Would this ever happen to anyone but me?
Probably not. You’re just lucky like that. Have fun. ;)
Don’t wink at me.
I’ll wink at you all I want.
Are you going out with anyone tonight?
Yes. Mary.
I thought she liked Brody.
You thought wrong.
Be nice.
Would I ever be anything else?
Yes.
Go get more people drunk.
I will.
“Is that my brother?” Carly asked as she reached the table.
“Nope, my friend.”
“Oh. You were kinda goofy smiling.”
“He’s a goofball.”
“He?”
“Yes. My friend Macon.”
“Where does he live?”
“With me.”
“You live with a guy?” She sat back down.
“Actually, I live with two.”
“Does Colin know?”
“Yeah…” Was she going to get judgmental on me?
“And he doesn’t care? I would think he’d be jealous or something.”
“Why would he be jealous? It’s not like I’m sleeping with them.”
“You’re not sleeping with Colin either.” She crumpled up the wrapper from her burger.
“And whose fault is that?” I clasped a hand over my mouth. “Forget I said that.” I was getting a little too comfortable around Colin’s sister.
She grinned. “I wish I had the nerve to live with guys.”
“The nerve?”
“Yeah. I’d be all worried about how I looked all the time.”
“Well, I’ve known Macon since we were babies, and Brody and I don’t look at each other in any sort of romantic way, so I don’t worry about it much.”
“You can’t walk around naked though.”
“You walk around naked in front of girl roommates?”
She shrugged. “It’s been known to happen.”
“Mental note to never live with you.” I couldn’t help but smile.
She laughed. “Were you in a sorority?”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t active. I didn’t have time.”
“My school doesn’t do Greek, but I don’t think I would have joined even if we did.”
“Yeah, it just kind of happened for me.”
“Colin wasn’t in a frat.”
“Yeah? It hasn’t come up.” I glanced at my watch. “We should go.”
“All right, let’s get this show on the road.”
I easily found the hotel, but the lot was almost full. We ended up parking on the opposite side from the entrance. Once again, I regretted my choice of footwear.
“Do we just walk in? We’re pretty late.” I smoothed out my dress.
“I bet we can sneak in. Hopefully no one noticed us missing.” Carly was delusional.
We hiked across the lot, through the lobby, and reached the dining room. Carly giggled the whole time, as though we were teenagers sneaking in after a night out.
“Hey, is everything okay?” Colin met us at the door of the dining room. Considering he was standing there as soon as we got there, he must have been watching for us.
Carly got serious. “Everything is fine, Colin. Your girlfriend and I were bonding.”
Colin didn’t blink at the g-word. “I’m sure you were. Are you drunk?”
I wanted to bury my head in my hands.
“Yeah. Maddy introduced me to cosmos. They’re really strong but still taste good.”
I jumped in to defend myself. “Uh, she only had a few.”
“I can’t help that I’m a lightweight.”
“I’m sorry, Colin.” I met his gaze. I’d apologized, but it wasn’t my fault she insisted on ordering the third drink.
He laughed. “It’s not your fault, Maddy. I’m glad you guys spent time together…or I think I am.”
“I didn’t embarrass you.” Carly leaned on Colin’s shoulder.
I noticed some people watching us and turned to Carly. “Do you want to go in, or should I walk you to your room?”
“You know what? Hold on.” Colin walked back into the dinning room and returned with one of his friends. “Mark is going to walk you to your room, Carly. Maddy’s staying with me.” He put a hand on my hip in a way that gave me chills—the good kind.
“Great. See you later, Maddy.” Carly smiled and I got the distinct impression she was thrilled about who was walking her back.
As soon as Carly disappeared, I turned back to Colin. “Sorry.”
“Why do you keep apologizing? It’s not your fault my little sister’s a lush.”
“She is twenty-one,”
“Yes, but she doesn’t always act it. You, on the other hand, always act twenty-two.”
“Oh yeah? Is that different than you acting twenty-six?”
“Completely.” He leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. “Are you ready to meet my parents? They’ve been asking about you for the last hour.”
“They have?”
“Yeah. They’re curious who the mysterious Maddy really is.”
“Mysterious, huh?”
“Very.” He took my arm and led me over to a table full of people.
“Is this Maddy?”A blonde middle-aged woman asked excitedly. She was out of her seat and on the way over to us before Colin could answer. Was it his mom?
“Hi Mrs.…” What if I was wrong and it wasn’t his mom?
“Please, call me Miranda. It’s so nice to finally meet the girl my son talks about so much.”
Phew. Mystery solved. “Nice to meet you, Miranda. I’m Maddison.”
“Maddison? Colin never told us what Maddy was short for.” She cast a sidelong glance at her son.
He shrugged. “You never asked.”
“Where’s Carly?” Miranda looked around. “Didn’t you say the girls were together?”
The girls? That was a rather informal way of describing us. I didn’t even try to answer. I’d let Colin take that one.
Colin smiled at me before answering. “She went to lie down.”
“To lie down? Is she drunk?” Miranda didn’t sound particularly surprised, which made me wonder if this was a frequent behavior of Carly’s and not as much my influence as I thought.
