Page 65 of Here's to Yesterday

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“Shhh!We’re not supposed to be up here,” Tucker scolds with laughter in hisvoice.

I’m about half a bottle into our brilliant “let’s get drunk idea,” while Tucker is one drink in since he’s driving. We’re currently attempting to sneak onto the roof of a still-open Mic’s. Yeah, sounds like a solid plan. Two people hell-bent on getting drunk on a roof. What could gowrong?

In all honesty, at this point, nothing will probably be as terrible the night we’ve alreadyhad.

“Tuck! Hurry it up!” I tell him a little too loudly as he fumbles to get the access door to the roof open. “Ha ha. Tuck. Up. Theyrhyme.”

He stops what he’s doing and turns toward me in the small area. The expression on his face is serious as he says, “No theydon’t.”

I immediately break out into drunken giggles, and Tucker follows with loud whoops of laughter. We’re both going at it so hard that I can’t seem to find my breath, causing tears to form and the pressure to build up in my head. I wobble, my feet already barely on the edge of the topstep.

“Maura! Watch out!” I barely register before Tucker’s grasping both of my arms and yanking me intohim.

A loud, over-exaggerated gasp leaves my mouth. My eyes are probably taking up half my face at this point as I slowly start to understand that I almost fell backwards down the very steepsteps.

“I almost died,” I whisper, staring up at my savior. Or at least I think it’s a whisper. “You saved my life. You’re like a real-life Disneyprince.”

“I’ll always save you, princess.” He laughs, holding on to me with one hand as he finally unlocks and pushes open the door with theother.

“But what prince would you be? The blond one? But none of them have pretty eyes likeyou.”

“All I heard was you think I have pretty eyes. Stop complimenting me, Maura. You’re gonna make me think you like me,” he teases, pulling me through the threshold andoutside.

“But I do li—” I start, but I cut myself off with a small gasp as I survey the rooftop. I spin around in a fumbled circle, admiring the view. Notwithstanding my semi-drunken state, I know that what I’m gawking at is one hell of a sight. “Oh my gosh! Beautiful! It’s so pretty. I can’t believe you put out all these stars forme.”

“Pretty stars for a pretty girl,” Tucker says with a flirty grin on hisface.

I attempt to mock it. “You’re gonna make me think you likeme.”

The grin he was sporting turns to a flush as I toss his words back athim.

The fresh air starts to work wonders in about five minutes since I’m already starting to lose the very nice buzz I had going on. Now that my head is clearer, I’m more careful as I step up to the edge of the roof. I silently throw out a thank you to whoever thought it would be a good idea to line it with a waist-level wall because I’m still a tiny bitwobbly.

I inspect the night sky and begin counting the stars, something I always used to do on my balcony when I’d had a bad day. Old habits and allthat.

“Some night, huh?” comes Tucker’s smooth voice from besideme.

“You can say thatagain.”

“Som—” he begins before it’s replaced by an “oomph” as I reach over and smack him. “That’s a wicked arm you gotthere.”

“Keep it up and you’ll find out how wicked itis.”

“Testy, testy,” he teases. “But really, how’s thehead?”

“How’s your face?” Ismirk.

Tucker barks out a humorless laugh. “Ouch. Goodone.”

We’re quiet for a moment. Car horns blare and random drunk people shout from the nearby bars. The roof beneath our feet thumps from the loud music that’s playing in between the sets atMic’s.

“Would it be terrible if I say I don’t want to talk about tonight? I want to forget. Just for tonight,” I pleadquietly.

“Is that where the alcohol comesin?”

I nod. “Yes. Lots and lots ofit.”

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