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The Harley engine gruo ahead without me I’ll catch up, man," Will said

"What, just me?" Gates said

"You can’t party without your boyfriend?" Lucy said

Ooohs erupted all around Gates took a step toward her, and the Sluts broke through the crowd to flank Lucy Knives out Will kept his eyes locked on Lucy It was clear that this wasn’t what she wanted either

"Whoa, easy," Will said "No need for trouble, now Let’s chill out, put the weapons away"

Will gave Gates a stern look to make sure he was on board with this plan It was the first tier in Gates’s face scared Will more than the fifteen-odd blades pointed at him But in a blink, it vanished Gates went full smile He stepped back He threw his ar for fun, follow unned it, roaring away The crowd closed the gap behind hiain

Will turned to face Lucy Neither of them spoke as the party swirled around the next to her

"Should we talk?" Will said

The tension eased from Lucy’s face She seemed like she was about to nod, but soonna hit the slip ’n’ slide," the Nerd said to Lucy

Will looked hiet lost?"

"What’d you say?" the Nerd said

"Bartholo between thelared at Will, then walked away, shaking his head

"Bartholemew, huh? Your friend has a stupid name"

She didn’t react

"Is this part of your new Slut personality? No laughing?"

Lucy twisted her face into a sneer "No We were all laughing our asses off a few o When you showed up on a motorcycle"

"Oof," Will said with a nod

"Pretty respectable party though," Lucy said

Will shrugged "I had to coain"

"Yeah, right," she said and rolled her eyes

"I knew the best Lucy bait was pizza"

Lucy laughed Finally a sign that things between them weren’t actually as bad as they looked, and that they didn’t have to keep acting like they were eneo Slut?"

"Are you really asking, or is this a set up for a joke?"

"I’ll get back to you on the joke, but I gotta be honest, I’ Like ever"

"You got a probleuess not So, what do you do, just sit around all day cutting the crotch out of your jeans?" Will said, cracking up

"Oh, I see," Lucy said "You still think you’re funny!" She pointed at his duct-taped torso "Good thing you’ve never grown any body hair or it ht hurt to take that tape off"

"Damn! Slut Lucy doesn’t mess around"

"No, she doesn’t"

Lucy held his stare This was new She didn’t look away, or do so cute to break the aard ht at home with the tension

"I miss you," Will said

Lucy faltered Will’s emotion seemed to make her nervous Bart walked over fro, ten feet away