Colin put an arm around my shoulder. “Maybe a little.”
“I’m sorry you had to witness that.” Miranda shook her head.
“It’s fine. She seems really nice.” I didn’t know Carly well, but I liked her enough that I wasn’t going to throw her under the bus.
“So you two are getting along then?”
“Yeah. We just met tonight.”
“Oh. I assumed Colin would have introduced you two when she visited. No wonder she wasn’t forthcoming with any details.”
I wanted to say “you and me both,” but I kept that to myself. Something wasn’t adding up for me. Why not introduce me to his sister, but invite me to a wedding to meet the whole family? If he was working that much, why was she visiting him?
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance.” I’m not sure why I stepped in, but I didn’t want to hear Colin’s excuses in front of his mom. I’d get the truth from him when we were alone.
“Maddy just got here, so I want to make sure she gets something to eat.” Colin deftly maneuvered me toward the buffet. “So that’s my mom. I’m not sure where my dad is.”
“That’s fine. Meeting one parent tonight is plenty.”
He laughed. “You’re going to meet him.”
I made a plate of chicken and some sort of pasta while Colin watched.
“I’m guessing you ate already?”
“Yes, but I’ll obviously sit with you.”
“I feel bad. I don’t have to eat.”
He placed a roll on my plate. “You have to eat.”
“You’ve been around me enough to know I eat plenty. You don’t have to worry about me wasting away.”
“Yeah, but what kind o
f date would I be if I let you go without food?”
“I don’t know…a normal one?”
“Please eat. For me.”
“You don’t have to beg me. I’m hungry. I’m just saying I can skip it if there’s something else I should be doing.”
“Nothing else right now.” He led me back over to the table his mom was seated at. He pulled out a chair before I could.
I sat down and glanced around. Everyone else was busy talking, so I dug in.
“Hey, Colin. We need you.” A girl I recognized as one of the bridesmaids came over.
Colin looked at me questioningly. “Do you mind? Hopefully, this won’t take long.”
“No. Go ahead.” I groaned internally. Now what? I didn’t even have Carly around.
“I’ll be back soon.” He kissed me on the cheek and got up. The bridesmaid didn’t even glance at me.
I’d finished my meal before Colin’s mother noticed me sitting there alone.
“Oh. Hi, Maddy. Where did Colin run off to?”
I took a sip of my water. “One of the bridesmaids said they needed him for something.”
“Oh. Hopefully, he won’t leave you waiting for long. But this gives us some time to chat.” She turned in her chair so she could look at me better. “Colin mentioned you’re working at a restaurant?”
“Yes. I bartend.” Working at a restaurant? Was he that vague about it?
“But you graduated from college this spring?”
“Yes, UVA.”
“That’s right. What is your degree in?”
“Chemistry.” I studied my lap. I wasn’t interested in where the conversation was headed.
“Do you know what you want to do with it yet?”
“No. I’m still thinking.”
“Oh. I suppose you have some time. Nothing wrong with that.” Her expression and the tone of her voice were at complete odds with her words.
I decided to change the subject. “Carly’s great. I’m glad I got a chance to meet her.”
“I hope she isn’t bothering you. She can be clingy sometimes.”
Was this woman talking about her own daughter? “Not at all. We’ve had a nice time.”
“Great.”
Another middle-aged woman interrupted us, and I took it as my opportunity to leave. After a few attempts to get her attention, I left the table and started toward the doors.
“Hey, if it isn’t my favorite bartender.”
I looked up. Davis—that college guy who had hit on me the night I met Gabriel—grinned at me.
“Oh. Hi.”
“Are you friends with Gray?” He referred to the groom.
“Nope. I’m here as someone’s date.” I glanced back toward the doors, more ready than ever to leave.
“Someone who can handle you?” His eyes twinkled, and he seemed to be over the rejection.
I’m sure I turned bright red. “Listen, just forget you saw me.”
“No way.” He touched my arm. “You’re the first non-lame person I’ve seen tonight.”
“Are you here for the bride?”
“Yeah, Dara is an old high school friend.”
“Oh cool.” I stared longingly at the exit.
“Where’s your date?”
“I’m not sure. He’s in the wedding party, so he got called away.”
“So where are you headed?”
“To my room.”
“Are you in the main building?”
“Yeah.”
“I was going to hit up the hotel bar. I know this one’s free,” He gestured to the drink station, “but I need to get out of this room.”
“Cool. Have fun.”
“Want to join me? I mean, your date’s not around anyway.”
“Ah, I think I’m going to pass on that.” This guy didn’t give up.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Let me give you my number in case you change your mind.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” I didn’t know much about etiquette, but taking a guy’s number when you were somewhere as the date to another guy didn’t sound too up-and-up.
“Can I get yours?”
Was he serious? He didn’t seem to be catching the drift. “Sorry, I don’t think so.”
“Oh, well, I guess I’ll see you at the wedding then.”
I walked out of the dining room and headed up to my room. I got to my door before making a distressing discovery. I didn’t have a key. I’d meant to grab mine, but I never did. “No.” I slunk down on the floor outside my room. Could the night get any worse?
