Page 75 of I Blame the Alcohol

Lou’s eyes widen with alarm, “Tell me it’s not a leather pantsuit.”

“To be fair, we looked hot as hell in those.”

“True but I nearly killed myself trying to put it on.”

I laugh, waving away her concern, “I promise it won’t be as elaborate as matching pantsuits.”

Lou raises a disbelieving eyebrow.

“Hon, you are just going to have to trust me on this one. Have I ever let you down?”

She opens her mouth then closes it.

I pretend to shoot her with an imaginary gun, “Exactly. I’ve got you and that is all you need to know. Your job is going to be finding cool designs for us to paint on each other.”

“I think I can handle that.” Lou tilts her head in thought, her golden-brown waves falling loosely over her shoulder.

“Do you think anyone else will be wearing paint?”

I grin, “If Nico has anything to do with it, absolutely.”

We shuffle from the living room to my bedroom. The picture frame Lou gave me before the break hanging proudly above my desk. I catch her smile when she sees it, but before I can thank her for the thoughtful gift, my phone buzzes on my desk.

CODY: Not sure why the space next to me is so cold…

I grin, reaching over to grab my phone.

ME: We’ve been apart two hours. Johnson would say this adds to your whip tally.

CODY: Don’t remind me. Your family is ruthless.

CODY: … in a good way!

I laugh at the obvious backpedal while Lou busies herself with my open closet, flipping through the one section I didn’t bring home.

ME: Good catch there, Captain.

CODY: I do my best. So, am I coming to you or are you coming to me tonight?

I glance at the pathetic mattress pad this university calls a bed. There is a four-inch-thick topper separating me from the terrible blue Styrofoam, but it is nowhere near restful material.

ME: Yours.

CODY: Sounds good. See you soon.

“Hey, why are all these clothes in my size?” Lou pulls out an adorable silver camisole that I have been saving for a special occasion.

“Are they?” I try for an innocent look but come up short.

“Stella, have you been buying clothes for me all year?” She gasps, bringing a hand to cover her mouth, “Is this where all our event outfits come from?”

She looks at my unopened suitcase on the floor and I quickly hold up my hands in surrender, “Okay, you got me. All those clothes hanging in there are for you. I didn’t want to overwhelm you with them all at once, so that’s why I save them for the perfect occasion.”

Lou shakes her head, “This must have been so expensive. How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing. I bought these of my own free will.”

“But Stella…”

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