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By the time they found a parking space on the crowded Echo Park street where the party was being held, it was full dark and growing slightly chilly. A brisk wind blew in, smelling faintly of tar, and Esther wished she’d brought a sweater.
“Who are these people again?” she asked as they walked the three blocks up the street to the party.
Jonathan cut a sideways look at her and reached for her hand. Warmth seeped into her skin from his palm, bolstering her courage a little. “This is Kelsey and her girlfriend Devika’s place.”
Esther leaned into him, angling to absorb more of his warmth. “Kelsey and Devika,” she repeated, trying to memorize the names. Why had she let him talk her into this? She was terrible at parties; she didn’t even like them when she was in a good mood. She hated trying to get people to like her. They were probably going to hate her anyway, and Jonathan would abandon her in favor of his friends, and she’d end up standing awkwardly by the food all night.
She should have stayed home with her cat. Sally liked her without expecting her to be friendly and interesting.
Jonathan glanced at her again and put his arm around her shoulders, gathering her to his side. He smelled like warm cotton and whatever woodsy soap he used. She nestled into him shamelessly, craving the contact even though it wasn’t that cold.
“The party’s for my friend Lacey.” His fingers smoothed down the inside of her arm as he led her around the side of a beige stucco building. “She just got accepted into the LAPD training academy.”
Esther nodded. “Lacey, police academy.”
He dropped his arm and took her hand again as they ascended a flight of rusty metal stairs. “Lacey’s girlfriend, who’s also hosting the party, is named Tessa.”
“Tessa. Got it.” She glanced at him. “How do you know so many lesbians anyway?”
His mouth dimpled. “I’ve known Kelsey and Lacey since my freshman year at UCLA, and they’re not lesbians, they’re bisexual. Lacey just came out a few months ago, so be cool.”
“I’m cool,” Esther said as they stopped in front of a green door. There was music coming from inside, and voices and laughter. “Kelsey and Devika. Lacey and Tessa.” She should probably be writing all this down. She was bad with names. If she didn’t learn them in advance, she’d never be able to remember them.
Jonathan gave her hand a squeeze. “It’s going to be fine. They’re going to love you and you’re going to have a great time tonight. Trust me.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded, unconvinced.
He squeezed her hand once more before knocking.
The door was thrown open by a woman who looked like she should be painted on the side of a WWII fighter plane. “Johnny!” she shouted, and threw her arms around Jonathan’s neck.
Johnny. Esther had never thought of him as a Johnny before.
His hand fell away from Esther’s to return the woman’s hug, and he wrapped his long arms around her waist. “Hey, Kels.” He was smiling when he let go of her.
Esther had shrunk back, but he snaked his arm around her shoulders again, drawing her forward. “This is Esther. Esther, Kelsey.”
Kelsey’s eyebrows lifted and she beamed a perfect red-lipsticked smile at Esther. “Esther! What a fantastic name!”
“Thanks.” Kelsey, Esther repeated in her head. Kelsey the pin-up girl.
Kelsey stepped back, gesturing them inside. “Drinks are over there.” She waved toward the small kitchen, which was packed with people jostling for access to the fridge. “Food’s on the dining table, and the guest of honor’s in the living room, last I saw.”
“Come on,” Jonathan said, steering Esther into the crowd. “Let’s say hi to Lacey.”
People were jammed in like sardines near the door, and Esther pressed her body against his as they squeezed through a narrow gap.
“Johnny?” she said, arching an eyebrow at him once they had a little more breathing room.
He gave her a sheepish shrug. “It was freshman year.”
It was less crowded in the living room. Just a few smaller groups talking over the indie music being played on a speaker hooked up to someone’s phone.
“Lacey!” Jonathan called out, waving to someone on the couch.
An intimidatingly fit Latina woman jumped up to greet them. “You made it!”
Jonathan let go of Esther and gave Lacey a hug vigorous enough to lift her off the floor. “Of course I made it! I’m so proud of you!”
