Page 96 of Girls Will Be Girls
Casey:
Don’t change the subject
But THANK YOOOOOU
Willie takes the theme very seriously. Did you find something?
Louisa:
I would never let the birthday girl down.
Casey:
Damn straight.
See you there! I’ll be the drunk one dancing on the bar.
Louisa:
I don’t think Willie will take kindly to you ruining his bar top.
Casey:
It’s my birthday, I can do what I want.
Huntingfor gems in thrift stores today was strangely therapeutic. I never realized how much rage you can take out by sliding hangers along racks.
I was so wound up after my littlechatwith Otto, I went straight to a different coffee shop for a second sugar rush before using all of my annoyed energy to find the perfect outfit for tonight’sIslands in the Laketheme. I was feeling the pressure after both Buck and Casey had been texting me to make sure I was on theme.
I’m now dressed head to toe in rhinestones and tassels, and I love every bit of it. Luckily, I already perfectly embody the coastal cowgirl in a lot of my wardrobe, so it didn’t take a lot to achieve this look. With my trusty cowboy boots, a denim skirt with gems in the shape of hearts on the back pockets, a blue bralette, a white summer jacket with fringe all over it, and of course a gemstoned cowboy hat that looks like anEras Tourrelic, I’m ready.
When I walk through the doors of the bar, it’s already completely packed and pumping. Buck definitely wasn’t kidding when he said it was the best night in town — it looks like the whole town ishere.
I scan the crowd quickly, but it’s too jammed to see more than two feet ahead of me, so I queue up at the bar before venturing out to find familiar faces.
While I wait, I check my texts again. I messaged Lou after my encounter with Otto…
Louisa:
You owe me a drink tonight.
…but he hasn’t replied yet. He was probably busy today, so it’s not surprising, but I got the idea from him that he’d be coming here tonight, so I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything. Or maybe he thought it was one of those doesn’t need a reply texts.
But you’d think he knows me well enough now to know those don’t exist for me.
I finally make it to the front of the queue and put my phone away as I smile widely at Willie, who is looking so effortlessly cool, calm, and collected as always, but this time in a black cowboy hat.
Oh sweet Dolly, have mercy on Buck.
“You know they’re looking for you?” He points to the other end of the bar.
I lean over to try and see down the bar. “Who?”
“I’m pretty sure Casey already has multiple drinks waiting for you.”
That makes me smile even wider.
“Oh,” I say, remembering my conversation with Lou yesterday. “When were you gonna tell me that you’re like besties with Lou?”
