The Perfect Emotion (42 page)

Lynn makes her way over to us in her strapless peplum red shirt and skinny jeans with a pair of flats.  Quinn and her gravitate to each other fluffing each other’s hair.  I hear Maggie telling Brandon to have a fun night and that she’ll see him around and then the rest of us all say goodbye to the guys. 

We jump in a van taxi and head towards the lake.  Along the way we start to approach Reed’s dad’s restaurant and I glance in through the windows hoping to sneak a peek, but don’t see him. 

Once in the restaurant we all crowd in and by pass the bar to get a table for dinner. As we check in at the hostess stand she asks, “Is there a Kate Monroe here?” With confusion I approach and tell her yes. She smiles and says that she has a table all set for us. She takes us towards the back and we all enter into a small private room with a table big enough for us all. We each sit down questioning why we have this private room and then two waiters enter bringing in pitchers of Sangria and a tray filled with small plates. Not two more seconds go by and I realize who did this. I look at Maggie and it hits her too. She mouths, “Reed,” and I shake my head smiling. Quickly, I pull out my phone.

What did u do? Katherine

Spoiling u.
  Reed

Thank u, xoxo
  Katherine

X. Reed

We dive into the delicious food and drinks.  The more alcohol we consume the sillier we get.  Eventually, all the girls know its Reed who arranged this.  They all gush over how lucky I am and I agree. 

“So I have something to tell you girls,” Quinn burst out.  We all stare at her ready to hear what she has to say.  “I’m going to enroll in beauty school this summer up here and still pursue a business degree.”

“What?  Really!  That is so awesome!”  Lynn states and we all follow suit congratulating her. 

“You’ll be amazing,” I tell her. 

“So, then you can still live up here in a house with us this summer right?”  Maggie asks. 

“Yes, for sure.  I’m so excited about this.  I feel like I finally know my path now.”  The smile on her face hits her rosy cheeks and you can see the excitement fill her whole body.

“Well, I guess, I should tell you my plans too…” Lynn presses on.  “I’m leaving in May still to go abroad, but I’ll be staying for the next semester.  I’ll do some traveling first, but then I’ll stay for this program in France.”

“No way!  That is so you, Lynn!”  Kelly exclaims excitedly.  “Who’s going to be here this summer though now?  We need to finalize a house or something.”

“I think I will be … just need to work on my dad,” I tell her.

“Jenna, what about you?”  I ask knowing Maggie will be here.

“I think I’m out. I have to go back home and help for the summer, but I’ll want to live with you girls in the fall.”

“Mags you’re in right?” Kelly looks to her and she shakes her head.

“Okay, I’ll confirm with my dad and then maybe next week we can scope out some places.”

Finishing up our food and drinks we wobbly make it out after the waitress assures us the bill has been taken care of. The girls all thank me for the dinner and drinks, which seems silly because I had nothing to do with it.

We head over to the dance club much looser and definitely rowdier.  The noise level of our chatter only increases as we head through the doors of the club.  The music pumps through my slightly buzzed state making me move myself to the beat.  Before we head to the crowded dance floor we make our way over to a long frosted glass bar. 

“Shots!”  Maggie yells and we all agree.  Just as we order a round of tequila shots a group of guys hover around us.  They don’t look familiar or like they are still in college.  One of them struts through us up to the bar and hands the bar tender his credit card.

“I’ve got this round ladies, but you’ll have to dance with us now.”  Me and Kelly step to the side not wanting to lead them on, but it’s too late because the others have already agreed.  My mind buzzes and I’m finding it difficult to not sway or giggle.  Bravely I grab my shot though and just as I’m about to take it down.  One of the guys grabs my arm. 

“Hold up, sweetheart.  Let’s do a toast girls,” he says as some of the shot spills onto my hand. His brown eyes check me out from head to toe and when he moves in closer to me my response isn’t quick enough. He licks the spilled shot off my fingers. I give him one of my dirtiest looks and back away over towards Maggie.

“That’s one,” Maggie states. 

“Oh stop, that doesn’t count,” I argue.

“Yes it does! He licked you!” She drapes her arm around me practically pulling us down to the ground. “I could call Reed and ask what he thinks, I’m sure he’d agree with me.”

“Fine, that’s one.”

