“I’m pretty sure that’s the difference between magic and tequila shots.” Matt laughs.
“Oh, I think they’re pretty much one and the same. Both of them make me a wicked dancer.” I laugh.
“Now I’m intrigued,” Matt says as he jumps to his feet and gestures for me to get up into the aisle.
“What are you doing?” I hiss, aware that the people around us are staring.
“Waiting for you to show me your moves,” he says.
“Ah, well there’s definitely no magic on board and I haven’t had my tequila I’m afraid.” I giggle.
“Chicken.” Matt laughs, sitting back down.
“You should come. To the party I mean,” I say, feeling brave suddenly.
“I don’t know. I think I might be a bit old for a college party.”
“Yeah. I mean you’re what twenty-five? You’re ancient,” I tease.
“Hey, less of the ancient” He laughs. “And actually I’m only twenty-four.”
“So is that a yes then?” I push him.
“I…”
His tone of voice tells me he’s about to say no, and suddenly, the thought of not seeing him tomorrow makes me feel a little lonely. “Now who’s the chicken?” I interrupt him.
“Oh, I’ll be there.” He nods. “And this dancing thing? It’s on.”
“Oh it’s on alright.” I laugh, feeling a warm glow inside of me. I take Matt’s number, telling him I’ll text him the address, and when my stop rolls around, I get off the train feeling like I’m walking on air. Did I just ask Matt on a date and got a yes?
No… I caution myself. You invited a friend to come to a party with you and he had nothing better to do so he agreed. That’s all. Don’t go getting any ideas.
I think it might be a little bit too late for that though.
Chapter Six
Callie
“Let’s go and get another drink,” Chloe, my best friend, shouts over the thumping music.
I nod my agreement and let her lead me through the crowd. The party is in full swing. The living room and dining room are crammed full of people, some swaying to the music, some standing around the edges of the room chatting. The furniture has all been pushed back, leaving plenty of room for dancing. The room is hot and sweaty and it’s getting more and more humid by the minute as more bodies squeeze in.
The stairs are littered with couples hooking up and I dread to think what’s going on in the bedrooms if what I see on the stairs is anything to go by. Chloe leads me into the kitchen. The music is quieter there and the temperature is cooler. We make our way to the fridge which is empty of everything except bottles and bottles of beer.
Chloe grabs two and looks around for the bottle opener. She finds it and hands a bottle to me, keeping the other for herself. “Will you cheer up,” she laughs. “You’re acting like you’re here against your will or something. It’s a party Callie, not a damned funeral.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, forcing a smile onto my face. “I’m just thinking about how ill I’m going to feel tomorrow at work.”
It’s a lie. Well no, it’s not entirely a lie. I will be ill at work tomorrow and I’ll curse myself for tonight, but that’s not why I’m miserable. I’m miserable because Matt hasn’t shown up. It’s after nine and I figured if he was coming he’d have been here by now. Or at least, he would have text me to let me know he was planning on coming soon.
“Tomorrow’s another day.” Chloe grins. “Now drink and see if that will put a smile on your face.”
I take a long drink from the bottle, telling myself to forget about Matt and just enjoy the party. It’s not fair to Chloe for me to be so damned miserable and I don’t want to ruin the party for her. “Shots,” I say, moving to a table filled with shots of vodka Jello.
I grab a blue one and an orange one and hand Chloe the orange one. She winces, but she takes it. We peel the lids off the shots and tip our heads back. I feel the too big lump of Jello slide over my tongue and I try to chew it and straighten my head up at the same time. I end up choking out a cough as the Jello shot remains in my throat. My cough easily dislodges it, and I start to chew again. I feel like a damned hamster. My cheeks are that full.
Chloe, who has somehow gotten through her Jello as easily as if it were liquid, laughs at me.
Her laughter sets me off and although I try to bite it back, I can’t. I make a snorting sound and Jello bits run from my mouth as the laughter bursts out of me. I shake my head, looking away from Chloe whose laughter is only making mine more pronounced. As I turn my head to the side, I come face to face with Matt.
Fuck.
“Classy lady.” He smiles at me.
I try to frantically wipe the Jello off my chin but I still have a wad of it stuck in my mouth which I chomp down on twice and force myself to swallow hoping for the best.
Chloe looks from me to Matt and back to me again.
I can read her expression. He’s cute. Go for it.
“You made it,” I say to Matt when I finally get the Jello down.
“Yeah. Just in time for your show by the looks of it.” He laughs.
“Ah, you should see my encore.” I grin.
Chloe is still watching us, clearly annoyed that I haven’t told her about Matt. “I’m Chloe, Callie’s best friend when it suits her,” she says, sticking her hand out.
“Matt,” Matt says, shaking her hand. “And why only when it suits her?”
“Well, she didn’t tell me she had a date tonight,” Chloe says.
I feel my cheeks flushing. I open my mouth to correct her, but I’m too slow, and she keeps talking, making
