My aunt whistles as she walks into my bedroom. “Wow, you look…”
I put the finishing touches on my makeup and turn around. “That bad?”
“No…just different. Older.”
I smirk. “I mean, it is my birthday.”
She looks me up and down, taking in my blown-out hair, smokey-eye makeup, and the bodycon slip dress I purchased with one of the gift cards she got me. It’s red, super short, and the ruched fabric makes me look like I have some dangerous curves going on.
“You look gorgeous, Dylan.” She stands behind me in the mirror. “I just hope you’re doing this for the right reasons.”
“The only person I’m doing it for is me,” I tell her honestly.
I thought dating Tommy would help me get over Jace, but it didn’t work.
I’m starting to think nothing will…except time.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t let loose and have fun in the process. All my life I’ve been responsible—and according to every adult I’ve ever met—mature and wise beyond my years.
For once, I’d like to go wild and not worry about the consequences. Not that there will be any, given I’m meeting Sawyer and Oakley at Christian’s house and I know they’ll have my back.
My aunt winces when I reach for my Doc Martens. “Nope, I can’t let you do that.”
“But I love these shoes.”
“I know, honey, but they don’t go with your dress.” She raises a finger. “I’ll be right back.”
Two minutes later she’s thrusting a pair of Louboutins at me. “An outfit like that deserves Lou.”
“But these are super expensive. Are you sure me wearing them to a party is a good idea?”
“Positive. I have like fifteen pairs, so I can be without these for a night.”
“Fifteen?” I’m not sure I have fifteen anything.
She smirks. “Wayne knows the way to my heart.”
I feel like a baby deer learning to walk after I slip them on, but all things considered, they aren’t too terrible. Plus they make my legs look miles long.
“Perfect,” she exclaims. “God, to be young again.”
“You are young,” I remind her.
Something passes in her gaze before she smiles. “Come on, birthday girl. I’ll give you a ride to the party.”
Ican feel everyone’s eyes on me the moment I step foot in Christian’s house. And for once, it’s not because something embarrassing happened or because I punched someone.
“Holy shit,” Sawyer says as I walk over to her and Oakley. “Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?”
“Is it too much?”
She shakes her head. “No. You’re hotter than the Eta Carinae.”
“The hottest star in the galaxy?” I’ll take it.
I pluck an empty Solo cup from the stack on the table. “Are you sure you’re okay with being my DD?”
“Positive,” she tells me. “It’s your birthday. I want you to have fun.”
I look at Oakley, who’s been silent this whole time with his hand in front of his face. “You okay, Oak?”
“Yup, everything’s cool,” he tells Sawyer.
Sawyer and I exchange a glance.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
“Because I might start drooling like every other guy in the surrounding area and that’s creepy, fam.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, stop. It’s just a dress.” I poke him in the stomach. “Have a drink with me for my birthday. On second thought, have several and teach me a thing or two about how to party like O-dawg.”
He grins. “You sure about that?”
“Positive.”
He turns to the table full of liquor. “Then consider me your personal bartender tonight. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
One…two…I’m not sure how many hours later—the Louboutins don’t matter because I can no longer feel my feet.
Hell, I’m not sure I can feel anything other than the pounding of the music and the energy of the people around me as I sway my body to the beat.
Someone—Oakley, from the looks of it—makes his way over and hands me a glass.
“You’re the best cousin fucker I’ve ever had,” I shout because I want to make sure he hears me.
His eyebrows shoot up. “Oh, yeah. Someone’s feeling it.” He stares down at the drink in his hand. “Be easy with this one, okay?”
I give him a thumbs up. “Yes, sir.”
I bring the cup to my mouth, and right down the hatch it goes.
“Or not,” Oakley mutters. “I think I’m gonna switch you to water for a little bit.”
“Water is for pussies,” I yell at the top of my lungs.
Some guy passing by gives me a fist pound. “Hell yeah, it is.”
I blink. It’s Cole.
“It’s you,” I say to his tall frame. “You’re here.”
Taking a sip of his beer, he looks at Oakley. “Something tells me things are going to get very interesting soon.”
Oakley balks. “Dude, where have you been? Things have been interesting for the last hour and a half.”
Leaning over, Cole shows Oakley something on his phone.
Oakley exhales sharply. “Yeah, I say we both get drunk so he can’t blame us for this shit.”
“I like the way you think,” Cole says before they wander over to the liquor table.
I have no idea what they’re talking about. “Who? Who’s going to blame you?” I ask the room before turning to Sawyer. “Is everything okay?”
Evidently, I get super emotional and worried when I drink.
She nods. “Everything is fine.” She checks her watch. “Although I do have to be home in a half hour.”
Oh. That sucks. I was just starting to have fun.
“Oakley, will you split an Uber with me later?” I ask when he and Cole return. Wait, that was rude. I look at my friend. “Do you hate me?”
Laughing, she shakes her head. “Of course not. I just want to make sure you have a safe ride home before I leave.”
“It’s all good,” Oakley says. “I’ll take care of her. Worse comes to worse, we’ll sleep our hangovers off in one of the bedrooms upstairs.”
A few people near us snicker.
“Wouldn’t be the first time you two shared a bed. Ain’t that right, O-dawg?” some guy calls out.
“Man, shut the fuck up before I slap your momma with my dick and make you my step-cousin too,” Oakley jeers.
Sawyer blinks. “I think you mean stepson.”
He shrugs. “Whatever. Tomato, tomato.”
“Tom—” She waves a hand. “You know what? Never mind.”
I toss an arm around their shoulders. “Aren’t you guys having so much fun?”
“Not yet.” Oakley raises his cup. “But I’m getting there.”
“I have to pee,” I tell Cole because he’s the one standing directly across from me.
He looks at Oakley. “Is that her way of saying she wants the punch bowl? Because that would be epic.”
Sawyer smacks him on the arm. “If I find out you let my friend pee in the punch bowl after I leave, it will take your doctor a week to count the scratch marks on your body.”
Cole’s eyes turn hooded. “Well, shit. Let’s go, sweetness.”
She cringes. “Not even in your dreams.” Her eyes swivel around the room. “Shouldn’t you be hanging out with your new girlfriend? Or did someone do us all a favor and drop a house on her?”
Cole smirks. “I’ll be damned. Is that a hint of jealousy I detect? You going soft on me, Bible thumper?”
She shoots him a dirty look. “Never. I’d rather crawl over broken glass and eat the vomit your brother spewed all over Britney than sleep with you.”
Cole considers this for a moment. “So you’re saying there’s still a chance?”
Huffing, she links her arm through mine. “Come on, I’ll go with you to the bathroom.”
“Okay, but we have to stop and talk to the bong boys on the way back.”
“The who?”
“You’ll see,” I assure her.
