Page 39 of All Your Tomorrows

“There’s no way you’re even twenty-one,” I said.

“I will be…in three years.”

Hannah and I burst into laughter. “Have you met…” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “What was your name?”

“Derrick,” he said with a grin.

I looked back to Hannah. “Have you met my very young friend Derrick?”

“Haven’t had the pleasure,” she said as the song ended and another began.

“I think the lady wants a dance,” I said to him.

“Thanks, Beautiful,” he said as he finally released my hips and moved his hands to Hannah’s.

“You’re welcome,” I teased Hannah before weaving my way through the dance floor. I found Al at the bar in the kitchen and he mixed me up another concoction which burned just as much as the others going down. But I didn’t care. I needed this night. I needed my friend back. I need to forget Rick and Zoe.

“You ready to head home?” Izzy asked sometime after one.

“Home?” I asked, my words slurred. “They were just starting to play good music.”

She laughed. “Come on. I’m exhausted.”

“Fine,” I relented, downing the rest of my drink.

Outside, the cold rush of air sent goosebumps popping up all over my skin. Totally rethinking the no jacketandamount I’d drank because each step brought me sideways. Izzy wrapped her arm around me and we weaved our way toward home.

“I think we drank too much,” she slurred.

“Me too,” I slurred back.

We burst into laughter.

“I needed this,” she said.

“Me too.”

“You don’t need me to go out and have fun, you know,” Izzy said.

“I know, it’s just not the same without you here.”

“Don’t guilt-trip me. I already miss it,” she said.

“Oh my God, I’m not trying to. I just mean…going out isn’t fun without you.”

“I told you, you need a man.”

“My vibrator works just fine,” I assured her.

Our laughter cut through the cold night air as we stumbled our way up the front steps. I struggled with my key, somehow unlocking the door as Izzy pushed it open. We fell inside, landing unceremoniously on the floor. We howled in laughter, tears rolling down our cheeks.

“Looks like you girls had fun,” Kyler said.

My laughter ceased, forgetting he’d be wide awake when we got home.

“What’s wrong?” Izzy asked.

“Our roommate doesn’t sleep,” I explained.

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