Page 66 of Here's to Yesterday

“Sounds like a plan tome.”

“You know, this is my first time getting drunk,” Iconfess.

His eyes go wide. “No fucking way. There is no way that’s true. How old areyou?”

I glare at him. “You know I’m twenty-two, youass.”

“Youngin’.”

“You’re only twenty-four!” I turn toward him, catching the small grin on hislips.

“Yeah, for like, three moremonths.”

“Whatever. Anyway, I’m not one to drink. I didn’t get the chance to go out when I was younger,” I tell him, returning my attention to the incredibleview.

“Not in college?” hequestions.

“Nope. Not even incollege.”

Tucker lets out a low whistle. “Shelteredmuch?”

“Very. When I had the chance to let loose, I was too afraid to do so. It wasn’t until my senior year that I went to my first bar I didn’t workat.”

“How’d thatgo?”

“I had a miserable time. The bar scene definitely isn’t for me. I’d much rather stay home and watch movies or read or stalk hot models onInstagram.”

Tucker grins. “That sounds very…fulfilling.”

“Don’t make fun. It’s not my scene.” I shrug. “And I know that sounds crazy because I work at one. But working at a bar and going out to a bar are two differentthings.”

“I can dig that. It’s not much mine either. I’m usually only in bars to play at them. I mean, I’ve been drunk and trolling before but I don’t make it a habit.” He pauses, causing me to peek over. I catch a small wince that I assume stems from his “trolling” comment. I know most girls would pounce on that, but I find it fascinating since I have next to no experience playing the datinggame.

Tucker clears throat. “So, why now? Why get drunknow?”

I shrug, not really knowing why. “It seems like the typical response to a break-up, and I want to be normal for onenight.”

He dips his head. “Fair enough. But you could always come back to my place and pig out on ice cream and cheese puffs with me. That’s what I’ve alwaysdone.”

Laughter bubbles out instantly, and before I know it, I’m on the dust-covered rooftop of Mic’s, holding my stomach and probably looking crazy. Although I know tonight is not the night for laughter, I can’t deny how wonderful it feels to let go and get all the crazyout.

I look up at Tucker, who is now standing over me, his gold eyes shining with laughter in the night, as he takes a photo of me with his cellphone.

“You ever repeat that and I’ll deny it, show everyone this picture, and tell them you’re insane,” he threatens with a grin that tells me he’d never doit.

Grabbing hold of his now extended hand, I pull myself up and brush off my dress for the second timetonight.

“So, how ‘bout it? Ice cream and cheese puffs at my place?” he askshesitantly.

I don’t have to think about his offer, because being with Tucker is exactly what I want. A bit odd since he’s so involved in all this, but he’s also become a good friend this past month or so. So much that it makes me sad to think about the wasted time I spent ignoring him, but it was only fair toTanner.

Look how well that turned out foryou.

Pushing away my thoughts of my now ex-boyfriend, I give Tucker a semi-forced happy smile and say, “Throw in a bottle of wine or two, and I’min.”

* * *

Tucker parkshis BMW at the nearest open store, a Walgreens, and we walk inside still decked out in our “fancy wear,” as Tucker has taken to calling it. We get a strange look and watchful eye from the cashier, who calls out a hello as we walk in. I assume it’s from our attire and Tucker’s now swollenface.

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