kitchen.”
I thanked Carla and told her I’d no doubt see her later. I n seconds, I found the keg. David was minding the tap. “Hey, Case. Would you like a cold one?”
“Love one.” He held the tap, and the beer foamed up inside the blue plastic cup. I dug my cigarettes out of my jacket. “Do you have somewhere I could hang my jacket, and can I smoke in here?”
“Yes and yes—you should know that.” Well, I didn’t know that, because I hadn’t seen any people smoking in their house now , and I didn’t want to assume anything. “Give me your jacket and purse. I can throw them on my bed. And there should be an ashtray in the living room.” He came up close to me so he could quit shouting. Even though the party was loud, that didn’t mean people couldn’t discern his voice. “I think someone’s been looking for you.”
Feeling coy, I raised my eyebrows in feigned disbelief. “Really? Who?”
He smirked and winked, then said, “Living room.” Then he walked upstairs with my jacket and purse. I made my way through a couple of groups of people, saying an obligatory hi here and there. In fact, I spotted Lee, the singer in Scott’s band, but he didn’t see me. That was probably for the best. I finally made my way to the living room. I spotted Jim and Scott on the couch. Scott looked… delicious . He was wearing a white shirt with a skull design on it. His short hair was mussy in a sexy way and he looked like he was feeling extra devilish tonight. The re was a sparkle in his eyes I could spot across the room.
The guys on the couch were watching a video on t he television and didn’t notice me at first. Jim said hi and nodded his head my way as his elbow met with Scott’s ribs. Scott looked up and beamed. He stood up. “I didn’t know if you were coming.”
I teased, acting like I was offended. “I promised, didn’t I?” The two of them made room for me on the couch.
Scott held up a bottle. “We’re drinking schnapps. You game?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take a shot.” I promised myself that I would take one shot.
These two had never seen me drink before. At one time, I’d been able to hold a lot of liquor, but anymore, it seemed, I couldn’t hold much at all. I’d have to be careful. I picked up the shot and downed it in one gulp, then chased it with a swallow of beer. The warm liquid flowed down into my chest, spreading, tingling. I almost instantly relaxed.
Scott and Jim exchanged a glance. Jim said, “Nice. But can you keep up with us?”
I smiled. “Remains to be seen.” I lit a cigarette and leaned back, sipping my beer.
Scott smiled back. “You’re in a good mood tonight.”
“Yeah, I’m in a damn fine mood.” I held up my cup for a toast. “I’m not workin ’!”
Jim and Scott touched their cups to mine, and we all downed another gulp. Jim started pouring us each another shot of schnapps, and Julie came and sat next to him. I waved at her. It was too loud to talk with the music and the crowd. Scott held the shot glass up to my face. I drank it , already breaking my promise to myself . I said something he didn’t hear, so I cupped my hands to his ear and repeated myself. “Are you trying to take advantage of me?” Oh…that had been a bad idea. I was too close, and I could smell his musky cologne…and him. Jesus…what a heady mix. I felt a quiver run through my body. I was going crazy. I wanted to touch him. But I had to reign it in.
He turned his head, and the look on his face was one of mild amusement. “You decide,” he said and held up the bottle again.
“In a little while,” I yelled to be heard over the music, but he poured it anyway.
I started to grow too relaxed and feared that if I didn’t get up and move around, I’d pass out after the long day I’d had. I used my empty beer cup as an excuse to get up.
I
I thanked Carla and told her I’d no doubt see her later. I n seconds, I found the keg. David was minding the tap. “Hey, Case. Would you like a cold one?”
“Love one.” He held the tap, and the beer foamed up inside the blue plastic cup. I dug my cigarettes out of my jacket. “Do you have somewhere I could hang my jacket, and can I smoke in here?”
“Yes and yes—you should know that.” Well, I didn’t know that, because I hadn’t seen any people smoking in their house now , and I didn’t want to assume anything. “Give me your jacket and purse. I can throw them on my bed. And there should be an ashtray in the living room.” He came up close to me so he could quit shouting. Even though the party was loud, that didn’t mean people couldn’t discern his voice. “I think someone’s been looking for you.”
Feeling coy, I raised my eyebrows in feigned disbelief. “Really? Who?”
He smirked and winked, then said, “Living room.” Then he walked upstairs with my jacket and purse. I made my way through a couple of groups of people, saying an obligatory hi here and there. In fact, I spotted Lee, the singer in Scott’s band, but he didn’t see me. That was probably for the best. I finally made my way to the living room. I spotted Jim and Scott on the couch. Scott looked… delicious . He was wearing a white shirt with a skull design on it. His short hair was mussy in a sexy way and he looked like he was feeling extra devilish tonight. The re was a sparkle in his eyes I could spot across the room.
The guys on the couch were watching a video on t he television and didn’t notice me at first. Jim said hi and nodded his head my way as his elbow met with Scott’s ribs. Scott looked up and beamed. He stood up. “I didn’t know if you were coming.”
I teased, acting like I was offended. “I promised, didn’t I?” The two of them made room for me on the couch.
Scott held up a bottle. “We’re drinking schnapps. You game?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take a shot.” I promised myself that I would take one shot.
These two had never seen me drink before. At one time, I’d been able to hold a lot of liquor, but anymore, it seemed, I couldn’t hold much at all. I’d have to be careful. I picked up the shot and downed it in one gulp, then chased it with a swallow of beer. The warm liquid flowed down into my chest, spreading, tingling. I almost instantly relaxed.
Scott and Jim exchanged a glance. Jim said, “Nice. But can you keep up with us?”
I smiled. “Remains to be seen.” I lit a cigarette and leaned back, sipping my beer.
Scott smiled back. “You’re in a good mood tonight.”
“Yeah, I’m in a damn fine mood.” I held up my cup for a toast. “I’m not workin ’!”
Jim and Scott touched their cups to mine, and we all downed another gulp. Jim started pouring us each another shot of schnapps, and Julie came and sat next to him. I waved at her. It was too loud to talk with the music and the crowd. Scott held the shot glass up to my face. I drank it , already breaking my promise to myself . I said something he didn’t hear, so I cupped my hands to his ear and repeated myself. “Are you trying to take advantage of me?” Oh…that had been a bad idea. I was too close, and I could smell his musky cologne…and him. Jesus…what a heady mix. I felt a quiver run through my body. I was going crazy. I wanted to touch him. But I had to reign it in.
He turned his head, and the look on his face was one of mild amusement. “You decide,” he said and held up the bottle again.
“In a little while,” I yelled to be heard over the music, but he poured it anyway.
I started to grow too relaxed and feared that if I didn’t get up and move around, I’d pass out after the long day I’d had. I used my empty beer cup as an excuse to get up.
I
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