Page 43 of Enemies with my Bestie’s Brother
I’vespentthefirsthalf of this party avoiding Whitney, still angry with her. But, alcohol makes me warm, and it melted away the anger as if it was ice around my heart. The bartender stopped serving me over an hour ago, but I’ve been swiping drinks off tables as I go along. I know that I’m not supposed to, and that it looks tacky, but I can’t help myself. The alcohol is making me feel better and happier than I did earlier. Every now and again, my mom or Penny will see me swiping a glass and take it off of me, chastising me about how I’ve had enough.
I’ve just swiped a glass off another table when I see a flash of blonde hair in the crowd. Whitney. Even though I was angry at her, I still feel compelled to be around her, especially in my more vulnerable state. I push through the people around me in search of the woman that has my heart.
“Whitney?” I say as I move through the crowd of people.
Is it me, or are the walls closing in on this place? It’s so hot. I start to loosen my tie when I suddenly spot the tall, willowy blonde that has begun dominating all my thoughts and desires.
“Whitney!” My face lights up, and I waltz over to her in good spirits. Once I reach her, I throw my arm around her shoulders and pull her in close.
“Hey, you,” I whisper in her ear.
She lets out a sweet little giggle. She must not be mad at me anymore either. Elated that she’s seemingly forgiven me, I step forward and nuzzle her neck, stumbling in the process. She laughs and slides her arm around me to help me steady myself. The fabric of her dress is smooth and cool, and it feels nice against the alcohol-induced heat emanating from my skin.
“Looks like someone had a bit too much to drink, huh? Shouldn’t the bartender have cut you off?” she asks.
Her voice sounds weird, like she’s been watching too much Crocodile Dundee or something. I shake my head. Maybe the drink is just warping the sound of it.
“I’m sorry for fighting with you earlier. I shouldn’t have tried to push you when you don’t want to be pushed. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I just want to smell your hair and kiss you,” I say as I lean into her, my eyes focused on the deep red color of her lips.
She pulls back and smiles at me before laughing.
“You look great. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in red lipstick before. You should wear it more often.”
Her eyebrows raise as she smiles and looks around the room. Is she looking for someone?
“Grayson Gould!” Whitney shouts, her voice sounding like the same old Whitney again.
Only, her lips didn’t move, and for some reason, it sounded like it came from behind me.
I spin around quickly, dizzying myself in the process. Whitney holds me up as we’re approached by…another Whitney? Wait, what’s going on?
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Whitney…and Whitney? Two Whitneys? I don’t understand. Did you clone yourself? Is one of you an Imposter Whitney?”
My head swivels between the two tall blondees. Now that I’m seeing both of them together, I can tell that there are differences, but the alcohol is fogging my brain too much for me to be able to point them out. I can’t tell which one is actually Whitney. Oh man, I shouldn’t have taken those drinks off random tables.
“Oh my god, you’re completely blitzed, aren’t you?” Whitney with Whitney’s voice asks.
It’s starting to sound like I’m underwater, all the voices and music muffled around me. Am I going to pass out?
“You must be Whitney. He came up and tried to kiss me, but I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m you. He apologized for a fight, but I’ve never met him in my life,” Whitney with the red lipstick responds.
My eyes widen. Oh man, this is so confusing. Is the floor warping underneath me? I start to slide down, and both the Whitneys work to hold me up.
“Thanks. I’ll get him home so that this doesn’t happen again,” Real Whitney says.
My eyes follow Imposter Whitney suspiciously as she walks away.
“Come on, let’s get you home and in bed so that you can sleep.”
“I don’t want to sleep!” I say loudly.
A ton of heads turn to look our way. Guilt runs through me as Whitney’s cheeks turn a rosy shade of pink with embarrassment. Oops, I wasn’t trying to embarrass her. Maybe I should just listen to her and get ready to go to bed.
“Okay, let’s go home and go to sleep.”
I close my eyes for a moment, and when I open them, we’re in the elevator of my building.
