"Back when we were twelve, it was all about who could get a peck on the cheek from Upton first," Noelle explained, slightly lowering her voice. "But now that we're older, things have gotten a bit more intense."
"Basically, whoever hooks up with Upton first wins the Upton Game," Tiffany clarified, taking a sip of champagne.
21
I nearly choked on a large bite of strawberry. "Omigod. Ew!" I said, covering my mouth. "You guys all have hooked up with Upton? "
"Reed! Please! I don't think my father could quite hear you," Noelle admonished, swiveling in her seat to check the back of the plane. But her father was still barking away on the phone. She settled in, smoothing her long black skirt over her legs. '7 have not. Cheek peck back in the day? Yes. But for the last few years I've been . . . otherwise occupied, guywise."
Noelle and I avoided eye contact.
"But pretty much everyone else has hooked up with him," Tiffany added, swigging from her champagne glass again.
I looked at Tiffany. As long as I had known her, she'd never had a serious boyfriend. In a weird way, I had always thought she was sort of above the petty pursuit of guys. She usually had so much other stuff going on. Her love of photography kept her well occupied--she always was shooting for classes, for fun,' for the school paper, and sometimes even for magazines in New York City. She also was a straight-A student and sang in the Easton Chorale. The thought of her with a guy was totally out of context.
"Even you?" I asked.
Tiffany blushed and shrugged. "We all have our weaknesses."
"Everyone except Taylor," Noelle amended. "She's been coming down for the last few Christmases as Kiran's guest, and she's yet to win."
"Not for lack of trying," Tiffany added, rolling her eyes.
Noelle laughed lightly, and I looked down at my hands. It was
22
going to be so odd seeing Taylor Bell and Kiran Hayes again after more than a year. I hadn't spoken to Taylor in ages--not since the night she disappeared from Easton so mysteriously. The last time I saw Kiran was the night she confessed that she had played a role in Thomas Pearson's kidnapping. The kidnapping that had led to his murder.
Even with all of that hanging over us, I couldn't wait to see them. I suppose that time heals all wounds. Or absence makes the heart grow fonder. I guess cliches are cliches for a reason.
"So, what do you think, Reed?" Noelle asked with a smirk. "Up for a little Upton?"
"Please," I said with a scoff. "I haven't even met the guy. Besides, I'm not really into players."
Not anymore, I added silently, thinking of Thomas.
"Believe me, when you see him, you'll be in," Tiffany said, toying with the hair at the nape of her neck. She was still blushing. Whatever the allure this guy had, it was strong.
"So, what else do I need to know?" I asked, hoping to change the subject. "The Upton Game isn't all you guys do down there, is it?"
Tiffany and Noelle pretended to have to think about it. "It's the only thing worth doing," Tiffany joked.
"Well, there is Casino Night," Noelle added.
"Ah, Casino Night," Tiffany added, quickly sucking a bit of chocolate from her finger as she adjusted her position in her seat. "The Ryans throw it every year on the night after Christmas, and we all lose tons of money."
"Sounds like fun," I said wryly. "I guess I won't be participating."
23
"Oh, we'll front you some green," Noelle said casually, like it wasn't even a question. "You have to come. Whoever has the most chips at the end of the night wins all the money that's been spent at the tables. We usually give it to charity, but if you win, you could keep it."
My face burned. "Because I am a charity case."
"I didn't mean it like that," Noelle said, rolling her eyes. "I just mean, it would be great if you won."
"They have everything," Tiffany said. "Craps, roulette, blackjack, poker--"