“Oh.” I give her a thumbs-up. I must still be really fucked up because I want her to talk to me. I want her to tell me I just dreamt the last twenty minutes of my life.
“I’m Liz,” I say, holding out my hand to her.
She shakes it. She’s really fucking strong. “Emerson. Emerson Reed.”
I nod my head and wet the paper towels, trying to remove all trace of physical embarrassment.
“I never drink. I also never go to parties or throw myself at people. I may have to stay in this bathroom for the rest of my life.”
“Regrets are the foundation of improvement. You’ll be fine,” she says.
“You don’t understand. I barely know him and he’s my ride home. He’s actually my ride to and from work every day.”
She huffs and leans her back against the sink. She’s really pretty, short and heavyset with a little extra baggage at the waist. She’s wearing a flowy knee-high skirt and combat boots. I wonder where she works.
“Must be nice. My ride to and from work is the bus.”
She pulls out some cherry lip balm and applies it to her lips.
“It is and it isn’t. I’d give anything to not be alone with him tonight. I’m so embarrassed. How will I ever look at him again?”
“Then take the bus. Slip out and he’ll never know.”
I consider the bus maps I’ve read. It will take several hours and a few changes to get home, but it sounds better than having to deal with Finn’s questions. Then it hits me. Finn said he wouldn’t mind driving more people. Even though I’m fucked up and probably shouldn’t speak for him, I do it anyway.
“How about if we giveyoua ride?” I ask her.
She stops fumbling through her purse and glances up at me, surprised. “Won’t your boyfriend mind?”
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s really not even my friend. And no, he said he should add more people to our carpool.” I’m lying, but I desperately want her to save me. “I live in Westminster, so as long as you’re going past me, we’re good. He lives in Huntington Beach.”
“Shoot, I’m not that far,” she replies. “But I could ask around and see if I can find someone else.”
“Do it!” I shout excitedly. “I’ll stay here until you come back.”
She nods and rushes out the door. This could really save my ass.
