Page 97 of Girls Will Be Girls
Willie looks at me confused. “Why would I need to tell you that?”
I take note of the fact that Willie didn’t correct me when I said besties.
“I thought we had something special Willie,” I say.
He whips a teatowel onto his shoulder. “Come clean my bar tonight and we’ll see.”
“Touche.”
I order a bottle of champagne — it’s calledSparkling Bubble,so it must be good — salute Willie, and make my way down through the pumping crowd to find the birthday girl.
After the bar equivalent of machete-ing my way through a jungle, I find the loudest table in the room with about fifteen girls all wearing cowboy hats in different states of drunkenness.
Casey spots me and jumps up to hug me. “You’re heeere.” She shakes me in her arms as I giggle.
“Happy birthday!” I hand her the champagne once she lets me go.
She woos like the true twenty-one-year-old that she is, and all of her friends join in.
I’m ushered to the group, where I meet so many people I instantly forget most of their names. Thankfully, they’re all so fully gone already they won’t remember me either. Casey hands me two different fruity drinks, demanding I finish them“Stat!”before she pops the bottle I gave her, and we all woo.
I’m not sure how long passes with the group descending into madness and almost pee-inducing giggles as we playNever Have I Ever. Two cocktails, one glass of fake champagne, and multiple embarrassing confessions about my past hookups later, I go pee before heading back to the bar.
I queue up again, and luckily the crowd has moved to either sit or dance, making the space a bit more breathable.
“Willie,” I say, a hint of tipsyness peaking through. “Could I please have a fruity little drink ‘cause I can’t shoot whiskey?”
He shakes his head, the slightest hint of a smile peaking up on the corner of his mouth. “Shouldn’t you be the responsible adult in that group?” He starts mixing a cocktail for me.
“I think you just called me old, Willie,” I say, mock offended. “I’m just a girl.”
He shrugs, and that’s when I notice Lou leaning on the corner of the bar, sipping a beer with his eyes down.
He looks tired. I wonder if he slept at all last night.
I try to catch his attention, but he doesn’t lift his eyes long enough.
As soon as I have my drink, I thank Willie and bounce up to Lou.
“Hey.” I grin.
“Hi.” He nods curtly, keeping his eyes in front of him before taking a sip of his drink.
My happy mood instantly sours at his response.
“What’s up with you?” I step away from his attitude.
“Nothing.” He stands up straight and moves his eyes anywhere but to me.
Not accepting his attitude towards me, I don’t back down. “What is it?”
He’s still not looking at me, so I move into his eyeline.
Lifting my brows, I repeat myself firmly. “What is it?”
He finally lowers his eyes to me. “It’s nothing.” He huffs. “It’s dumb. Just forget it.”
I step closer to him, wrapping a finger around his. He jerks his head to where I’m touching him and then back to me.
