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Alex stares blankly at the paper in his hand “I don’t even knohere to start”

I couldn’t agreethrough a paper-thin wall, so if you’d like I can start there,” Ed tells hiht it was possible, but Alex’s eyes widen further, and I see the ether “At his parents’ house?”

I sink into estures to the rest of us at the table “Yeah, we’re gonna need soet as drunk as possible for around twenty dollars, a Blackout Beach is a pretty fancy way to do it

After loosely explaining the situation to Alex, I look at hiiant drink—a potent concoction of vodka, rum, blue curaçao, peach schnapps, and a shot of 151, served in what can only be described as a fishbowl I’d beta drink this size

“So you’re the ugly girl,” Alex says, and I debate whether I would feel better drinking the final third ofit in his lap

“It is not an ugly photo,” I say, and settle on throwing a tortilla chip at him instead “What was I supposed to do? I can’t actually show eneral vicinity ofto cover Alex’s ”

Alex pushes hi to hi sex with hi sex,” I say “We just had sex”

“Okay, so just the once, then,” he clarifies “Ipull on asoline “Maybe twice”

Alex leans back in his chair, arh “Fine Twice”

“So far,” Alex suggests, and Ed takes a break fro in chips and salsa by the handful to bark out a laugh

I glare at them both “There’s no so far about it It was a weird little accident It won’t happen again”

Alex laughs now and his eyes are devilishly bright in the light fro a glass of water is an accident Cutting someone off in traffic—that can be an accident Asit as an excuse, I don’t kno person one would accidentally put their penis into person two”

“Well, theoretically, depending on the circule of your fall, and the velocity—” Ed stops and looks around the table “Carry on”

Alex clears his throat before turning his attention back tointo the fact that you confided in Ed about this and not me Does Chris know?”

“Hell no, Chris doesn’t And I didn’t confide in anyone” I poke atat Ed “I only adht , “I don’t think the amount of insulation they have in those walls is up to code I s I heard I al it again,” Alex begins, “then why are we here? Why did you need to talk to Ed? I , but not really the rest You and Reid aredifferent with each other I’ before now”

Ed narrows his eyes, and I swear it’s like watching a cartoon lightbulb go on above his head I’ when he says, “He’s out with Daisy, isn’t he?”

I push my drink away, unsure whether my stomach can tolerate any more black booze “He is But what I wanted to tell you is that I don’t think we need to worry about the Catherine thing any when the waitress arrives with our food and another round of drinks

I gladly tradeher before she steps away again “I didhis head “I don’t think that’s possible”

“Trust me,” I say, and unroll my napkin to place it in ht, he’ll definitely do it bya e in his inbox”

Ed pauses with a taco halfway to his mouth “I’d kind of like to see that”

Alex seems to be similarly surprised, and I look at each of them in turn “See what?”