Page 104 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
To get shit-faced, to be exact
Luna
I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that
An hour intomy party, I danced in front of the DJ box with Kriz and Chloe on either side of me. My bright pink dress—a gift fromKriz that I initially found too skimpy—fit perfectly in the crowd with its halter top, low neckline, and mid-thigh length.
Kriz and Chloe had gone all out, scoring a U-shaped booth by the dance floor for our group of five. They’d wanted to invite more people, but I insisted on keeping the party small because I held out hope that Gabe would show. On the off-chance that he did, I knew he’d feel uncomfortable with too many people.
Not that it mattered, because it was less than an hour till midnight, and there was still no sign of him. I stopped myself from checking my phone again because even more pitiful than being an overly hopeful girl was being one who made it painfully obvious to everyone else.
That, and Chloe had threatened to confiscate my phone if I kept looking at it.
“Time for more shots!” Kriz shouted in my ear as the song ended.
“I’m good,” I said, but she tugged me toward our booth with Chloe right at my heels.
Seeing us, Kai stood and waved me to his seat. “Enjoying yourself?”
“Yeah, but I need to slow down with the alcohol.”
“No slowing down. It’s full steam ahead to twenty-one, baby,” Chloe sang out as she poured vodka into shot glasses.
I shook my head. “I want to actually be conscious for my birthday, you know.”
“You want water?” Kai asked.
“That would be amazing.” I remembered the warning Ate gave me about accepting drinks in bars when I first moved here. “Oh, can you ask for a sealed bottle?”
“I know the drill. Be right back.” He tossed me a wink, then left for the bar.
Kriz leaned into me. “Are you sure he got the memo?”
“I told you, he’s just a really good guy,” I said. “I need to find him the right match.”
“It’s your birthday. Stop thinking about matchmaking.” Chloe handed me a shot glass filled to the brim. “Stop thinking, period.”
“Oh no. This is my last shot until midnight. I want to remember tonight, not black out completely.” I gave both of them my most serious glare. My snorting laugh ruined the effect.
“We’ll take vids for you,” Kriz said.
“Last one.”
Chloe let out a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But only until midnight.”
With that, we clinked our glasses together and tossed back the vodka. It burned down my throat, and I knew I’d have to find a way to escape the next shots. My limit had always been four, and I was up to three now.
Drunk me said too much, and this was not the place to lose control.
“He’s like a big golden retriever, isn’t he?”
I followed Chloe’s stare to Kai, who dodged people while double-fisting bottles of water in both hands. “Be nice,” I hissed at her, and she rolled her eyes in response.
“Here you go, Luna.” Kai handed one of the bottles to me. “Got a couple more if anyone else wants to hydrate.”
“Thanks, Kai,” I said as I opened it. The first drink of water soothed my burning throat.
“I’ve got my hydration right here.” Chloe toasted him with her shot glass before aiming it at me. “Midnight. Don’t forget.”
