Page 9 of Since Always

“No, here here. At the party. Or at least he was—I saw him a little while ago at the bar. He was talking to a really stunning blonde."

"That sounds right," Chris deadpans.

"Well, fuck, that's just great," Owen says with a heavy sigh. "That's my cue to head to the bar, my friends. I think I'm going to need a drink."

At the bar, we grab cocktails, and before I can even take my first sip, someone is grabbing me and jerking me around.

"Cass! Oh—I'm sorry,” Alexis Jones cries. I am so thrilled to see her, I don't even care that my arm is now dripping with the remains of my espresso martini. Lexi's dad is an investment banker in New York who worked with my dad for decades. We have seen each other once or twice a year when our families' trips here have overlapped for the past 15 years. Most of our relationship is through text or comments on social media. She's just one of those friends, though, where despite the lack of frequent communication, every time I see her it's as though we haven't missed a beat.

"You got in today? I've missed you, tons," I say, wrapping her in a giant hug.

"I did. Just a few hours ago, actually. Can I take her? We're outside," she says to the guys after saying her hellos, and Chris waves me away, reminding me to have fun.

"And be safe," Owen adds quickly as we turn to go.

Well, at least he cares if I die or not. I suppose that's progress.

"God, he's still so hot," Lexi says as she pulls me away.

"Yeah, tell me about it."

Lexi whisks me into the large courtyard that sits in the middle of the Antler's Club, and even though it's freezing outside, outdoor heaters are keeping it warm. I'm led to a seating area, where a group of people who seem to be around my age are drinking, vaping and passing around a joint.

Most of the group I already know, or at least know of. Vadim Levin, son of a Russian oligarch; Emmy Windsor, whose family owns all the ski resorts in town; and Bonnie Benoit, the daughter of a famous model and her rock star husband, who I keep seeing everywhere in ads for the country's largest lingerie store. Lexi introduces me to the others, and I take a seat between Lexi and Bonnie.

"How's Columbia?" I ask Lexi.

"Good. Hard. I think I might be bad at numbers."

"Aren't you studying Economics?"

She sips her drink. "Yup. You see why this might be a problem, then."

I laugh. "I do. But you like it?"

"Yeah. I like it. Columbia's cool. I mean, anything is better than high school, right? Especially the stuck-up rich white kid high school I went to. There are at least a few other Black kids at Columbia."

"Ah, yes, I know such high schools well. I'm glad it's good. I always thought it would be cool to go to school right in New York."

She nods. "It can be. What about you? You been doing okay? I mean, since, you know?"

"Since my dad died? You can say it. People are always scared to say it, like they might remind me. I promise I never forget," I say, and laugh a little.

"Yeah. Sorry."

I smile. "No, it's fine. And yeah, I'm doing good. School is good, life is good. I'm good."

"Okay then," she says. "I will note that. Cassidy Sloane is all good."

I wrap my arm around her shoulder, laughing. "Have I mentioned how much I have missed you?"

"No need. I already know."

"So," I say, taking another drink and savoring the flavor. "Tell me everything about your life. How's the dating scene at Columbia? Anyone good?"

"I mean, yeah, I guess. I've been hooking up with this one girl most of this last year, but...I don't know, it's not really a big deal. But, she's cool."

Her expression leads me to believe this isn't the entire story, and she quickly changes the subject to her internship. I don't pressure her for more, though, since I wouldn't want her pressing me on my love life.

---