Lily looked at her best friend, not entirely sure how to answer her. “I don’t know. I think I’ll probably head home after I get her home. But I’m not sure yet.”
Dylan nodded. “Call if you need me, okay?”
Lily nodded, throwing her arms around Dylan again before the pair parted ways.
Back inside, the party was still in full swing. The room smelled of stale beer; a handful of empty pitchers and pint glasses littered the tables alongside the disposable cameras no one had seemed to notice.
Lily slid into a seat at an empty table, watching Wren clumsily belt out the words to “Call Me Maybe” with the Pride’skeeper, Julie Jacobson. Wren swayed to the music, her eyes unfocused.
“Great news,” Sydney said, sliding into the seat next to her. “I was able to extend the reservation for the room. What self-respecting twenty-first birthday ends at ten?” She laughed coolly.
“Whatever,” Lily grumbled. It took every ounce of self-control not to let the rage coursing through her spill over.
Sydney reached for the pitcher of beer on the table in front of them, pouring herself a glass. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Gallagher, you do know Wren pretty well. This is the perfect party for her. She’s having so much fun, and that’s exactly what we want for our Wrenny.”
Lily inhaled sharply. Yeah, that lid she’d been keeping on her rage? It was gone. “And what is that supposed to mean, Stone?” she said, anger seeping into her words. “You keep making these backhanded comments about Wren having fun like I’m some kind of succubus that just takes and takes and takes from her. But I’m her girlfriend, not you. I know her better than anyone else on this planet.”
Sydney’s laugh was cold. “Hate to be the one to break this to you, but you’re kind of a downer. Like, this year has been huge for Wren and all you’ve done is make it about you, your injury, and your career. She deserves better than that.”
“Oh, and you think you can give her better?” There was a bite to Lily’s voice that she didn’t recognize; she had never heard that from herself before. “Do you, like, have a crush on her or something? Because last time I checked, you’re straight, and she’s my girlfriend.”
Wren stumbled towards them at that moment, plopping herself down in the seat next to Lily, her messy grin firmly in place. “My two favorite people,” she exclaimed, arm looping around Lily, words still slurring. “My best friend,” she said,green eyes locking with her gaze. Then, without moving her arm, she turned her head to Sydney. “And my girlfriend.”
All the air in Lily’s lungs evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming hurt. What thefuckwas Wren talking about? She was just drunk…right?
The silence that followed was the loudest Lily had ever experienced, interrupted only by the bass of a popular song she now suddenly hated.
Sydney didn’t look away or say anything, but a slow, cruel smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth. They both knew Wren hadn’t meant the girlfriend comment, but they both knew exactly how much it was killing Lily.
Lily felt Wren’s arm heavy around her shoulders, a physical weight she wanted to get out from underneath. She looked at Wren, searching glassy green eyes for some kind of glimmer of “just kidding,” but Wren wasn’t saying anything.
“Wren.” Lily’s voice was a whisper as she spoke. “What did you just say?”
Wren giggled, a sound that usually filled Lily with overwhelming happiness, but now felt like ice in her veins. She leaned onto Lily, oblivious to how this whole interaction was making her feel. “I said… I love you guys. I’m s’lucky to have you both.”
Lily shot a glance at Sydney, whose smirk only widened as she took a slow sip of her beer, watching Lily over the rim of the glass with eyes that saidI told you so.
The metaphorical lid that had been blown off her anger a few minutes ago? That wasn’t just gone; the whole container had disintegrated. The hurt was cold and sharp as white-hot rage turned into the realization that she couldn’t stay here anymore.
She reached up, firmly unhooking Wren’s arm from around her as she stood.
“Where are you going?” Wren whined, her head lolling back.
“We,” Lily said firmly, pulling Wren by the hand, “are leaving.” Her voice was flat, devoid of the heat that flared in her chest moments ago. She really needed to be anywhere but here right now.
“Oh come on, Gallagher,” Sydney droned, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “The party is just getting started. Don’t be a downer and ruin her night.”
Lily didn’t even look at Sydney. She couldn’t. Not right now. Not when she knew that if she looked at Sydney, she couldn’t be held responsible for the high likelihood that her fist would make contact with her face. She pulled Wren’s hand again. “Wren. Stand up. We’re leaving. Now,” she urged.
“But—” Wren stumbled as Lily hauled her to her feet, tripping slightly—coordination completely shot, thanks in part to the alcohol. “Lily, wait, you’re squeezing too hard.”
Lily immediately loosened her grip, but she didn’t let go. She simply looked at Wren, the girl she loved with her whole heart, but unsure if Wren still felt the same way about her.
Wren blinked, looking intently at Lily’s face—really looking at her for the first time all evening—and something finally seemed to pierce through the blurred haze of the alcohol for a split second. “Lils.” Her voice was soft as she brought a gentle hand to cup her cheek that Lily wanted so badly to lean into. “Why are you…why are you crying?”
“I’m not.” Lily sniffed, wiping away a stray tear with her free hand before turning on her heel, pulling Wren towards the exit. “Let’s go.”
Out on the street, Lily fumbled with her phone, trying to call a car to take them back to the ferry. They were supposed to go back to Wren’s apartment after this, but Lily couldn’t think of anywhere else she wanted to be less at this moment. The cool spring air wrapped around them as she pulled Wren downthe sidewalk, trying to put as much distance between them and Sydney as possible.
