Page 112 of Holidating
“Bummer,” Andy said. “Add that one to your study list, then.” I tipped my head back on his shoulder so I could see his face. He winked at me, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from giggling.
When I faced forward again, I found Dash watching us, and Whittaker, too. Maybe they were wondering why Andy and I kept giving each other significant glances. Or maybe they were remembering exactly how ridiculous I looked during what was supposed to be a private moment. God, I hoped it was the first thing, and not the second thing. Weirdly enough, though, I didn’t care quite so much as much as I had about an hour ago.
So that’s something.
“Anybody have any good plans for winter vacation?” Andy asked.
“Sailing in Fiji,” Dash bragged. God, he was such a tool. I can’t believe I ever thought he was a catch.
“Doing some skiing,” Whittaker said.
“Yeah?” Andy perked up. “What’s your favorite mountain?”
“We’re heading to Utah,” Whittaker answered. “Gonna hit Alta and Snowbird.”
“IloveSnowbird,” Andy agreed, giving my shoulder yet another squeeze.
He would. Because now I was down bytwopoints. The party would breaking up soon, too. My chance for victory would soon be over. I looked around the room, wondering how we were going to fit fifty kids in here tomorrow. “I’m glad it’s not my job to set this place up in the morning. It’s going to be mayhem, right?” There was another committee for that. (Sororities loved committees.) I wasn’t due to help out until the party started at eleven.
Dash shrugged. “I don’t think I’m going to make it over here. You girls seem to have it covered. Amy had a checklist, and shit.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and not because of Dash’s dismissal of a party for fifty indigent children. But because I had my Hail Mary idea. “It must be really hard to plan parties,” I said in a wistful tone. “I mean… where is Amy going to find all the tables and chairs that we need? Does anyone, like, deliver those things?”
I felt Andy stop breathing. Because he saw where I was going with this.
Dash gave another indifferent shrug. “She probably just called a party rental company.”
“Huh,” I said slowly. “Like that one with those trucks I see around campus sometimes? Those bright ones with…”Take the bait, I prayed.This is for all the marbles.
“Yeah,” he drained his beer. “With the pink pigs on ‘em.”
Andy’s hand closed firmly around my elbow, as if to say,I can’t believe you pulled that off. And I gave him a subtle bump with my hip.Take that, tall guy. I felt rather than saw the smile that he ducked his head to conceal. When he let out a nearly silent chuff of laughter, his nose grazed my hair, and his breath at the back of my neck gave me goose bumps. In a good way.
And through it all, Dash just stood there in front of me, looking half bored and half uncomfortable, worrying the label on his beer bottle. And then Debbie slithered up to him again, plastering herself against his side. She shot me an ornery look.
“Welp!” I said, turning toward Andy. “I think I’m done here. After I duck into the ladies’ room, do you mind if we head out?”
“Not at all,” he said, spinning the pink basketball on one finger.
“Back in a jiff,” I promised. I crossed the room, which was already beginning to thin out. It was still early, but exam week wasn’t the best time to party, even for this crew. And tomorrow the sorority was hosting fifty kids. A hangover would not be welcome in the morning.
I crossed through the parlor to the big old bathroom. Like so many buildings at Harkness, it was a blend of old-world grandeur (the marble tiles) and awkward 1970s renovations (the creaky metal doors on the toilets).
After I took care of business, I emerged from the stall to find Debbie in front of the single tiny mirror, refreshing her lipstick. Washing my hands, I began to feel philosophical. “That spot where you’re standing,” I said to Debbie, “is where we usually have elbow-jousting matches. Primping is practically a blood sport around here.”
“If I had your face, I wouldn’t bother primping,” Debbie said in a low voice.
I stared down at the paper towel in my hands. On the one hand, I really didn’t understand why she’d say that. But we girls put ourselves down often enough, even if we don’t usually do it for people who aren’t already our friends. I didn’t know what to say.
But while I struggled to figure it out, Debbie spoke again. “I don’t know why he broke up with you, either. If you lasted a month, I’ll probably last a week.”
“Whoa. Hey now,” I said, hands on my hips. “Don’t you dare give him all that power. Maybe he doesn’t get to decide.”
She gave me a sullen glance. “Of course he does. They already have the power.”
“Debbie.”
She turned to me, her eyes dark.
