Tangled Up in Daydreams by Rebecca Bloom Page A

undid the top and pulled a lighter out of her pocket. With the cake ablaze, Molly sidled up next to her and everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” Molly made a wish everyone could easily guess and blew. Cake was cut and passed around, and the party continued. At about one-thirty, Molly found a chair, and instead of flitting back and forth among her friends, she held court, high on sugar and whiskey. The party was winding down when finally, a familiar voice caught the edge of her ear, and she turned around with a face full of drunken elation. Her smile soon faded when she saw that Liam was not alone. Wrapped around him like last year’s pashmina was Elena, the girl she had met at Goldfinger’s the night she first met Liam. A girl who never stopped casting Molly the evil eye despite the six months that had passed, Elena tossed Molly her special look and grinned like a Cheshire cat, holding her arms tighter around Liam. Molly’s stomach began to roll.
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding me?!” Molly stated.
    â€œMolly.” Untangling himself from Elena. “Happy Birthday!”
    â€œYeah, Happy Birthday, Molly.” Elena slithered.
    Liam came over to Molly and leaned down to give her a kiss. Molly turned her head and his lips met with the edge of her hairline.
    â€œWhat?” Liam asked. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œWhat time is it?” she asked him.
    â€œIt’s like ten-thirty.” Looking at his watch. “Oh …”
    â€œYeah.” Starting to feel even more nauseated.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œThere might be some cake left over there and if you guys want to bowl, I think you are going to be playing each other because we were just about to leave.” Getting up from her perch.
    â€œMolly, I’m sorry. The time just got away from me.”
    Molly looked up and got a good look at his face. His eyes were saucers, spinning like the teacup ride. He was flying.
    â€œYou are so high.”
    â€œNo, we just were hanging out.” Blinking hard, trying to merge the two Mollys he was seeing into one.
    â€œWhatever. Have fun.” Molly grabbed her one shoe and purse and headed to the cashier.
    Jaycee and Liam followed after her. Molly paid and retrieved her other shoe. She sat down on the floor and began slipping on her sneakers.
    â€œMolly, where are you going?” Liam asked squatting down next to her on the carpet. “I’ll come.”
    â€œHome, and no thanks. I wouldn’t want your little friend to get lonely.” Standing up. Molly swayed slightly and fell into him. She could smell Elena’s perfume everywhere. “Shit.”
    Molly raced into the women’s room and threw open a stall. She fell on her knees and heaved. God damn her weak stomach. Frosting and Coca-Cola sloshed in the bowl. She felt hands on her hair as Jay held it while she continued emptying her system. Molly was a total mess. Liam poked his head in as Molly was splashing water on her face.
    â€œAre you all right?” Coming over to her with a paper towel.
    â€œJust dandy.” Snatching it out of his hand. “You’re in the girls’ room.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo, go!” Molly glared at him.
    Liam blanched, and turned on his heels. Molly wiped off her face and hands.
    â€œI need to get out of here as fast as possible.”
    â€œNo problem. Just hold on to me,” Jay answered.
    Jay and Molly swept past Liam, Elena, and the remnants of the party. When Molly was finally belted into Jay’s pickup, she burst into tears. Still tasting bile on her tongue she reached into Jay’s glove compartment and retrieved an Altoid.
    â€œWhat a fucking dick!” Jay exclaimed pulling out of the driveway. “He strolls in super late with it and expects all to be fine.”
    â€œ It ?” Starting to grin despite herself.
    â€œYeah, it .” Grinning. “You cannot call that evil thing a her. It devalues the