,” I tell him from the back seat of the Honda.

“No problem,” he says, sounding chipper.

Elena groans in the front seat. “I need to pee again.”

“Well hold it, because you can’t pee at the party,” I tell her.

She laughs. “Oh yes I can.” My phone’s GPS chirps out the next direction and Elena whistles, impressed. “A beach house? Hold up.” She twists around in her seat. “Time for some big sister advice.”

“Okay, fine,” I concede. “You can pee when we get there.”

Elena points between Rocky and me. “Stay together, don’t drink anything you didn’t pour yourself, and don’t call your ex.” Elena turns a flirtatious smile on Nick. “That’s how we got back together, remember, babe?”

Nick puts a hand on her knee, and I gag.

“This is my first Port Coral party,” Rocky says. She’s wearing a short-sleeved burnt orange button-up tucked into slim jeans. She makes the simple outfit look like high fashion. “I promise to commit no grand larceny this time.”

“Always wise.” Nick laughs, probably thinking she’s joking.

The street is busy up ahead, and Nick slows the car. The house is two stories with a detached two-car garage that is currently open, with a band playing inside.

“Oh my god, there’s a band, babe!” Elena looks at Nick. “Maybe we can stay for a little while?”

I shoot a look at Nick, who shakes his head imperceptibly. Another point in his column.

Rocky and I hop out. Elena sticks her head out the window. “Sam is giving both of you a ride home, right?” I reassure her that he is, but Elena is transfixed on the band. “Whose party is this?”

“Sam said it’s some homecoming thing for last year’s seniors who are back—” I stop as I watch a hundred emotions fly over my sister’s face.

“From their first semester at school.” She sighs a little. “I’m definitely not peeing in there. Get me out of here, babe.”

They go and we head down the driveway. I recognize social circles from school. Some of the crowd spills into the yard that leads down to the beach. It’s noisy and wild and like being at school on my off hours, but without any of the proper adult supervision. I try to rein in my social anxiety as we move toward the garage.

“Don’t forget to help me be cool,” I tell Rocky. She’s a bisexual girl from Miami who stole a car once. No one is cooler than Rocky.

“You’re already cool, Lou.” She sighs

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