Emma
I can’t believeI’m at a party. Not only that, but a party thrown by an athletic team, in this case hockey.
“Would you look at all the smokin’ hot guys.” That comment courtesy of my roommate. I lost her the minute we stepped into the party as it’s packed to the gills in here. We finally found each other again.
“The sheer quantity of testosterone in this room could maim someone.” Again. Carley.
She’s right, though. “There’s a lot.”
“Why are you just standing here by the door?”
“Eli went to get us a drink. He told me to stay here.”
“How long ago was that?”
I have to give that some thought. “Five songs ago.”
“Five songs ago?” Carley screeches. “What the hell, Em? You’ve just been waiting for him for five songs?”
I shrug. What was I supposed to do? Carley ran off and… “He told me to wait here.”
“You’re not a fucking dog, hon.”
I give her my best scowl. “I know.” Ugh. She always knows what to say to make me feel like an idiot. “You ran off and I didn’t know what I was doing. Look at all these people.” I’m not pointing at the throng on the makeshift dance floor. “I didn’t want to get lost.”
“Oh, hon,” Carley coos as she pats my back. “I’m sorry.”
I look up at her and give her the stink eye. “Whatever.” She looks beautiful tonight. Well, she’s always beautiful but especially tonight with her hair down, straight and shiny. She’s also wearing her tightest jeans (her words) with a cute, cropped sweater. Something I’d never get away with because my stomach, well, let’s just say it’s not cropped-sweater worthy. “Where’d Cody go?”
Carley shrugs. “Who knows. He mumbled something to me then took off. He’s been gone about three songs.”
“Hm. Maybe we should look for them.”
“Better than standing here getting beer spilled on us.”
I look at the side of my jean-clad leg and nod. Someone splattered me with beer a few minutes ago. “Good point.” I let Carley lead the way since she’s taller and can see above some of the crowd. I hang on to her belt loop, so I don’t lose her. I should have done that with Eli. When he said, “Gonna get us a drink. Be right back… You stay there,” I should have known it wasn’t going to end well.
“I see them,” she shouts back to me.
I don’t bother responding. Instead, I hold a little tighter to the waistband of her jeans as she works her way through the throng of dancers. Ugh. It stinks like sweat.
“Ladies.” I think that’s Cody’s voice. “There you are.”
I peek around Carley to see that, yep, it’s Cody. He’s standing with several girls––and Eli. Both of the guys are holding red cups and look as though they’ve been having a great time.
Without us.
I don’t know why but it bothers me, but it does. A lot. I’ve been standing near the door for the past twenty minutes or so. Meanwhile, Eli’s got a nice red cup full of whatever as he talks to three of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen. I mean, if he’d been holding another glass, you know, the one for me, I may have been able to overlook it since it probably took him a while to get to the drinks, but he’s only got the one.
I’m not going to cry. Okay. Let me rephrase that. I’m not going to cry in front of all these people. Not at my first real college party. There’s only one way to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Without another thought, I turn on my heel and go back the way I came. To the door. I’m out on the front porch in record time. I guess it pays to be short because I was able to maneuver my way through the crowd easier than Carley. By the time I get to the sidewalk, I hear my name. I’d love to tell you it was Eli’s voice.
“What?” I turn quickly.
“Wait for me.”
“You don’t have to leave.”
