Page 29 of The Summer Intern

“No, just partying, you know?”

The beer arrived on a big tray, with miniature frosty mugs lined up in a neat row, liquid in various shades of amber and gold glinting in the sun.I took my first legal sip—hoppy bitterness exploding across my tongue—and choked.“Tastes like tree bark brewed in gym socks!”

“Sip slower, grandpa,” Oliver suggested.

“Screw that.”I downed the next mini mug in three gulps, the carbonation making my throat tingle.

By the time our burgers arrived, my head felt pleasantly fuzzy.I got a cute little tray of miniature juicy patties oozing pepper jack cheese, stacked with onion rings, and Oliver got a decent-looking veggie burger.

“So why didn’t you invite Matt?”Oliver’s question made my heart sink into my stomach.Because, really, why hadn’t Matt asked me?Or Sutton, Ben, someone?Surely they knew my birthday from my employment paperwork, or from the not-so-subtle hints I’d been dropping all week.

I pushed down my loneliness.“Those losers?Not happening.”I signaled Jess for another beer, my favorite from the sampler platter.“This is my party, and I only want people I like here.”Glancing towards the door, I pushed down thoughts of Matt's sexy body, his cock sliding against mine, the way he moaned when he came.

The second beer went down smoother, warmth pooling in my stomach, and almost made me forget about Matt's abs.Almost.I munched on my food and looked out the window, watching the tourists pass by on the sidewalk — families pushing babies in strollers and dragging grumpy toddlers, retirees snapping photos of everything.It wasn't at all what I'd pictured when I'd imagined my 21st birthday.

Across the street, neon blinked to life—a cocktail glass logo above a door propped open with a cinderblock.The bassline of some 2000s pop anthem throbbed through the twilight, beckoning me."A bar!"

Oliver followed my gaze.“Don’t.I can’t go with you in there.”

“Oh, come on, Ollie, it’s my 21st.I need to go to a bar, it's practically required by law.And they probably won’t even card you.You look very mature for your age.”That was a total lie, Oliver still got carded at PG-13 movies.I was sure the perfect skin and Korean babyface would serve him well when he got older and actually wanted to look young, but on a 19-year-old, it was not ideal.

“Casey—” Oliver bit into the last bit of his burger, and dabbed his lips delicately with a napkin."We could get mochi from that Japanese place you like."

"I could also get shitfaced," I said.“It’s a 21st birthday rite of passage!”

"You've had plenty of beer already.And I don’t think your tolerance is as high as you think it is."

"Well, just to prove you wrong, I think I want another!Or some mixed drinks, something with umbrellas."The buzz of alcohol hummed pleasantly behind my eyes, blurring the edges of my stupid decisions.Twenty-one deserved more than a tasty dinner and a nine PM bedtime.I waved the waitress over and paid, giving her a healthy tip.

Oliver grabbed my elbow as I prepared to make a run for it."That's the Outpost.Wade says they card hard."

I shook him off and jogged across the street, turning back to him as I stepped onto the sidewalk, and doing a little dance to the music inside."Good thing I'm legal.Wait, Wade?Like the construction guy?When did you talk to him?”

Oliver shrugged.“Wade grew up here, so I asked him for tips on where to take you.And a bar is not the plan!”

“Live a little, Ollie.I’m sure you can get in.”

"Casey!"Oliver's shout muffled against closing doors.

The bouncer barely glanced at my ID before waving me into a dim room lined with kitschy neon and fake antique signs.Oliver could sneak in if he really wanted to.Sadly, my brother was a die-hard rule follower, so there was no way he’d be trying to sneak past the bouncer.Oh well, if no one wanted to party with me, I was determined to make a party on my own.

The bartender looked up from polishing glasses—early thirties, arms sleeved in geometric tattoos, smile sharp enough to cut glass."Birthday boy?"He nodded at my birthday sash, which I’d forgotten I was wearing.

"Astute observation."I slid onto a cracked leather stool."What's your strongest something that doesn't taste like regret?"

His chuckle warmed the space between my ribs."Let's start with a daiquiri.It’s mostly sugar."

By the second daiquiri—complete with flamingo straw and three paper umbrellas—the world developed a pleasant tilt.My phone buzzed incessantly in my pocket.

Ollie:

You’re gonna die alone in a dive bar

Wade says Matt's looking for you.I guess you missed some memo.

CASEY ANSWER ME

Memo?I wasn't going to think about work on my 21st birthday!The bartender—Kyle, according to his name tag—leaned across the mahogany bar."Trouble in paradise?"

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