Page 107 of Life of the Party

“What do you mean?” He wondered innocently.

“You know what I mean. Charlie, remember her? His girlfriend?”

“Oh, right. That.” Grey grimaced, looking through my purse.

“Yes, that.” I stopped what I was doing and looked up at him. “So?”

“So…” Grey sighed. “Mackenzie, it’s none of our business.”

“It wasn’t, until my fucking license was stolen.” I insisted. “It sure the hell is now.”

“Fine. Zack is seeing somebody else. Okay? Happy?”

“What? He is? Here?” I froze in disbelief. I thought of my friend at home, pining for a boyfriend who was totally cheating, and felt a little less anger towards her. (Only a little.) “Are you sure? How do you know?”

“Because. Normally, I share this room with Zack. I know.”

I cast a wary glance at the other bed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you’d tell Charlie.”

“Of course I would. He’s totally ghosted her, Grey; he hasn’t talked to her once.” My voice rose defensively. “She’s heartbroken because of it. You should see her.”

“Charlie’s tough, sugar. Trust me, she’s better off.”

I shook my head and bent down to rifle through my suitcase again, riddled with disbelief. “I’m telling her, Grey.” I decided. “She deserves to know.”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged. “Just leave me out of it.”

After our search proved fruitless, I flopped down on the bed, defeated.

“Ugh, this sucks.” I covered my face with my hands. I wanted to punch something, to hit something really, really hard. Better yet, I wanted to get high. I wanted to get wasted even more than before, but now, ironically, the club was out of the question.

“This ruins everything, doesn’t it?” I spoke through clenched teeth, aggravated, staring up at the ceiling.

“Man, you’re dramatic.” Grey chuckled, and his blue eyes were amused as he looked down at my despondent form lying crushed across the bed. “Nothing is ruined. So the plans change a bit. No big deal.”

“No big deal?” I looked up at him incredibly.

“Yeah.” He shrugged. “We’ll find something else to do.”

“Like what? Watch the UFC?” I suggested sourly.

“Maybe.” He grinned. “Just leave it up to me, Mackenzie. License or no, I promise you an eighteenth birthday you’ll never forget.”

I sighed. It wasn’t that I doubted him, but I couldn’t see how anything would top the club after I’d had my heart set on it for so long. Grey’s handsome face was so hopeful, so eager though, I couldn’t help but have my spirits lifted. It sucked that my birthday was ruined, it was a huge disappointment, but at least I got to spend it with him. Softly, I returned his smile.

“Promise?”

“Promise. Just let me make a couple calls.”

“Grey.” I grasped his hand as he moved from the bed, and smiled my gratitude up at him. “Thank you. I’m sorry if I ruined your weekend.”

“Nah,” he smirked, “my weekend was made the moment you got off the plane.”

CHAPTER 44

Grey left shortly afterwards. I had no idea where he was going or what he was doing, but he promised not to be long and gave me a wicked grin before heading out the door. Fervently, I hoped he was going to get some cocaine or something. I hadn’t been able to bring my stash onto the plane with me and was beginning to get antsy from the lack, especially with the mood I was in. I bit my lip, picking up the remote and idly flipping through the channels on TV, trying not to think of Charlie.

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