“Actually,” Gavin said, “how about I get this round, then you get the next?”
Lance nodded. Gavin could be extremely hard to deal with, but when it came to me, there was a gentleness in him. This was his version of backing off.
I hadn’t drunk in a while so the alcohol hit me pretty hard. Before I knew it I was swaying on the stool. Gavin wouldn’t leave my side and Lottie wouldn’t leave him, so I had at least two bodies to break my fall if I fell to the ground. Around eleven, Lance said, “I gotta get going to prepare for my interview tomorrow. Ready, Penny?”
Gavin had his arm around Lottie, and Ling was talking to some guy at the end of the bar.
“I guess,” I said. Though I didn’t really want to leave.
“We can drop her off if you have to get going, Lance. You want to stay a little longer, P?”
“Well, I just want to wait for Ling. I told her I’d wait,” I lied.
“I’ll take them,” Gavin said.
“Seems kind of senseless since Ling and I live in the same building,” Lance argued.
“Why not let the girls decide?” Gavin countered.
“Ling!” Lance called down the bar, waving at her.
She stood up and stalked toward us. “You trying to cock block me, Lance? I’m pretty into that guy—can’t you tell?”
“Jeez, I was just checking to see if you wanted a ride. I have to get going.”
“I can take care of myself, but thank you.” She turned to Gavin. “You staying for a while?”
He nodded.
“Great. You can give me a ride if things don’t go well with the hot guy.”
“No problem.”
She looked back at Lance. “I think we’re covered, Lance. Penny has the okay from her doctor to drink, and I think she wants to celebrate a little longer—that is, of course, unless Penny wants to go home with you.”
They all turned and looked at me. “Sorry, Lance. I just want to hang out for a bit. Do you mind?”
“It’s fine,” he said before leaning down and kissing me on the cheek.
“Please don’t be mad. Good luck tomorrow. I know you’ll get the job.”
He shrugged and walked away. “We’ll see.”
Gavin pretended like Lance wasn’t annoying because, honestly, what could Gavin really say when Loonie Lottie was on his arm?
“You’re just gonna play Mr. Cabdriver to these girls?” Lottie said.
“Yes, I am,” he shot back. I think he was past the point of taking her shit. Lottie was a year behind us at Colorado State, so she wasn’t in celebration mode. Still, she could’ve been a little less whiny and clingy and let the rest of us bask in the glory of our achievements, if you ask me.
I continued to drink from my perch on the stool with my leg propped on a chair. After Gavin triple-checked to make sure I wasn’t going to take a plunge face-first onto the floor, he and Lottie went out onto the dance floor. He was a good dancer even though he swore he wasn’t. Meanwhile, Ling sucked face with Romeo at the other end of the bar for about five minutes and then eventually came over to hang out with me.
“What happened? I thought you were into that guy?”
“He was supersmart and great to talk to... and then he kissed me. Ick. He practically stuck his whole tongue down my throat. I was like, ‘Dude, it’s not a race to Tonsil Town.’ Just a total turnoff, you know?” She looked out onto the dance floor. “Figures that Gavin’s a good dancer.”
“Most guys who are good kissers are good dancers. Have you noticed that? Not that I have that much experience. It’s just a rhythm thing, and an understanding of the way another person moves.” I started to feel sad.
I was pretty out of it by the time we left. As we headed for Ling’s, I was surprised when Lottie asked to be dropped off first. “Why?” Gavin asked. “You don’t want to come back to my place?”
