Page 39 of A New Era

“I thought you wanted the tequila?”

“I need to escape, I’m mixing tonight. Anything goes.”

Numerous brows raise around the table and Aspen sighs, throwing back her first shot.

“Whoa!” Kyla hollers and Aspen flinches. “You okay?”

“Right now, Ky, I don’t need to be talking about Mason in front of his mom.”

“Hey, talk away, you think that boy along with his brother hasn’t made me want to hit the bottle?”

Aspen throws back another shot and physically cringes from the vodka.

“It’s just since he got out of prison, he’s been on edge, like all the time. He won’t talk about it. But at the same time, he doesn’t want me out of his sight. We’ve had fights over the years, but we’re fighting all the damn time lately and over the smallest things. It’s doing my head in.” She pours herself another drink and shoots it back. “Anyway, we’re not here to listen to my miserable life at the moment. Let’s get this party started.”

And the party truly does get started. The drinks flow from bottles to glasses and down our throats without pause. At some point, the music is turned up. The food is eaten. And though the night is becoming hazy from the numerous shots I’ve had, I can still feel my cheeks aching from grinning and my sides hurting from laughing so much. Alannah was right when she suggested I throw this party. It’s what I needed to completely feel like I belong.

“So we basically know everything about everyone here… apart from you!” Bonnie slurs pointing at me.

I’ve been expecting this so I’m kind of prepared and feeling brave from the drink. “What do you wanna know?”

Though my heart thumps in my chest, it’s not like they’ll ask rude questions, not with Alannah here.

“Is Leo the best you’ve ever had?”

Wow. Okay, maybe she doesn’t give a shit if his mom is sitting right here.

“Fuck that, is he the biggest you’ve ever had?” Aspen giggles, clearly less agitated than when she arrived.

Laughter hits the table and I sink another shot. To get it over with, I mutter quickly, “Yes and yes,” and grab Emma’s untouched shot of vodka. I shoot it back and slam the glass on the table, not meeting Alannah’s eye.

“Okay, something more mother-in-law friendly. What about kids? Have you had that conversation yet?” Kyla asks.

“We have and we decided to start trying after the wedding.”

“Then we best start knocking before walking in,” Harper laughs.

The side gate opens and when I force myself to focus, I only see one of Nina walking in.

“I tried ringing the bell but none of you obviously heard me.”

“Oh my god, you’re here!”

I hope I’m not slurring too much because to my ears, I sound fine.

“I can’t stay too long, I’m so tired and Zach will be back soon with Sebastian, but I wanted to show my face.”

She hugs everyone and when she gets to me, I hold onto her before I fall. “I’m sorry to miss you drinking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drunk before.” She laughs.

Some sort of noise leaves my mouth and I wave her away. “I’m not that drunk.”

“Okay, sweetheart, but let’s get you seated, yeah.”

I take her advice and she pulls out the chair next to mine.

“How was Australia?” Alannah asks her.

“It was amazing, but I’ll tell you all about it another time, that way you’ll remember it.”

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