Page 76 of I Blame the Alcohol

I halt her words with a raised hand, “Just hear me out. There is one other thing I haven’t told you about my family. My father is… well, extremely wealthy.”

Lou blinks, “You’re rich?”

I sigh and gesture towards my bed, “You might want to sit down for this one. To put it in perspective, let me tell you about the facilities in my family house…”

Chapter 23

Cody

It's the first party I am attending with Stella as my girlfriend, so naturally she decided it would be best if I showed up alone.

For the most part, anyways.

“I feel like I should close my eyes for the grand reveal, what do you think?” Wes snaps his fingers before I can get a word in. “Actually, blindfolds might work better. That way I can’t cheat.”

I stifle a laugh, “Is the pitch-black room not enough for you?”

Wes sighs as if I just suggested we cancel the party and all go home early.

“Dude. The room can’t be pitch black if people are glowing inside.” He gestures towards the paint glowing from our naked torsos.

That’s right. Stella managed to convince the entire lacrosse team to go shirtless. Not that it took much convincing with Nico and Wes already on board. The rest of the team has no choice but to follow.

I look at the green and purple swirls covering Wes’ chest and abdomen, each one strategically placed so the glow makes him look more defined than usual. I, on the other hand, have the artistic ability of a two-year-old, so the blue streaks covering my chest are randomly placed on every spot I could reach.

“You make a fair point. I still don’t think the blindfolds are necessary, though.”

“Did someone say blindfolds? I’m in.” Nico emerges from the dance floor, his brow glistening with sweat and orange warrior glow paint.

Wes groans, “I’m still recovering from walking in on you and a blindfolded Mark Chu. Worst roommate moment ever.”

Nico laughs, his white teeth glowing brightly in the dark room, “I forgot about Chu! Man, that was a fun night. Shame he didn’t want a repeat.”

“Even if he did, you wouldn’t have taken him back.” Wes puts his hands together in prayer, “Nico Montez does not do repeats. Amen.”

“Amen.” Nico raises his glass and gives me a solemn nod. I shake my head at the duo, their status of childhood best friends shining through every interaction.

Glancing around the room, I admire the neon-themed decorations lighting up every corner. Nico and Wes somehow managed to convince Taber’s one and only nightclub, BA$$, to host the event in exchange for a five dollar entry fee and a cash-only bar.

The local hotspot is nothing if not profitable.

Nico lets out a wolf whistle just as the song switches to a seductive Spanish beat, “Mi amigos, I think your ladies have arrived.”

The change in tempo seems to change the atmosphere of the room. Or maybe it’s just my heart rate that’s changed.

Two figures move easily through the swarming crowd, the glow of Stella’s hair making it easy to spot them. Wes looks like he's about two seconds from dropping to one knee, and if I’m being honest, I might not be far behind him.

“Trip, you look amazing. My balls feel blue already.”

Nico cracks up while Lou rolls her eyes. The dark room makes it hard to tell if she is blushing, but based on previous interactions with her, I’d say chances are her cheeks are pretty red right now.

“Charming, Wes.”

He grins, taking Lou’s hand and pulling her flush against him. Neon green lines glow down Lou’s back, dancing and intertwining with the crisscrossing straps of her white top.

It has Stella written all over it.

Wes shrugs modestly, “It’s not my fault my girlfriend is a smoke show.”

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