“Why?”
“I dunno. Thoughtta stood him up or sumpin’. Wouldn’t even lemme explain. He can be sush a jerk!”
“He’ll probably come crawling back to say he’s sorry.”
“He don’ care. I don’ want his stupid ’pology. He can go screw hisself.”
“We’ll see how you’re feeling about that tomorrow.”
“Don’ feel you haf to babysit me. I’m better.”
“You sure?”
“Yup. I need to close my eyes. So tired.” I shut my eyes and leaned back into the chair. “Uh oh…the backyard is spinning!”
“Rest for a minute. I’ll be right back.”
“Okie dokie artichokie.”
“Hey, sleeping beauty.”
I opened my eyes. Reese, Mary and Jake were standing in front of me. I squinted, disoriented.
“Damn girl, you look pretty ripped,” Reese said.
I smiled. “Yep!”
“Did you hurl?”
“Yep!”
“Where’s Pete?”
My face soured. “He left.”
“I take it you lovebirds had a spat?” he said.
“Your fren’s ’n asshole.”
“You don’t have to tell me that. You’re the one who chooses to do the nasty with him.”
“Not anymore. I don’ like how he treated me.”
“That’s right, girl. Don’t let anyone treat you like crap,” Mary said.
“How’s this party?” said Reese.
“Awesome,” Mary said. “Have you been to the others?”
“Just Nate’s, but it totally bunk. We heard Drew’s was the place to be, so we’re heading there next. Want to tag along?”
“Where’s Jaime damey fogamey?” I said.
“Home. She had a headache.”
“Uh oh. Dosh she know you’re here?”
Reese shrugged. Jake snickered. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“Let’s go with them.” Mary’s eyes pleaded with mine.
“I don’ know…”
“Up you go.” Reese helped me stand. “You’re among friends, and you obviously need to be shown a good time.”
Why not? The night was young and I was pissed off at my boyfriend. Screw it.
Once seated in Reese’s car, Jake lined up some blow and passed it around. It blazed a trail going up my nose and cleared out some of the muscle-relaxer-and-booze cobwebs still messing with my head.
Mary and Jake climbed into the backseat, necking and groping each other as soon as we hit the road. I rode shotgun, which put me in the hot seat, but I was too mad and drunk to care. I took a long swig from the beer Reese placed in my hand and purged all thoughts from my head. I wasn’t doing anything wrong anyway.
We cruised by Drew’s house, searching for a parking place among the cars crammed into every crevice of the hilly street.
“Crap! Tha’s Pete’s car,” I said.
Reese touched my arm. “You want to go in?”
“No! I have nothin’ to say to tha’ jerk.”
“You’re sure?”
I nodded. My anger bubbled up, and I downed the rest of my beer in response.
Reese drove away from the party. “I have an idea. Let’s go to the club.”
Jake hooted. “Hell yeah, brother.”
“What club?” I said.
“The Oakland Hills Country Club.”
“The one by school?”
A Scorpions song came on, and he turned up the volume. “The one and only.”
A glance at Reese’s console clock told me it was one-thirty in the morning. “They’re open this late? Wowza!”
“Not exactly, but membership does have its privileges.”
“You mean we’re breakin’ in?” It all sounded exciting, like James Bond cool.
“Just sneaking in,” Reese said.
“Don’t sweat it, Anna. We do it all the time,” added Jake. “Besides, I’m a member.”
Reese handed me another beer. I chugged it, ready for adventure.
Reese drove by the club, making sure the coast was clear, then parked across the street behind some trees. We snorted more lines, and left the mirror, coke and rolled-up dollar bill by the shifter. There was enough for us to do one more round when we returned. After getting out of the car, we hid, waiting for the few cars at the light to move along.
“Now,” Reese whispered.
Mary and I followed the guys, who took us to the spot where we could jump the fence. Reese climbed over first, and Jake stayed behind to help us girls. He gave me a boost, and I ungracefully swung myself over. Reese grabbed my waist and helped me down. I breathed a sigh of relief once on the other side. The tall redwood fence shielded a large rectangular pool, a child’s wading area and a round hot tub, plus a clubhouse. Rows of empty chaise lounges sat ready for occupants, and well-tended shrubs and trees gave the club a certain opulence. Every angle protected us from view.
Reese stripped down to his underwear and jumped into the pool. I gulped. I hadn’t thought about this part, not that I could think clearly. We were swimming…without bathing suits. Jake followed, creating a huge splash, some of the spray landing on me. I grabbed a fresh beer from the twelve-pack the guys brought, but stayed standing. The coke had somewhat improved my drunken stupor, but this newest situation was too intense to handle without more alcohol.
Mary pressed an oversized button to start the whirlpool, and the bubbles churned to life. “Want to get in?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t worry. We’ve done this before and have never gotten busted. Relax.” She disrobed and lowered herself into the steaming tub wearing only her underwear. “Come on in. It feels great.”
The guys performed tricks off the diving board and splashed water in each other’s faces. I fretted about the noise, considering the goal was to avoid calling attention to ourselves. But guys will be guys. I walked closer to the hot tub and perched on a lounge chair.
“Mary,” I whispered. “I can’t.” Intoxicated or not, my sense of adventure evaporated, replaced with bona fide guilt and trepidation.
“You can. You don’t have to do anything with Reese. Just hop in and enjoy.”
What the hell. I turned my back to the boys, hurriedly stripped down to my underclothes and
