He knows me. That's the thing that keeps landing. Through everything, he still knows me. We are bonded. Connected in a way I don’t think I’ll ever be with another person.
Keira practically stumbles into me. “Hi.” She breathes, and I feel like I’ve been gassed by tequila breath.
“Hi,” I say with a laugh.
“I’m going to do shots with the guys,” Declan says. “Holler if you need me.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He walks away, and Keira starts giggling.
"Don't," I say.
"I'm not saying anything."
"You're saying everything."
She grins and takes a sip of her drink. "I'm just happy. Is that allowed?"
I look across the room to where Declan is laughing with some of the other hockey players.
"Yeah," I tell Keira. "It's allowed."
“Declan is being very attentive tonight.”
“Yes, he is. What’s with you and Crew?”
“We broke up.”
“What!”
She laughs, which is exactly not the reaction I expect. “Keira, what the hell? You guys had your tongues down each other’s throats an hour ago.”
“I know. We’re still friends. Really good friends.”
“I don’t understand. I thought you two were good.”
She shrugs. “It’s not that dramatic. Crew is fun. We have fun together, but we’re graduating soon. We’re not interested in the whole relationship thing. I’m going to London after graduation, and he’s going to be working with his dad. We were just having fun.”
“Oh.”
“But you and Declan seem to have figured things out.”
“Declan and I are exploring the Nile.”
“Huh?”
“Denial. Da Nile. Head in the sand. If we don’t talk about it, it doesn’t exist.”
She bursts into laughter again. “Got it. Well, whatever works. Come on, you’re way too sober. Let’s get another drink.”
It’s after four in the morning when I flop into bed next to Declan. I went from drunk to sober to buzzed. And I’m exhausted. There are bodies all over the house and even some scattered in the yard.
The true sign of a good party. Thankfully, the weather is mild.
“How are you feeling?” Declan asks.
“Exhausted. You?”