“Ok, boys you want a toast, I have one for you,” Maggie rallies everyone into a circle.  The guys all scan over us as if they just hit the jackpot.  “Ok, here’s to the men we love,” Jenna starts chiming in and soon the others follow suit, “here’s to the men that love us,” I just hold my shot glass up because clearly I haven’t been out with them when they’ve done this before.  “But if the men we love don’t love us, SCREW them and here’s to us.”  The girls are yelling now and guys all start to boycott our toast.

The guy who licked me yells over to me, “baby, I could love you if you give me a shot.” Then he starts to lose his balance as he checks out another group of girls passing by. I just laugh and grab onto Maggie.

“Let’s go dance!”  I exclaim and the girls all follow Maggie and I onto the dance floor, as well as a couple of the guys.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Maggie slurs.

The night goes on for a while with shots every so often and dancing.  Another guy hits on me by grinding into my backside and asking if we can go talk at the bar.  I dance myself away and over to Kelly, but Maggie just shakes her head with two fingers wagging at me.  Soon the room is spinning and I feel like I might be sick. 

Kelly and I make it off the dance floor and to the bathroom.  Once I get in the stall the smell that permeates causes me to start heaving.  “Oh God, Kel, I think I’m going to puke.”

“Shit, seriously?” She calls through the stall door.

“Yeah, I want to go now.  I drank too much.”  I open the door unable to focus on anything.  The mirrors only add to the spinning. 

“I’m going to get Maggie and then we’ll get you out of here, okay?”  Kelly says as she heads out. 

I pull out my phone and see a missed text from Reed.

How r u? Reed

Drunk.
  Katherine

He doesn’t reply right away and I feel like I might throw up again. The puke starts to rise up and I hang myself over the sink, dropping my phone into my purse.

“Shit, girlfriend,” Maggie’s loud shrill echoes down to me on the other end of the bathroom.  “Did you puke?  I forget you are such a light weight.”

“No, I want to go though,” I slur out past the tears that are about to break through. 

“Do you want me to call Reed?” She asks as she scoops me in her arms leading me out of the bathroom.

“No, no, I’m fine. I don’t want him to see me like this,” I murmur.

“Kate, he’s seen you in worse shape.” Even through my spins I laugh at the true statement.

Maggie, Kelly and I say goodbye to Quinn, Jenna and Lynn who are dancing with a group of guys.  I’m propped up in between Maggie and Kelly as we make our way outside.  Luckily, there is a taxi waiting outside.  They scoot me in all the way to the other side and I press my face against the cold glass of the window welcoming the coolness it spreads across my face.  My eyes flit open and closed and the lights of traffic spin in my vision.  I hear the familiar music of
Closer to You
ringing from my purse, but I’m too afraid to move an inch or I’ll surely throw up.  Maggie and Kelly sing
Roar by Katy Perry
even though it’s not the song on the taxi’s radio, nor do they know all the words.  Again, I hear the beautiful words of
Closer to You
softly playing from my phone.  Then I hear Maggie’s familiar phone ring tone going off.

“She’s right here,” I hear her say through her giggling. “I knew you’d be calling me… she is, but we are taking her back… no we’re in a taxi already… okay, bye.”

Maggie’s fingers gently pat my thigh and she talks louder than needed, “Your knight in shining armor insists on seeing you.”

All I can do is shake my head up and down. My head spins and nausea over takes all my nerves. This is awful. I’ve never drunk this much before and now I know I never want to again. Just then the taxi pulls up to our dorm. I open my door without thinking and half fall out. Maggie and Kelly shriek in laughter at me, but I feel too miserable to really care. As I brace myself on the door two strong hands grip each of my shoulders turning me around.

“Jesus,” Reed’s hot breath hits my neck and I smell his masculine pine scent instantly. Jealously hits me as I hope that Jessica didn’t get close enough to him to smell his familiar scent. “Mags, what the fuck, she’s a mess!” He growls out.

“Settle down, cowboy!”  Reed gives Maggie a distorted blurry look, but he sure doesn’t look pleased.  “Sorry, I forgot that she’s a light weight!”  Maggie says lightheartedly.  “Don’t worry I’ll help take care of her.”

