Half an hour later, Jackson announced that his friends had just arrived at the bar. He ducked into his walk-in closet and threw on an all-black outfit faster than a superhero changed into their costume. I joined him in the bathroom as he ran some gel through his hair. I lifted my eyelids to inspect myself. The tears I’d shed earlier had taken off most of my mascara, but I was just buzzed enough not to care.
Jackson eyed my outfit. An old lumpy sweater and jeans.
“You’ll be too hot in that,” he said, moving back to his closet and throwing a tight black V-neck t-shirt at me.
I slipped the sweater over my head. “Why do you ownthis?” I asked, pulling on the tight shirt whose neckline dipped deep into my cleavage.
He just arched an eyebrow and gave me a smile like I was the most naïve little thing.
Jackson knocked back one more shot of tequila. I declined, considering I was already tipsier than I’d been in ages. I was most definitely a lightweight.
We stumbled out into the freezing night air and into a rideshare car. His place was less than a mile from the bar, but he insisted we ride. “We’re not walking in this,” he’d said, dramatic as ever.
The driver seemed amused by our antics and cranked up the radio at our request. We threw the windows down despite the cold, badly belting out the lyrics and laughing so hard we could barely breathe.
It was the most fun I’d had in ages. I felt alive. And when Jackson leaned into me to sing a high note, I became sure of something. We’d passed that weird hypothetical line in my head from acquaintance to friend. I’d finally let my guard down, and I had zero regrets.
Maybe Iwasa mess. But messes were fun.
When we spilled out of the car and into the bar, the crowd proved I was the only person in town with an aversion to a late night out. Jackson’s two friends, Benny and Tobias, met us inside. They both had huge smiles and hugged me like it wasn’t our first time meeting.
Jackson tried to shove another drink down my throat, but I was able to appease him by ordering a mocktail instead. I knew my limits.
Jackson slung an arm around me and Tobias. “We need to dance.”
And we did.
Despite my complete lack of coordination, I made an effort, falling into line and doing my best to keep up. Benny was basically a professional. He stuck one hand under my elbow and led me into some semblance of a rhythm. We couldhave been out there for minutes or hours; I couldn’t keep track. My lips hurt from smiling and it was hard to remember the reason I had even gone to Jackson’s tonight.
“Water!” I shouted at Jackson, who barely nodded before letting me slip away through the crowd. Once I was on the outskirts, I tracked down one of the large canisters they had against the wall and took a plastic glass. I poured water and chugged it before getting a refill. I caught sight of myself in the mirror. Wild hair. Red-faced. But mostly happy.
My phone vibrated.
Reid: Hope you’re having fun at Jackson’s. Goodnight!
My chest tightened as I read his words over and over again.
“What’s that face for?” Jackson asked, practically limping over to the water station before pouring himself a brimming glass.
I held up my phone to show him the text.
His eyes scanned it, and he pursed his lips. “Aw. That doesn’t read like a guy who doesn’t like you.”
“I know,” I said, suddenly met with an overwhelming sensation of missing Reid. If I was at his house right now, I might be curled up next to him in bed. The thought was comforting and tugged at my heart.
“Let’s send a selfie,” Jackson said, snatching my phone and holding it out. I smiled wide at the camera as he made a kissy face and hovered it next to my cheek. I laughed when I saw it.
“Don’t send that, I look gross.”
Jackson ignored me, already pressing send. “You look fine.”
Reid’s response was almost immediate.
Reid: Oh, you went out?
Jackson and I both hovered over the text, our foreheads nearly pressed together.
“Do you think he’s jealous?” Jackson asked.
