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Tonight’s party …? “You’re going to the Strong ranch?”

“Of course I am Everyone will be there It also happens to be ive two donkey dicks about that fact, so …” He lifts his chin at hts, considering I’ve got a few inches on him “Do we need to onna take? ‘Cause I don’t want any trouble”

I stare him down hard Even now, Hoyt still won’t ohat he’s done to Toby He’s dodging all accountability or consequence for his actions He thinks he’s so untouchable

When I take a step forward, Hoyt takes a step back After a nice long stare that’s sure to make him sweat, I finally say, “Yeah, I’ll make a truce with you”

He lifts a dubious eyebrow “Really?”

“Yeah” My eyes darken “As soon as your cocky ass makes up for the last six years of Toby’s life, which you dicked around with”

Hoyt squints at me “The hell you talkin’ about, city boy?”

I jab a finger right into his chest “I swear, Hoyt I made a vow to Toby that I wouldn’t confront you, but if you coain with so you’ve done to my boyfriend—I won’t hold back, and you’ll see what it’s really like to be on his side of the fence Bullied Excluded Pushed around He’s not your personal footrest anymore He’s not the punchline to your jokes with your sad friends He’s the best dae of encountering in your sad, small life” My face comes within an inch of his “And the day you finally see that, you’llto hiyotten like yesterday’s trash And I’ll be the one still kissing hi hu he is”

Hoyt experiences about five full seconds of taking in each and every one of ers Then, alhtly, he asks, “So is that a yes to the truce?”

I glare at him, hard and cold “Fine,” I concede, my voice fir ym shoes After a second, Hoyt departs the locker rooymnasium, I keepthe nasty trio of them keep the hell away from us

Truce or not, I don’t trust that guy

“Maybe we should throw our own party,” I suggest at lunch, trying to navigate the use of utensils with these bulky fingerless gloves as I eat “I’ve got a big enough house We could invite over all our friends from theatre Kelsey Frankie Tamika Between the three of them, everyone else will come, and then—”

“Vann …” Toby sighs “I think it’s a noble idea, but it’s a bit late for that Too last-s They throw big parties” I try not to glower down at my tray, but Toby is too perceptive and reads s? Tanner and I—sorry, Coach Strong and I—are okay now He was just worried aboutI’ve texted back and forth with Jimmy a lot lately Not to mention—”

“Hoyt’s gonna be there,” I cut him off

The rest of Toby’s sentence escape his lips in a sigh “Okay So you’d rather we avoid the big Spruce party because of him”

“I’, why don’t we start our own tradition? Why do what everyone else does? Isn’t that our mission, to break from the norm?” I reach over the table and take his hand “You andall the time?”

Toby givesIsn’t the better point that we stand up for ourselves? That we don’t let anyone intis onto give everyone a sight they’ll never forget” He leans in to me “They hold a costume contest every year, remember? I mentioned it Bonus points for couples’ costuives my hand a quick peck of his lips, then dives back into his lunch “Mravy’s super peppery today, just how I like it Are you gonna eat all your potato wedges?”

I glance down at the leash still attached to his neck, which he left lying across the table, as hts drift back to Hoyt’s little truce Is it possible he meant what he said? Does he just want me to keep my mouth shut about his secret kiss, and he won’t cause Toby any problems? Is it really that simple?