“Guys, I want to do something fun! What can we do besides play cards?” Rebecca asks.
“It’s pretty dark to go do anything, and quiet hours start soon,” Andrew replies rationally.
Rebecca gives him a pouty look, and I join in. Angelina speaks up. “I’m pretty tired, so I might go get ready for bed. Sorry guys.”
“Buzzkill,” I hear Rebecca mutter under her breath in her seat next to me.
I laugh, and it once again turns into uncontrollable laughter.
Angelina retreats into the tent, and I exchange a look with Rebecca. She shoots up from her seat and goes over to the table where the tequila and mix sit. She pours tequila into her cup and holds it up, squinting at it to see how much she poured. She shrugs and turns to me. “Give me your cup! Let’s take a shot together.” She wiggles her eyebrows in excitement.
I can’t resist the eagerness in her eyes, so I stand up from my chair and feel the world tilt for a moment. Andrew grabs my elbow as I steady myself. I waltz over to the table and begin to set my cup down, but I feel an arm wrap around my waist. I’m lifted in the air, spun around, and set back down away from Rebecca and the table.
“No more tequila for her,” Andrew growls.
Rebecca rolls her eyes. “You’re not in charge of her. Why don’t you go check on your girlfriend,” she challenges as she reaches out for my cup and pours me a shot.
“Angie’s fine.” He looks me up and down, and I’m certain my cheeks heat. “She isn’t. She hasn’t drunk before, and three drinks is probably already overdoing it for her first time.”
I ignore Andrew and grab my cup off the table while he’s giving Rebecca a lecture. I tilt itback and slam it.
I place the cup back down on the table with a sour expression on my face.Oh my God! No one told me tequila was this gross. It burns like hell, and the taste… bleh!
Rebecca begins cheering. “Atta girl! You didn’t even use a chaser! I’m so proud!”
Andrew whips around to find me holding my empty cup. “No, Em!” He turns back to Rebecca. “Are you trying to make her sick?”
I smile wide, despite the still disgusting taste lingering in my mouth and Andrew’s scorn.Screw him!All that sinks in is Rebecca’s praise. “What’s a chaser?”
“It’s something to make the shot burn less. Usually, you use salt and lime with tequila shots. We don’t have that, so I was going to at least get you some lemonade.”
I hang my tongue out of my mouth. “It’s so nasty. Do you think the lemonade will still help, or will my mouth taste like this forever?”
Rebecca giggles as she goes into the cooler in the truck and digs out a can of lemonade. She cracks it open and hands it to me. “This will help. I promise.”
I gulp it down and immediately feel better. After a few more sips, Rebecca swivels to Andrew, shoving his shoulder. “Why are you trying to kill the fun?”
“I’m not. I’m just being the responsible one, as always!”
Rebecca frowns and then struts off to the tent. I’m left standing there, unsure of what just happened. I look to Andrew for guidance. Andrew will help me. He knows what to do.
“Come on, Em, let’s get you ready for bed.” He tries to lead me to the tent too.
“I’m not tired though! I want to stay up and hang out with you. Please!” I beg.
I hear him blow a puff of air out of his nose. “I think we should just go to bed. It’s getting late.”
“We won’t get into any trouble. I’ve been good all night.”
He laughs a little at this. “I’ll tell you what, we can go sit by the fire for a little while it finishes burning out.”
I smile and begin to scramble over to the chairs, but the whole world flips over this time. I feel myself swaying. If I can just get to the chairs, I know it will stop, and it’ll all be worth it because I can spend a little more time with Andrew. Andrew who I love so much but can’t have. I let out a groan and take a staggering step forward, followed by another step.
I’m almost there! Then I stumble over one of the chair legs and fall forward. I throw my hands out, trying to grab anything that will help break my fall.
My hand makes contact with something warm. I hold it tight for a lingering moment before I hear Andrew yelling at me for the second time tonight. “Em, no!”
He yanks my hand off the warm metal grate surrounding the fire, and it’s only then that I process the searing pain in my hand. “Ow! Ow! Ow! Andrew, help! It hurts so bad!”
