Page 83 of Still Love You

"Yeah." I step back. "Sorry. I'm not sure why I did that."

He laughs a little. "It's okay."

"I guess I just wanted to give you one last hug since I know I shouldn't be touching you at the party."

"Willow, of course you can touch me. What are you talking about?"

"You were right, Silas. I can't keep pretending you're my boyfriend. It's not fair to you."

"Then don't pretend." He circles his arms around my waist and pulls me toward him. "Let's just do this. Let's get back together."

"It won't work."

"Tell me why."

I don't know how to answer him, so I don't. I just look into his eyes as if they have the answers. Then, without thinking, I reach up to kiss him, but stop when I hear Trent behind me.

"You guys see a bottle opener in here?" He walks past us, acting like he didn't catch us about to kiss. "I used it the other day and now I can't find it."

I step away from Silas. "I'll find it and bring it out."

"Silas, I need some help getting the pool cover off."

"Yeah, okay." He follows Trent outside.

I look out the window and see Trent talking with his hands in the air like he's yelling at Silas. He's probably angry I'm here. He's acting nice to me, but I know he doesn't want Silas getting involved with me again.  

We get everything set up and an hour later people start arriving. At first it's just a few guys from my high school, mostly football players who were in Trent's class. They all brought girls with them; hot girls with big breasts and long legs, wearing short little dresses to cover up their bikinis, which they show off when they get to the pool. I notice Silas checking them out. He's a guy. Of course he's going to look. Even I'm looking because these girls have great bodies, and they're tall so I'm jealous of their height.

People continue to arrive over the next hour, so many that the back yard is getting crowded and the pool is filling up. I see some more people from my high school but none who were in my class. Since being home, I haven't even tried calling any of my high school friends. I've been too busy hanging out with Silas.

Speaking of Silas, he's looking extremely hot tonight with his new haircut, deep tan, and a layer of stubble across his face. He's wearing a black t-shirt and jeans and a thick black leather band around his wrist. The leather band is one he made himself. He used to make ones just like it to sell at his mom's jewelry booth. They'd always sell out within an hour. Girls bought them for their boyfriends or guys bought them because they knew girls liked them.

Silas is standing by the pool, talking to people, a bottle of soda in his hand. He won't drink alcohol tonight, knowing he'll be driving later. I, on the other hand, could use a drink. I've been in the kitchen the past hour, bringing burgers and steaks out to Trent, who's been manning the grill. But he appears to be done grilling because he's now downing a beer with a blonde on each arm.

I grab a cup and fill it with the rest of the margarita from the blender. Leah, one of Trent's friends, keeps coming in and making them. She's made all different flavors but this one is strawberry. I take a big gulp. It's really good. And strong.

"Do you like it?" Leah comes bouncing in. She's one of those people who bounces instead of walks. She's high energy and moves really fast. She's about five feet tall with long, silky black hair. She's really tan, which looks good with her orange bikini.

"I love it. It's probably the best margarita I've ever had. I hope you don't mind that I took some."

"Not at all." She goes around me to the blender. "I'll make some more. Do you want strawberry again?"

"Yeah, that sounds good." I lift my cup. "What do you put in these? They taste better than the typical margarita."

"I add a few mint leaves. It adds a fresh flavor and cuts the sugar so it's not so sweet." She opens the fridge and grabs a sprig of mint. "I'm a bartender in San Francisco. Margaritas are my specialty."

"Do you go to school there? In San Francisco?"

"No. I just bartend." She tosses some strawberries in the blender and adds the mint. "I like the job and I make a lot of money. It's an upscale bar. A lot of business people go there to unwind after a stressful day." She pours a generous amount of tequila over the berries. "We have the same people show up there almost every night."

Will that be me someday? Going to the bar every night because I'm so stressed from work?

"How do you know Trent?" I ask.

"I met him at a party." She drops a handful of ice cubes in the blender. "Just a minute." She whirs the blender until the mixture is smooth, then opens the lid and dips her finger in.

"Hey, Willow, did you—" Trent stops mid-sentence, his eyes on Leah. I turn and see her licking the margarita off her finger, oblivious to Trent.

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