ME:What do you mean, naked people???
MARGOT:NAKED. As in little or no clothes. Brad and I went to one of those parties a few years ago and I thought Brad’s eyes were going to pop out of his head. And the naked people usually have food on them. That you’re supposed to eat!
ME:???????????????
ME:What!?!?!?!?!?!
Olivia knocks on the door and I almost drop my phone. “Hurry up,” she calls from the other side. “Nonna’s letting us have the morning off to find you a dress!”
I clutch the towel tightly around me and swing the door open.
“Did you know there will be naked people at that party tonight? With food on them?”
She lets out a giggle.
“I can’t even right now. Just give me a minute,” I say, and then shut the door. I dress quickly and dry my hair just enough so it won’t be dripping down my back.
Olivia is stretched out across the bed when I come out.
“Tell me about the naked people,” I say.
She rolls over and looks at me. “From what I’ve heard, there are guys and girls walking around in costume. Teeny tiny costumes that match whatever the theme is. And then some of them are draped across tables with food on them like they’re the platters. It’s all to shock everyone there. Very scandalous.”
“Oh, I’ll be shocked, all right,” I say. “Moving on. Addie says her sisters have dresses I can borrow for tonight!”
She hops off the bed. “Perfect. Let’s grab Sara and hit the road.”
Minutes later we’re in my car headed back down I-20 to Minden.
Olivia starts laughing at something on her phone. “This picture Charlie posted is priceless!”
Sara leans forward from the backseat. “Y’all look so cute!”
Olivia holds the phone up where I can see it, and I almost swerve off the road. It’s the one Charlie took last night when Wes and I were dancing, trying to empty the tissue box of Ping-Pong balls. Except you really can’t tell that’s what we’re doing. It just looks like Wes has me dipped back and we’re both laughing hard.
“And so far, four people have tagged Griffin in the comments,” Sara says.
Olivia laughs. “Good!”
I want to beat my head against the steering wheel. I had another string of texts from him this morning, all saying the same thing: “I made a mistake” and “Please talk to me.” I’m guessing this picture is what stirred him up.
“Griffin wants to get back together,” I say. “He keeps saying he made a mistake and he doesn’t really want a break.”
Olivia twists in her seat and looks at me. “Is that what you want?”
I stretch my neck to one side, then the other, trying to work out the tension I’m feeling. “I just don’t know if he really means what he says or if he’s reacting to seeing me with other guys.”
Olivia chews on her bottom lip. “Are you going to see him when we get to Minden?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Part of me thinks—go ahead and get it over with. Have it out with him one way or another. But I’m not sure I can handle it yet. I can’t quit thinking about how bummed he was when he heard I wasn’t going to Margot’s. I mean, why would that have changed so quickly?”
“Well, I think you have your answer,” Olivia says.
“You have to finish the dates, Sophie!” Sara adds.
We ride in silence a few minutes, and then my phone starts beeping.
“Oh God, is it Griffin again?” I ask as Olivia checks my phone.
