Why Now? by Carey Heywood Page A

the time.
    “You’re up next, Mackey,” Reilly says.
    He scratches the side of his nose. “Never have I ever watched porn.”
    Oh God.
    Glancing around, I’m relieved and find it pretty funny that everyone lifts their glasses. We all drink.
    “You’ve watched porn?” Heath leans forward, his eyes on me.
    “Don’t embarrass her,” Jake snaps and I blush.
    Heath leans back, an annoyed expression on his face. “I wasn’t trying to embarrass her, I was just surprised.”
    Sofa, please swallow me up whole.
    “Moving on,” Reilly mutters and I can kiss her. “Never have I ever skinny dipped.”
    Both Heath and Jake lift their drinks. Reilly doesn’t, even though that is something I could see her doing.
    “At the same time?” She presses, glancing between them.
    Jake’s eyebrows come together. “No, I have not skinny dipped with Heath.”
    Reilly shrugs. “No reason to get all defensive about it. I was only being curious. Your turn, Kace.”
    This is hard. The last time I went, I picked a safe one that I already knew the answer to. There are things that I’m curious about but I’m not really sure I want to know.
    “Hmmmm, never have I ever stolen something.”
    All three of them drink while my jaw drops. “What did you guys steal?”
    Reilly answers first. “I stole a pack of grape bubbacrazy gum from Bob’s gas station when I was eight years old. Grams hated bubble gum so she never bought me any. Anywho, to conceal the evidence I tried to chew the whole pack on my walk home. I barfed grape gum into Mrs. Heyward’s daffodils and have never liked grape flavored anything since. Oh, and I stole your silvery top. The one you were looking for a couple of months ago.”
    “You did what?” I gasp.
    She purses her lips squinting one eye before replying. “Well, technically I borrowed it without you knowing and then forgot I had it. When you were looking for it, I forgot where I put it. Then I found it again and I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you.”
    Standing I ask. “Where is it?”
    “It’s in my sock drawer,” she replies.
    I go retrieve my shirt. As I walk back into the room, I point at her. “You suck. I love this shirt.”
    She grimaces. “I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better your tits looked way better in it than mine did.”
    Both Heath and Jake look over at the shirt in my hand with curiosity. Pressing it to my chest, I hurry to put it away.
    Jake is telling everyone what he stole when I walk back in.
    “ . . . I didn’t even know how to drive, other than the ride on lawn mower and the times Gramps would let me drive his cart for him when he went golfing.”
    Interrupting, I ask, “What’d you steal?”
    Jake grins. “Mr. Carlson’s mail truck.”
    My eyes widen. “You did not.”
    “I sure did.”
    “How old were you?” I ask.
    “I was ten.”
    Then I glance at Reilly. She looks just as shocked. “How did we not know this?”
    Jake laughs, “Gramps whooped my ass so badly I never bragged about it.”
    Reilly gasps, “Gramps spanked you?”
    He nods. “I couldn’t sit down for a week. See, messing with mail is a federal offence and the only reason Mr. Carlson didn’t turn me in was he and Gramps knew I did it. Gramps wanted him to be sure I’d never do it again.”
    “Did you crash?” I ask, sitting back down.
    “Nope. He wouldn’t admit it until he took me to get my learner’s permit, but Gramps said I was a natural.”
    “That is so much cooler than my gum story,” Reilly breathes.
    Then we all look at Heath.
    “What’d you steal?” Reilly asks.
    He frowns. “Nothing cool. A case of beer from my neighbor’s garage for a party when we were in high school.”
    He’s right; Jake’s story was way cooler.
    “Your turn, Jake,” Reilly says.
    “Speaking of high school, never have I ever gotten drunk at a high school party.”
    We all drink. Neither Jake nor Heath seems shocked that Reilly does, but they both give me looks.
    “Come on,