Page 63 of Bewitch

“Both. That. Yes.” I make a face. “He wasn’t even the first to come up to me, but they just want to get me drunk. I’m not here for that.”

“You aren’t here for food or to drink. You just want a good time. I get that. Maybe it’ll be more fun outside. Did you bring a swimsuit?” she asks.

“No, but as long as no one is shoving other people into the pool, I’m willing to dip my toes in.”

Kaylie glances at Eliza and whistles innocently.

“Don’t you dare,” I tell her.

“But it’s fun!” she declares.

“You are too much,” I say.

We hang out for the two of them to finish eating and then head outside. Guys and girls are shoving each other into the pool, regardless of whether or not they’re in swimsuits, so I stay away from there entirely. We manage to find some chairs and sit down. Kaylie and Eliza both drink, Kaylie a little heavier than Eliza.

“Can I drive us back?” I ask.

“Now?” Kaylie asks, confused.

I shake my head. “When we’re ready to go.”

“Oh! You want my keys!” Kaylie tosses them to me. “You better be careful with my girl.”

“Will do.” I tuck them away into my purse.

“I won’t be drinking much more,” Eliza says, “so if you change your mind and want to start, I’ll drive us home.”

“Thanks, but I’m good.”

While I don’t drink, it’s fun to watch the other partygoers get drunk and drunker, but the later it gets, the more guys start to hit on me, and it just makes me feel so gross. If they’re legit, than it’s only because I lost some weight. Yes, on one hand, it should make me feel good that my hard work is obvious to others, but it also annoys me to no end to think that they wouldn’t have even glanced my way before.

Eventually, it gets to the point that I glower at any guy who even dares to look in my direction. Ridiculous, maybe, but I’m tired, and it’s getting harder to say no to drinks.

Eliza’s singing along to a song, and I try to sing along, but my heart isn’t really in it.

Kaylie drapes her arms around us. “I love this party,” she says with a laugh.

“So I take it you don’t want to leave yet.”

“No. Why? You do?”

I grimace.

“We can Uber,” Eliza says.

“Or you can drive,” I tell her.

Brooke and Declan showed up a few hours ago, but they’ve been making you in various locations and probably slipping away to do more than that so I’m not going to bug them for a ride.

“I’ll Uber,” I add. “Don’t let me kill your buzz. Just knock on my door when you get in so I know you’re home safe and sound, okay? Promise?”

“I promise,” Eliza says as I hand her the keys.

I hug them both and arrange for an Uber. As I wait, Dave comes over.

“I thought I saw you,” he says, smiling. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much.” I try not to make it obvious that I’m looking around for a car.

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