“You know I hate you, right?”
Hollis grinned, bumping his shoulder to Ryan’s before he gave the punch a final stir. “That’s what you said before we went bowling last week.”
“And I was terrible!”
He really had been. Yet he’d also smiled more than Hollis had ever seen before. “But did you have fun?”
Hollis got a glare, which he felt was enough of a yes to continue preparing for the gathering. “It’s only a few friends.”
“How many?”
“Four, but one of them’s Debra, whom you know.”
“Whom I’ve met once.”
“Well now you’re meeting her again.”
“I hate you,” Ryan grumbled. Hollis ignored it. If Ryan was actually upset, he’d tell Hollis. They’d gotten that far at least. Hollis hoped.
The doorbell rang and Hollis held out the crackers he’d been setting on a tray. “Can you finish this while I
