Page 75 of Falling Like Snow

“You’ve talked to everyone’s parents?”

“Sarah, Amanda, and Annie are here with me, and I texted everyone else’s parents. Everyone’s good with it. Just, you know, be responsible. Make good choices,” she says.

“Of course. Ellis was smart enough to have pizza delivered right after school before the roads got too bad, so we won’t be drinking on an empty stomach,” I assure her. “And we know the rule: Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.”

Mom gasps. “I don’t even want to know how you know that little phrase.”

I laugh. “I’m in high school, Mom. And Jake looks for any excuse to have a party. But don’t worry, we won’t do too many drugs, and we’ll pay the strippers well.”

“You’re not making me feel any better about this.”

“We’ll be fine. You forget we have goody-two-shoes Ellis and golden boy Asher here. The most trouble we’ll get in is if we accidentally burn the house down.”

“That’s it, I’m walking home. I’m sure someone has snowshoes I can borrow.”

“Stop it,” I say. “I promise we’ll behave.”

“Okay, change my sheets and someone can use my bed. We have an air mattress in the basement, and—”

“Mom, I got it. Stop worrying. Hosting is in my blood. Go have fun with your friends.”

“I wish. But we’re still whipping this place into shape so we can host the winter-solstice gathering here,” she says.

“Well, you can do that with a glass of wine and a Hallmark Christmas movie on in the background, I’m sure.”

“You’re right. We’ll try to turn this into a proper slumber party.”

“Excellent,” I say. “See you in the morning?”

“Please be good.”

“I’m always an angel.”

“I know,” she says. “I got lucky.”

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you. Good night. Call me if you need anything.”

When I end the call, nine pairs of eyes are trained on me.

“Welp, our study party just turned into an all-nighter,” I announce.

“Hell yeah!” Jake shouts, followed by laughter.

“I had no idea you liked studying so much,” Fern says to him, continuing to edit the video she’s been working on.

“Come upstairs with me and I’d be happy to show you just how much I like studying,” Jake says, leaning back in his chair with a wink.

Ellis snort-laughs, and I groan.

Fern—too cool to blush at something like that—leans forward with a facial expression that matches his. “You wish.”

“Certainly not denying that,” Jake says with a shrug.

“This is getting awkward,” Chloe says.

“Agreed,” Parker says.