Page 8 of Joint Custody

“I don’t know, guys. I wouldn’t know what to wear. I don’t know how to dance, and I’d probably be a buzzkill,” I said as I swayed and laughed. “Besides, I’m having fun.” I giggled to myself. Wobbly legs were hilarious.

“You know what? You were right. My brother’s friends are so hot.” I rested my head against the cool glass and groaned.

“Oh my god, did something happen with one of them while you were gone?” Simone asked.

“What? No. They don’t want me. I’m not even sure I want them. Oh man, it was so embarrassing. I felt things I’ve never felt before, and I kept blushing like an idiot. They couldn’t get away from me fast enough, and I have to see them again tomorrow. I should get another drink,” I said, finishing my third glass. “Maybe if I drink enough, I can forget about the embarrassment. Oh, wait! I didn’t tell you!”

Simone was nodding off when she jumped awake. “What?”

Annie ran her hand through her hair and waited.

“My brother got me my own apartment! Wooo!” I started yelling.

The girls laughed.

“Okay, now’s the time we better get you out of here before your parents witness you letting loose for the first time.” Annie ushered me toward the exit as the girls walked beside us.

“But new apartment?! That’s awesome. Come on, so many things to celebrate. It’s only fair that we take yournewcar to have anewexperience before crashing at yournewplace so that you can wake up in the morning to interview for anewjob! You can’t say no to that. It’s perfect. And what better way to forget about the embarrassment than immersing yourself in music that’s far too loud for you to hear your own thoughts, around even more hot guys that will make your little crush just a memory?”

We were standing next to the baby-blue Lamborghini and I thought maybe Annie was right. There was a lot to celebrate, and maybe I needed music that was way too loud to hear my own thoughts.

I didn’t think drinking would be this fun, but having done it, I didn’t regret it. Keep the drinks coming. The more the merrier.They were fun. My body swaying as if I was on a swing, I leaned against my car to support myself.

Since I was enjoying this new experience, perhaps the others would be just as fun. As a matter of fact, tonight was the night where I was going to keep doing things I’ve never done before. Tonight, I was going to say . . .

“Yes!” I shouted.

“Are you serious?!” Laura held me by my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

“Yes,” I said again. “Fuck it.”

We all started laughing at my use of expletives. And it felt freeing.

“Woooo!” Simone yelled.

“Shhh!” Annie laughed. “Come on, we’d better get going then!”

“Yes, we should,” I said as I started to feel around my body. “We should . . .” I paused.

“Okay! Come on, let’s go.” Laura laughed.

“Wait, I don’t think I have my key. Where’s my key?” I asked as panic rushed through me.

“Wait, let’s retrace your steps. Where did you last have it? Where’s your bag?” Simone asked.

“I don’t know.” I started to sob. “My parents are going to kill me.”

“It’s okay, we’ll split up and look for it,” Annie said, just in time for me to hear a deep masculine voice come up behind us.

“Looking for this?” he asked, and I shrieked, his glacier-blue eyes freezing me to the spot. My lips trembled and no words came. I couldn’t speak.I thought he left.

“You left it by the patio seats.” He extended my small pink shoulder bag with a silver chain strap.

“Thank you,” I said, taking it and feeling my legs wobble as I felt his eyes on me. I opened the bag to find the keys to my apartment and my new car. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” I looked back up at him and my cheeks heated. It wasn’t the only thing that burned once I realized he wasn’t leaving.

He leaned against my car, next to me, and I let my mind run away with foolish thoughts. Was it possible that he was interested? Did he have something he wanted to say to me?

I was smart as hell so of course I knew better. It was obvious. My friends were older than I was, hotter. Maybe he saw the opportunity to bring my bag over to get the chance to chat them up. And that would be the better outcome anyway because, as I told myself earlier, I wouldn’t even know what to do with him or myself if he was actually interested in me. I was not sure I could handle all of him.

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