“Just downing shots isn’t fun if you get so drunk, you can’t walk or you throw up later.”
“I’ll be fine,” Larissa said and took a drink of the beer Harlow had ordered for her.
“Okay, stick to the water for now.”
“Why are you always taking care of me?” Larissa asked.
“What?” She laughed nervously and pushed the water glass in front of Larissa.
“You make sure I eat. You tell me to have fun. You’re worried I just drank too much.”
“I’m your friend.”
“Yeah, but I’m probably such a mess to you. You always tell me I’ve got my head stuck in some book, and yet, you still stick around. I’m sure you could be having fun with someone else right now, and they wouldn’t be thinking about how much they want to get home and start writing. Hey, you never answered the question from earlier.”
“You’re already rambling,” Harlow noted, smiling.
“What?”
“You ramble when you drink too much. It’s already kicking in somehow. When did you say you ate that toast?”
“Probably around eight or something.”
“Jesus,” Harlow said, shaking her head. “No more alcohol for you until you’ve at least eaten your whole burger.”
“Harlow, do you think they’ll make it?”
Harlow thought back to the first time she saw Larissa standing in a room filled with people. Larissa had been wearing a pale-blue sundress, and at first, Harlow had thought her eyes were blue to match, but as she’d gotten closer, she had noticed that they were hazel. Her long blonde hair had been aroundher shoulders and mostly straight, with a rogue wave or two. Her glasses had been a little different back then, but still dark-rimmed, and they made her eyes pop. She had been beautiful, and Harlow’s stomach had gotten the same butterflies that Della had spoken about earlier.
“I think theycan, yeah,” she replied. “They’ll probably have to work for it, but it will get easier when they’re both at the same school.”
“You don’t think moving in together that young is a bad idea?”
“Who knows? Every couple is different. It could be a disaster, but they might still end up together. They seemed mature enough to me, but even if they’re too young to live together, they could just move into separate rooms but stay a couple.”
“Yeah,” Larissa said, her eyes a little watery.
“Oh, wow. It’s hitting you already, isn’t it?”
“A little. And tequila is gross. Why did I order it?”
Harlow laughed and replied, “You wanted to show me how tough you are, I think.”
“Well, I’m not.” Larissa sipped her water. “Not tough at all.”
After they ate, Larissa was still a little tipsy, which was probably because she finished the beer Harlow had ordered for her on principle, as Larissa had told her. Then, Harlow drove them home, and when she tried to unlock the front door with her key, Larissa practically fell against her side.
“Are you going to throw up?” she asked as she wrapped an arm around her and helped her inside.
“No, I’m just really tired. Can I go to sleep?”
“Yes. But can you drink a glass of water for me first?”
“No, I drank one already.”
“I know. And I think you should have another one. You don’t ever drink like this. Just let me get you a glass, and I’ll help you get into bed, okay?”
“Okay. Whatever you say.”
