“Why don’t we go tonight?”
“Dancing?”
“I know of a great place in Atlanta. It’s a restaurant and bar, but after ten o’clock they play music.”
“I realize I should probably know this already, but do you speak Spanish, Marta?”
“Sí.” She smiles. “We’ll be fine. I can talk us through the whole night.”
Normally, I wouldn’t do something as adventurous as this, but even though things didn’t work out with Freak, I can’t dismiss the fact that now there’s a new normal.
I’m a different person since meeting him.
My world is bigger, although without him in it, it still feels so mundane.
Freak
I’m in the Tri-Gamma House staring at a bottle of coconut rum, because I swear it’s singing the latest Nicki Minaj song to me. The one where she collaborated with Meghan Thee Stallion. Talk about two women built like brick fucking houses.
They ain’t got shit on my Teach, though. Those curves she has are dangerous. Those curves can kill a man.
“You all right, dude?”
I burst out laughing.
“Maverick, are you dressed like Thor? Is it Halloween?”
“I’m dressed in plain clothes and you’re wasted. I’m going to take you home before you do any more damage.”
“I want to drink!”
“You’ve had enough.”
I lean in toward my friend, squinting my eyes. Everything’s fuzzy.
“Are your teeth missing?”
“I had a fight with another hockey bitch.”
I laugh again and I’m grateful for it. Every breath I’ve taken since Willow dumped me has twisted my guts into a pain-filled pretzel.
It’s better to be numb.
I’m not sure why I ever stopped drinking.
It’s the only thing that works.
“Is that bottle singing to you?” I ask Maverick.
“Are you sure you didn’t smoke too? You’re fucking hallucinating.”
“I can’t smoke. They drug test.”
“Damn, I forgot how bad of a drinker you are.”
“Yeah, he really is.”
Even blasted, I recognize that new voice in the room.
