“This isn’t about me. I’ll bring Mase or a book to distract me. I have an older brother. I’m good at the silent treatment.” I try to laugh, but it comes out broken.
“Thank you.” She squeezes me tightly, then pulls back, and I see the fear written all over her face.
I don’t tell her it will be okay because I won’t make a promise I can’t keep. I don’t know much about cancer, but I do know it’s never good. In my heart, I want to be positive and believe the best, but deep down, I’m petrified.
“What happens in the surgery?” I wipe my tears, then hers.
“They call it a debulking surgery, where they go in and remove as much of the cancer as possible. After that, I will most likely do chemotherapy. Apparently, I’m pretty unlucky. It’s not common at my age.”
She’s already two drinks in, plus the champagne Mase bought at dinner. “You should be home resting, Camila. You should have stayed in New York.”
Her expression quickly switches to annoyance. “Don’t even try it. I want to celebrate life with my favorite people. I want to get fucked up and have the best time. I could die?—”
“Don’t say that,” I snap, my emotions turning to anger. Not at Camila, but the world, for letting this happen.
We’re so young, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation.
“Well, it’s the truth. God’s honest, stupid, stupid truth.” She stands up with purpose. “So when I feel like myself, I want to party and dance the night away. Are you with me?”
I don’t hesitate. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
That has her pausing. “What about your two-drink rule?”
“Fuck it. I’m with you tonight.”
“Oh god, and she’s cursing. What have I done?” She laughs in a devilish tone. “A round of shots coming up!”
I grab her hand and spin her around before she returns to the bar. “I love you.” I give her one last hug before the night becomes a blur.
“Love you more.”
My mind is playing tricks on me, but I swear I keep seeinghim…
No, I’m an idiot, it can’t be.Can it?
It’s the copious amount of alcohol I’ve consumed tonight.
More than I have ever drunk in my life.
“Are you all right?” Mason’s concerned voice snaps me out of my daydream.
I stumble to the side, and Mase is there to catch me. “I’m cutting you off.”
“Don’t you dare. I’m going one for one with Camila.”
His brows furrow. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You’ll get sick keeping up with her.”
Throwing up is the least of my problems.
My best friend has cancer, and I’m hallucinating. I turn around, my eyes tracking everyone at the end of the bar, but he’s gone.
This is why I don’t drink. You don’t have control over your mind.
Mase tries to pry the three drinks I’m balancing in my hands for me, Camila, and Addie. The freshly poured ones that the bartender just handed me.
“Let me live.” I push off of him, ignoring his shocked expression since he doesn’t know about Camila yet. Only Addie does.
Then I go and find the girls with our new gin and tonics and smash into a brick wall of a chest.
