Sawyer comes over with a handful of paper towels and tries to dab my face. Her expression says it all–I’m a lost cause.
“You’re soaked,” the guy manning the keg points out.
“Do you have somewhere she can clean up…or at least rinse her sweater?” Sawyer asks.
He nudges his chin toward the kitchen sink. “She can rinse in there.”
I give him a deadpan look.
Sawyer scoffs. “Then she’d have to take her shirt off in front of everyone.”
He grins. “Exactly.”
I touch Sawyer’s arm. “I’m just going to find the bathroom and clean up. Do you want to come? Or will you be okay out here?”
“Um…” She glances around, likely looking for the guy who invited her. “I’ll be fine. Unless you want me to come?”
“Go look for Archer. I’ll find you when I’m…”—I pull on my sweater—“less sticky.”
We part ways, and I search for a line.
There’s always a line for the bathroom at these types of parties.
Rising onto my tiptoes, I try to look over the heads of college students.
“Jesus, what happened to you?” someone asks.
I, unfortunately, recognize him right away. I drop down to my heels and cross my arms. “We really have to stop meeting like this.”
Cross’s friend somehow keeps finding me in the most embarrassing situations.
He chuckles. “I agree. What happened to you? Why do you smell like you took a swim in the keg?”
I roll my eyes. “Some girl fell and spilled her beer all over me. I’m looking for the bathroom.”
And now the exit, because if Cross’s friend is here, then that likely means Cross is here.
No thanks.
“It’s over there.”
I follow his line of sight.
“Great.” I sigh.
The line wraps around the stairwell. My sweater will be dry by then, and I’ll still smell like a bar.
“Come on.” He heads for the closed bathroom door, bypassing the line like he’s some celebrity.
“Are you trying to help me? Or are you taking me to Cross so he can make fun of me?” I follow him.
He looks over his shoulder and grins. “I’m helping you. But don’t tell Cross.”
I refuse to talk to Cross, so he has nothing to worry about.
Just as we make it to the bathroom, I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
But instead, the door opens…and it’s something worse.
