“You can’t drive. You’redrinking.”
“I was drinking, but now I’m readyforbed.”
“Whatever, same thing,” sheargues.
I consider her drunken gibberish for a brief moment. Even though the ride is mostly one lane the entire way to Kennebunkport, I don’t do that sort of thing, and I don’t have one-night stands. Anymore. Oh, and I don’t drive after I’ve had a little too much to drink. Anymore. Adulting just sucks. “Fine, I’ll crash on yourfloor.”
We walk the half mile back to Jade’s apartment, and I’m somewhat glad I’ve had enough to drink that the pain in my ankle is fairly numb. “You should just stay with me all summer. I mean, I wouldn’t want to live where I work. That’s weird andsmothering.”
I considered getting my own place after Samantha graciously offered me a guest room in her house, specifically for the reason Jade mentioned, but I am trying to save money to pay my school loans off, and an apartment is a waste of money if I have a free place to stay. The family Jade nannies for didn’t offer her a room, but she is also getting significantly more than I am since there are three kids to watch, so it all works out, Isuppose.
“As much as I’d love to sleep on your floor for the summer. . .” I laugh. “Hey, do you think I should call Samantha and let her know I won’t be coming backtonight?”
“Dude!” Jade’s voice echoes between the gates of the foot bridge we’re crossing. “It’s like one in the morning. That’s kind of ruder than just notshowingup.”
“All I wanted to do was have a quiet dinner tonight to make sure you’re okay, and now look at us!” Jade is a bad influence. Always has been, probably alwayswillbe.
“Julia,” A voice shouts from the side of the bridge wecamefrom.
I turn and find Sterling, still wearing his small, black waiter’s apron. “Um . . . yeah?” I’m laughing, but it’s from nerves. Is he following us? This is such a cute little beach town, and I will be on the front-page of the paper in the morning with a headline of:Girls Gone Missing. Abducted by Hot Surfer. I suppose that sounds more like a fantasy than a front-page newspaper article in a beach town, but it couldhappen.
“I don’t mean to embarrass you, but my boss will bite my ass if I don’t cash out at a hundred percent.” What is he talkingabout?”
“Huh?” Our conversation is continuing over the span of a thirty-foot-long separation of the bridge. Kind of awkward at one in themorning.
“You didn’t payyourtab.”
And that concludes day one. Justperfect.
Why?Why? Why?I’m not sure I’ve ever realized that inebriated Julia always says yes to one more drink, while sober Julia knows when to cut it off. Now I’m stiff, my back is sore, and there’s a muscle in my neck that feels like ametalrod.
I shut off the foghorn alarm on my phone while painfully peering up at Jade who has a string of drool dripping out of the corner of her mouth. Is that what I look like when I’msleeping?
Pulling myself up against Jade’s nightstand, I scroll through my phone, waiting for the blur in my eyes to clear. There’s a missed call and a text from a number I recognize but isn’t in my phone contacts, so I openthetext.
203-342-2345:Hi Julia, it’s Samantha. Liam mentioned you would be home shortly after him, and I hope I’m not crossing a line, but I felt a bit concerned when you didn’t show up last night. I hope everythingisokay!
Why wasshe up so late last night? Great, they’re night owls. I run my hand up the side of my face, feeling a sticky spot of eye makeup streaked across mytemple.Shit.
I hop up from my makeshift bed and run to the bathroom, once again forgetting about the slight sprain in my ankle.Dammit!
The reflection in the mirror shows a zombie with a hair style that might make someone question whether or not I stuck my finger into an electric socket. My face ... yeah, there is no amount of make-up—if I had any with me—that would fixthismess.
I splash water over my eyes and scrape off the makeup from last night. Just to make matters worse, I only have my clothes from yesterday with me. Wow, I did not think this through. Not that I was thinking at all lastnight.
Jade’s closet has always scared me, but I’m afraid I don’t have another choice today. It’s located right outside the bathroom, and I peek over at her to see if she’s awake yet. I’d ask her first if she was, but as expected, she hasn’t moved an inch since Iwokeup.
Samantha told me I could dress casually, but my version of casual and Jade's are very different. In any case, she has jeans and a button-down shirt—a lime green button down shirt—but it is what it istoday.
I slip on her jeans, finding several holes lining the length of my leg from my thigh to my knee. Okay, new plan ... sneak into my new bedroom and change before anyone sees me. Except, the likelihood of getting away with that is more than slim, especially with Liam lurking around everycorner.
Managing to get my crap together and into my car within five minutes is impressive for me, but I’m starving and pissed off at myself. I thought if I left home for a few months, I would have a chance to turn a corner, become that responsible adult I know I need to be in preparation for the “real world” I evidently need to be apartof.
Still knowing very little about this area, the only place I know where I can get a good breakfast is that bakery I went to yesterday morning. Actually, come to think of it, I’m basing this decision on smells alone, considering I never ate my breakfast yesterday morning. Wow, I’m really winningthisweek.
I pull up front and hop out of my car, seeing the small line in front and the group of people walking down the street. Yes, I’m that person who speeds up their step so I don’t have to be courteous and stand behind five people who may or may not want to stare at the long menu of food items. I know I’m being an asshat, but I can’t be late, not afterthattext.
By the time I make my way up to the register, the two people who were in line have already been helped, and the woman is ready for my order. “Just a croissant and a small coffeeplease.”