“Mags, you look like you’ll be in the same position yourself any minute now,” Reed tells her as he scoops me up and cradles me in his arms like I’m the weight of a baby. Normally, I’d protest, but I don’t think I can walk if I try. My head rest into his chest and I wrap my arms up around his neck.

“Well, whose fault is that? You’re the one who got us all that sangria!” Maggie twirls around us and laughs in between her words.

Kelly’s taken her shoes off and is stalking through the lobby straight to the elevators already, “Oh yeah, thanks for that Re-eeeed,” she shouts over her shoulder.

“I-I don’t want to get sick,” I mumble as I squirm in Reed’s arms bringing a hand to hold my stomach. 

“Shit, baby.  We’re almost there.”  Hearing the ping of the elevator opening and then it closing I press my eyes closed tightly not enjoying the rising motion.  Maggie’s voice hangs in the background with her singing some random mix of music.

As soon as we get into the room I head straight to the bathroom and for the first time in my life I understand what it means to pray to the porcelain god. I throw up until I’m heaving uncontrollably. Reed stays next to me the whole time holding my hair, washing up my face and rubbing my back. Hours must go by and eventually everything feels empty in me. Reed’s long legs stretch across the floor with him leaning against the side of the bathtub and I lay my head on his lap. His fingers gently stroke my hair lulling me into a calm state.

“Did I win?” He whispers.

“No, you didn’t.”

“I don’t believe you. How many guys hit on you?” He challenges playfully.

“Only two, then I got sick.” My voice is raspy and drawn out, but the thought of even drinking water scares me.

“How?”  My eyes slowly roll up to look at him not sure if he really wants to know.

“One licked my hand when my shot spilled on it and Maggie said that counted. The other tried to dance with me from behind and then asked me to go talk.”

His thighs tighten as he tenses them and I hear him click his tongue.  “Well, it’s good I wasn’t there.” 

“I walked away both times,” I say honestly, feeling too weak to look into his eyes again.

“I know you did, beautiful, but I still don’t like it.” He pulls me up closer to his chest and holds me to him. “I should be the only one to lick you… bastard.”

“Mmmm, hmmm,” I murmur into him.  Weakly I lay my head on him.  “What about Jessica?  Did she lick you?” 

“No, not a chance of that happening.”  He states firmly and I take an easier breath.  “Come on, let’s get you into bed.”

“Wait, I want to brush my teeth.”  Reed brings us both to standing position.  He puts toothpaste on my toothbrush and then stands behind me sliding the brush into my mouth while I grip both sides of the sink weakly.  Slow and gentle the bristles glide over and around my teeth.  It’s not as good of a brushing as when I do it, but I’m grateful. 

Minutes after we climb into bed I fall into a deep and heavy sleep. No dreams haunt me tonight with the alcohol still swimming in my veins. Morning sun creaks in the room and I briefly open my eyes taking in Reed’s vibrant blues staring at me.

“Sorry,” I say quietly.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I think so.” He hugs me and places a sweet tender kiss on my forehead letting his lips linger there. “You owe me breakfast, but can you make me lunch instead.” A deep chuckle rises from his chest and he lets his hand wander down and pinch my ass.

“Yes, but I think being licked should count as being hit on two times alone at least.”

C
HAPTER 29

The remainder of the morning I spend sleeping off the haze and alcohol.  Reed leaves at some point, but I still feel too weak to notice much.  When I wake I see a folded piece of paper next to me with my full name scrolled across it and a quick note telling me to come to Reed’s for my winning lunch.  After a long shower I leave Maggie passed out in her bed still to head over to Reed’s house. 

Feeling assured I open the door and walk straight in.  One of his roommates is passed out on the couch with a girl along side of him.  They don’t even flinch when I shut the door.  The sound of music floats softly from the back of the house.  Making my way into the dining room I see two random candles lit and two place settings at the table.  Tip toeing my way into the kitchen I watch Reed pulling out a pan of lasagna.  My heart swells a bit more and I find it hard to enforce self-control at the sight of him.  Granted, the Stouffers box that the pan of lasagna came out of is just to the side of the oven it is still endearing.  When he pulls me to him his hot breath against my neck races my pulse like always, but we sit and have a romantic lunch in the midst of his house filled with his roommates coming and going.