Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin Page B

you.”
    â€œOkay, let’s not—”
    â€œOh man…”
    â€œIs this weird?”
    â€œA little!” Paolo’s eyes bug out for a second like a cartoon.
    â€œWeirder than me doing your mom?”
    â€œUh, yeah. It’s my sister!”
    â€œOkay, well, your logic system is different than mine, but in any case, I’m sorry. To be completely honest, I don’t even remember it happening.”
    Which, I have to say, is quickly becoming one of the great tragedies of my life. I’m harboring all the guilt and shame of being a cheater without any of the awesome memories of the sex itself.
    â€œYou don’t even remember? Wait. I was with you the whole time Veronica was here, then my mom drove you home.”
    â€œWhat? No, man. I woke up in
your house
this morning.”
    â€œThis house?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œShame on you, dude!”
    â€œI’m sorry!”
    â€œSo you came back?”
    â€œI don’t remember getting in your mom’s car in the first place.” Do I? There’s a fuzzy memory trying to make itself known in my brain.
    â€œLook, all I know is I said good night to you and my mom and went to sleep as you guys were heading out the front door. Right after you made those prank calls.”
    â€œPrank calls?”
    â€œYou gotta remember that! You called almost every pizza place in town, said you were a state official and that pizza was being banned? Enzo was really upset.”
    â€œEnzo of Enzo’s Pizza?”
    â€œYeah, dude. It was amazing.” Paolo takes out a pack of clove cigarettes, pops one in his mouth, and lights it up right there in the kitchen. It’s a little startling, as it’s a new habit.
    â€œYou’re allowed to smoke in the house?”
    â€œI guess so,” he says, and I’m suddenly impressed that, considering how much his mom spoils him, Paolo didn’t grow up to be more of a dick. “Just like you were allowed to stay here so you could bang my sister.”
    â€œPaolo, I’m sorry, really.”
    â€œAnd
then
you banged Taryn today! It’s like, that’s not right, you know?” He gestures frenetically with his clove. “Messing around with my sister’s heart.”
    â€œShe seems to be doing fine, Pow. She doesn’t even wanna look at me.”
    â€œYeah, ’cause her heart’s been messed with!”
    â€œBut she’s got some boyfriend, so who cares? I mean, what about my heart, you know? Which, may I add, won’t be beating for much longer?”
    Paolo exhales a stream of sweet-smelling clove smoke. “It’s okay, D. I’m just joking around.”
    But I’m not sure if he is, and frankly, I don’t think he knows either.
    â€œI don’t mean to get all worked up about this,” Paolo says. “Maybe it’s just because Veronica’s always had a crush on you for, like, forever.”
    â€œReally?” Whoa. My heartbeat quickens.
    â€œNah, of course not really.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œI always thought she genuinely hated you, actually. That’s why this is so shocking. You want one of these?”
    â€œNo thanks. Trying to stay substance-free for my last hours so I can die in a clear-minded state.” Also, cloves give me a headache.
    â€œI hear ya. Definitely not the way I’m gonna do it, though. I have the total opposite philosophy.” He drops his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I might try to OD, bro.”
    â€œI hope you’re kidding.”
    Paolo raises his eyebrows and shrugs while inhaling his clove. The multitasking throws him off, and he has a coughing fit.
    â€œAnyone dying in there?” Paolo’s mom shouts from the hall.
    â€œNope, all good,” I say.
    Paolo takes a sip of my water. “Hey,” he says. “Are you supersure you wanna remain substance-free?”
    â€œYeah, no clove for me.”
    â€œI’m not talking