That’s when I remembered Carly mumbling her room number to Mark. I’d see if she was still up. I took the stairs down a floor, and stopped outside her door. I heard talking. I hesitated a moment, not sure if I should interrupt, but I was out of ideas and not willing to spend hours sitting in the hallway.
I knocked.
“Maddy, hey!” Carly wrapped her arms around my neck when she opened the door.
I laughed. “Nice to see you, too.” I looked over her shoulder and noticed that Mark and another guy were sitting on her bed. They each had a flask, and I was pretty much positive Carly had been drinking more.
“Hey, Maddy.” I’d briefly met Mark before the rehearsal. He was an usher, and if I interpreted it right, also a childhood friend of Colin’s.
I didn’t remember meeting the other guy, and he smiled in greeting. “Hey, I’m Jamie.”
“Hi Jamie.” I smiled slightly before turning my attention back to Carly. “Sorry to, uh, crash this party, but I didn’t have a room key, and I don’t know where your brother is.”
“Brother?” Jamie asked. “Are you here with Colin?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. I didn’t know he had a girlfriend.”
“Neither did I.” And even if he did, he might not after tonight. His fault or not, I was frustrated that he’d invited me to an event and then ditched me. He should have come alone.
“Colin didn’t say where he was going?” Mark asked.
“Nope. One of the bridesmaids called him away. I waited awhile, but then I decided to leave.”
“Aww, that’s awful. What a prick.” Carly grabbed Mark’s flask and downed some.
“I just wish I had a key…”
“You could probably get one from the desk,” Jamie suggested.
“I don’t know if I’m listed on the room. My invitation was pretty last minute.”
“Oh. That sucks.”
“Just stay here.” Carly sat down at the top of her bed and patted the space next to her. “We’re about to order a movie.”
“A movie? What kind?”
“Oh, you know, something pornographic,” Mark said with a straight face.
“Seriously? You guys are going to order a porno?”
“Yeah? Is that a problem?” Jamie let a smile slip.
“I’m not sure if you’re joking or not, but I think I’ll pass.”
Jamie smirked. “You’re not drunk enough.”
“I’m not drunk at all.”
“I’ll remedy that.”
“With what? Whatever is in your flask? What is this, high school?”
He tossed me his flask. “Just have some.”
I shrugged, trying to push aside thoughts of mono and took a sip. It burned a little going down. “Everclear?”
He laughed. “That was fast.”
“Maddy’s a bartender. She knows this stuff.” Carly put an arm around my shoulder.
“I’ll go get the bottle.” Mark took off, leaving the latch out so the door didn’t lock. He returned minutes later, his room must have been close. While he was gone, Jamie ordered a movie—a porno called Eruptions.
“So now on top of getting Colin’s little sister drunk, I’m going to sit back while she watches porn with his friends. Fantastic.”
Jamie laughed. “What does it matter? You’re not even sure you’re his girlfriend, right? Besides, this one’s a classic.”
&nb
sp; I sighed. “This is why you never agree to go to weddings with people.”
I started to get up, but Carly put a hand on my arm to stop me. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere.”
“Why?”
“As much fun as this is, I’d rather get out of here.”
“She wants to hunt down Colin to get him in bed, I bet.” Mark must have been drunk. That wasn’t the kind of thing you said to a girl you didn’t really know—who was dating your friend.
“She’s never slept with him.” Carly giggled.
“Carly!”
“Sorry! It just came out.”
“That’s more of a reason for you to stay.” Jamie grinned. “If you’re not getting some, you’re more in need of the porn.”
I glared at him. “I don’t care about your opinion on this subject.”
My phone vibrated in my purse. I hoped it was something to get me out of that mess.
I glanced at the screen. Where are you? I’m so sorry.
“Is that Colin?” Carly asked.
I nodded before replying. Can I meet up with you and get the room key?
Where are you? I’ll meet you at the room if you want.
I’m with Carly. Be there in a few.
While I texted, Mark refilled his flask.
“I’m going to go.”
“Fine.” Carly pouted.
“Have fun with your movie.” I started to walk out, then realized what I almost did. Leaving Colin’s drunk little sister to watch porn with two guys…yeah, not happening.
“Wait. You guys both out.” I pointed to the door.
“What?”
“I’m not leaving you guys in here.”
“Why not?” Mark asked.
“Because if I was drunk I wouldn’t want my friend to leave me with two guys to watch a porno.”
“But you live with two guys,” Carly started.
Mark and Jamie turned to look at me.
“We don’t watch porn, and we don’t live in a hotel. Out, or I call Colin.”
“I think we’re leaving. See ya, Carly.” Mark hightailed it out.
“I’ll leave, but at least watch the movie. We already paid for it.” Jamie winked before walking out of the room.
I smiled at Carly apologetically. “Sorry to ruin your fun.”
“It’s okay. I wanted to hook up with Mark, but that wasn’t going to happen with Jamie here anyway.”
I laughed. “Yeah, probably not.” I had no idea what Mark would or would not have done with Jamie around, and I didn’t want to find out.
Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology) Page 12