Page 75 of Tell Me It’s Right

“Gracie, you want something to drink?” offers Raquel. “We have beer and wine coolers.”

I blink back to the beach and smile as I take one of the strawberry ones and smooth out my towel next to Raquel. “Thanks for letting me crash your group.”

“Crash our…girl, you’re part of the group now!” She bumps her shoulder against mine and lowers her voice. “The girl who looks like she’s about to shove her fist down Carson’s throat is Mina, and that’s Bev. They work at the club too but live up near Jersey City. Came down here to escape the big Fourth crowds.”

Bev props her red heart-shaped glasses on her head and smiles at me. “You dance too?”

“Oh, no. Carson and I have known each other since we were kids.”

“Oh, cute! Childhood besties. Wish I had one of those. The girls I knew growing up were raging cunts.” She laughs at whatever she sees on my face, then reties her bikini around her neck and jumps to her feet. “Promise I’m a girls’ girl.Theyweren’t. I’m hitting the water!” And with that, she takes off for the waves at a run.

Raquel pats my leg. “You get used to her.”

I sip my drink as the girls start talking about some guy who comes into their work a lot. It’s kind of a relief to be out of the conversation for a minute anyway. I lean back on my elbows and people watch. The beach is much busier than a normal day, but not nearly as bad as the bigger celebrations farther north.

Mom and Dad used to take us to those when we were kids. The day was full of fried Oreos and amusement park rides and sparklers. These days they opt for a little backyard get-together since they have a good enough view of the fireworks from their porch. Mom always makes the best pasta salad anyway.

Carson says something I don’t hear, and everyone laughs. I smile along like I was paying attention.

Mom and Dad were really encouraging about me not spending today with them, saying I should go out and celebrate likethe young folks.But I can’t help but wonder what they’re doing right now, if Leo and Keava are there yet, if?—

“First round’s on me!” Carson squeals as everyone climbs to their feet and starts packing their things.

“I’ll grab Bev,” Raquel mutters, then takes off toward the water.

Carson appears at my side once she’s finished folding her towel, and she tosses her arm over my shoulders. “So Gracie, you ever done a blowjob shot?”

Everyone is wasted and the sun hasn’t even gone down yet. Well, everyone but me. After the first red, white, and blue thing that tasted like straight up toothpaste, I’ve managed to artfully dodge each round of shots with quick trips to the bathroom or simply getting “lost” in the crowded bar.

The High Dive is one of the few bars left around here without the Brooks name attached to it, and it shows. Rather than the sleek, upscale feel the rest of them have, the High Dive seems to relish in its dinginess. All of the windows are covered with thick velvet curtains, and other than a few light fixtures hanging above the booths on the outskirts of the room, the space is lit with various neon signs.

After my third disappearing act, the bartender met my eyes with a smirk, clearly catching on. We went to high school together, actually. Fletcher, I think his name is. He fills my shot glasses with water for the rest of the night, and the girls are too far gone to notice.

It was busy when we showed up, but we’re well past standing room only now. I can’t even see the pool tables, just hear the crack of the balls in the distance. I thought maybe after I gave it some time, the whole thing would get more fun, but it’s just…not.

I check the time on my phone for the hundredth time tonight and finally pluck up the nerve to grab Carson and say, “Hey, I’m going to head out! I’m not feeling too great!”

I have to shout it over the music, and she blinks drunkenly at me for a moment like her brain is struggling to process the words.

“I can walk you home!” she says.

I don’t have faith she can walk at all at this point. If it weren’t for Raquel also being mostly sober, I don’t think I could bring myself to leave her at all.

“I’m gonna grab a taxi!”

Hopefully they planned for a lot of business tonight and it doesn’t take forever.

She pouts but hugs me goodbye, and I squeeze my way through the crowd toward the door, leaving a chorus of “Bye, Gracie!”s in my wake.

When a driver pulls up to the curb outside the bar, instead of Leo’s address, I give him Mom and Dad’s.

I close my eyes and lean my head against the window as the music fades behind us.

It doesn’t occur to me this might be a bad idea until we’re pulling into my parents’ driveway and there’s an extra truck parked there.

A very familiar, very pristine truck.

If the ride over here weren’t so damn expensive, I’d have half a mind to turn right around and head home.

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