Page 18 of Choosing You

“I just got here. I’m from Iowa.”

“Iowa? Is that in the middle somewhere?”

“Yeah. It’s in the middle,” I say, rolling my eyes.

Blake doesn’t notice or care. Instead his attention wanders to the bar. “I’ll catch you guys later. It’s time to get wasted.”

“I think I’ll grab a beer,” Decker says, eyeing the keg in the corner.

“You want something?” Garret asks me.

“No, I don’t drink.”

He gets this confused look on his face. “Really? Like not at all?”

“Why are you so surprised? We’re underage. It’s illegal.”

“I know, but everyone does it.”

“Obviously that’s not true because I don’t.”

“Okay, well, they probably have some soda. You want that?”

“Sure. Any kind but diet.”

I wait as he goes to a cooler near the keg and gets a can of soda. He fills a plastic cup with beer for himself.

“Do you drink a lot?” I ask when he returns.

“Hmm. Do I drink a lot?” He takes a swig of beer. “Define a lot.”

“If I have to define it, then you definitely drink a lot.” The smell of his beer is making me anxious and a little sick to my stomach.

“Okay, I admit it. I drink a lot. But I try to limit it to the weekends. And maybe two or three weekdays.”

“Then our friendship ends here. I don’t hang out with people who drink. I need to go.” I start heading to the door and hear Garret right behind me.

“Wait. You’re seriously leaving? We just got here.”

“Yeah, and I don’t want to be around you when you’re drinking. Or around any of these people.”

“That’s what a party is, Jade. A bunch of people hanging around drinking.”

“I know. That’s why I never go to parties.” I go out the front door to the outside with Garret following behind.

“Hold on. I’ll drive you back if you really want to leave.”

“You’ve been drinking, Garret. You really think I want you driving me home?”

“I had like two sips of beer.”

“I can get back on my own.” I start walking down the sidewalk.

“Just wait.” He grabs my wrist, forcing me to stop. “I’ll make you a deal. I won’t drink the rest of the night, okay? Just stay for a few hours. It’s your first Saturday night in college. You don’t want to spend it sitting in your room, do you?”

I hear Ryan’s voice in my head, nagging me to be social. “So if I stay, you won’t drink? Even what’s in your hand?”

He eyes the plastic cup. “I can’t finish this?”

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