Page 45 of Heresy

“Actually, I’ll have some alcohol with it tonight.”

Surprise bleeds into his expression. “Growing up, I see. What’s the special occasion?”

Normally, I’m a plain soda only type girl, but I figure it’s safe enough to have one girly drink tonight and water for the rest of the time. That way Brenna and Naomi don’t feel weird for being the only ones drinking.

“There isn’t one.”

I try to think of what I want to drink but come up empty of ideas. “I don’t know what I want. I’ll take whatever has an umbrella in it.”

My order was mostly a joke, but Harrison takes me seriously, turning to whip me up something before I have the chance to stop him.

I shrug and glance around the club. There are some familiar faces of the regulars who are here almost every night, but for the most part, there’s no crowd yet.

It’s Friday, though, so that’s likely to change within the next few hours.

“Here you go. One blue Hawaiian, on the house.”

My gaze snaps back to him then down to the Olympic size swimming pool he’s placed in front of me.

“It’s huge.”

How the hell can any person drink that much alcohol? The damn glass is bigger around than my head, the pink paper umbrella barely clinging onto life by the rim. Ice cubes float around like miniature icebergs, their glossy surfaces bobbing just above the line of bright blue liquid as if waiting for the Titanic to come by so they can sink it.

If I accidentally trip and spill the drink, I’ll need a life raft to make it to safety for fear of drowning in the tsunami.

And after drinking it, I won’t just be intoxicated, I’ll need an ambulance ride to the hospital to have my stomach pumped and IV hydration.

“I asked for a drink, Harrison, not a dog’s water bowl. What am I supposed to do? Stick my tongue out and lap it up?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “There’s a straw.”

Poking at the tiny pink straw with his finger, he uses his other hand to shove the drink my direction.

I shove it back, the liquid sloshing dangerously close to the rim.

“There’s no way. I can’t drink all of it.”

“Then don’t,” he insists, shoving it back. “But it’s free, and it won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t finish it.”

Cornered by his argument, I accept the drink. It takes two hands to lift it, nervousness a heavy blanket over my shoulders as I turn and carefully navigate the other patrons who are moving this way and that, either to the dance floor or the bar.

Somehow, I manage to reach my table without spilling the drink on my shirt, relief flooding me to set it down.

Both Brenna’s and Naomi’s eyes widen to see the size of it, Brenna smiling a Cheshire grin as Naomi takes a sip of her much more manageable drink choice.

“I know you said we were meeting over drinks, Brin.” Brenna’s voice does nothing to hide her amusement. “But I didn’t think you were ordering for all three of us.”

Naomi chuckles, and I roll my eyes.

“I had no idea it would be this big.”

“Sure you didn’t, sweetheart. It’s okay. We won’t say anything.”

I plop down into my seat and carefully place the drink on the table in front of me. Taking the first sip isn’t a terrible decision, though. For as ridiculously large as it is, the drink is rather good.

I glance up at my two classmates and offer a pleasant grin.

“Thanks for coming tonight.”

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