Page 24 of One Shot

“How are you so upbeat and lively?” Bren looks like she could run a marathon right now. I have my hair bundled in the world’s messiest bun on top of my head.

“Three years of college with Liam and the hockey team builds a strong liver. You’ll learn, my dear. Pancakes? Bacon’s almost done.”

Jaylin comes into the kitchen. I realize I haven’t seen her in a while since Bren and I have been so focused on the team.

“Hey, J, what’s new with you? Fill us in on your life.”

“That bacon smells divine. Laur, did you know that the smell of Bren’s bacon is what made me try pork? I wasn’t disappointed! She’s always cooked a feast when she goes too hard the night before, and I cannot say no to bacon,” Jaylin replies.

Bren winks at her. “I have sausage too. You know I crave meat hungover.”

“You know I never crave meat.” Jaylin laughs. “Speaking of me not craving meat, I did go on a date earlier this week. That’s about the only thing new with me.”

I almost spew my orange juice at the double entendre. “Oh! Tell us more! We love details.”

“Yeah, tell us everything. Laur is a huge gossip.” Bren teases. Bren is the biggest gossip I’ve ever met. Somehow, she can keep a secret, but she lives to hear the drama of everyone else’s lives. Her discretion and skillful convincing skills, getting her all the juicy story details, are going to make her an amazing PR manager someday.

“There isn’t much to tell just yet. It was only one date. We just went on a walk and got some coffee. It was really sweet. I feel like I got to know her so well in just an hour. But she’s not out to the world yet, which I think will be difficult for me. We’ll see, I guess. I have plans with her again. I think I’m going to make a little picnic for us to take by the lake before it gets too cold to enjoy being outside.”

Jaylin loudly crunches another piece of bacon.

“That’s an adorable idea! I want a picnic! Please tell Liam that swoon-worthy date idea.”

“So, what about you two? Aside from clearly being hungover from last night, how did the games go?”

“We WON!” Bren dramatically slams the fridge door after putting away the orange juice and is galloping with glee around the kitchen. I swear just watching her is going to make me throw up.

“And Laur shocked all the guys by scoring on the first try at puck and chug, from the player’s line!” Bren is shrieking now. My head is pulsing harder.

“Seriously?! That’s amazing. I’m sure every single person there was floored and jealous. No one ever shoots from that line except for the team.” Jaylin passes me the plate of bacon bowing her head as if to honor me and offer me congratulations in the form of crispy, mouthwatering bacon.

“You’ve done the Beer Olympics too?” I ask Jaylin.

“Oh yeah, Bren forced me to be their fourth person last year. Lucas is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met and beautiful too. I mean clearly, I’m not interested, but I do have eyes.” Jaylin shrugs. “Kind of seems like he doesn’t bring girls around.”

Doesn’t bring girls around? Hearing that tugs at the corner of my lips. My head isn’t the only thing pulsing now. My heart beats faster thinking about him. Lucas Donato wasn’t lying. He plays the part of the ladies’ man well but doesn’t date.

“What are you smiling about, Laur?” Bren demands. “Spill the tea, now.”

I start to feel hot and clammy. Is it the hangover or because I don’t want to divulge that I might have more than a crush on Lucas and I made a stupid, drunk mistake last night? Either way, I know I need to stick to my promise to myself. I’m not ready to explore anything outside of friendship with a guy.

“Earth to Chip! You better tell us, or I’ll pry it out of you.” Bren tries to get my attention.

“IkissedLucaslastnight.”

It comes out as one word. I run to the bathroom, hair held back, my head in the toilet. I hate hangovers. I did not have this much fun in community college. I also don’t think I’ve ever drank for more than five hours like I did yesterday. Usually, I was with Bren or Nick. They both were a little wild, so I tried to stay on the tame side.

“Are you okay?” Jaylin enters the bathroom and kneels down next to me.

“What was that?” Bran glares at me from the doorway of the bathroom.

“I drunkenly kissed Lucas last night.” I say again. This time with my head in the toilet.

“Holy shit. Finish spewing your guts up so you can have some bacon and share all the details,” Bren says.

I come back to the kitchen where Bren has a mound of bacon, sausage and pancakes along with a Diet Coke and more Excedrin forme—the best hangover cure. Even when she’s judging me, she’s still always taking care of me. Sighing, I pop open the soda before sharing my embarrassing story.

I tell Bren and Jaylin about how flirty Lucas has been and about how adjusting my camera settings somehow led to an amateur photoshoot, and how he keeps getting me to open up to him and keeps sharing pieces of himself with me. I tell them how attracted to him I am, how my slightly tipsy self wanted his lips on mine and just went for it, and how he called me his good luck charm, saying if I was around the team would win more games this year. I tell them about realizing he wasn’t the douchey, bad guy I assumed he was after I interviewed him and how I most certainly did not want to be interested in anyone and needed to be focused on marketing and PR for the team, grieving Nick, and finding myself.

---