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“You will thank me tomorrow,” he said, ever the serious person in our group, as he took a vodka shot from my hand and replaced it with a full bottle of water.
“Oliver, I’m fine!” I slurred, looking up at him through bleary eyes. “I need to drink to forget that I am miserable.”
“Why so miserable, Lilly Pad?” he asked, making my drunken heart skip a beat with the use of that particular nickname.
“Because I am twenty-three and all alone,” I moaned.
“OK, grandma. I think you may be being a little dramatic.”
“No! I will never find someone to love me!” I declared with a burst of emotion as I placed my heavy head on the table in front of me. “And do you know why I will die alone?” I asked Oliver in my most serious voice while resting my cheek on my hand and beckoning him closer.
Oliver rolled his eyes at my theatrics. “Why, Lilly?”
“Because,” I said, urging him even closer so I could whisper straight into his ear, “I am unlovable.”
Oliver stared into my eyes for a moment, his face only inches from mine. “Don’t be silly, Lil. You don’t mean that.”
“I do, ’tis true,” I replied, my voice now a little sleepy.
“No,” he whispered back. “You are so lovable. Lilly, you are perfect.”
As I gaped at Oliver, sure that my beer goggles had been placed over my ears, making them ear goggles, I flashed back to him saying this to me once before—
“Lilly Pilly, wake up!” Amy screeched right next to me, deafening me in one ear. “It’s your birthday. Why are you hiding here in a corner with Oliver?”
“Because I am heartbroken and depressed, remember?”
“Psht, heartbroken? Over that douche? No, I will not have it. You are young and hot. You are looking smoking tonight. I mean, your boobs are popping in that dress.”
I looked down at the not-so-small amount of cleavage I was showing in my dress and had to agree. The girls were looking pretty good tonight. I glanced up to see Oliver was also looking their way, though he blushed and looked away again when he saw I had caught him looking.
“The best way to get over a guy is to get under the next one,” Amy declared in an obnoxiously loud voice, laughing at her own joke, making me blush and Oliver’s jaw clench.
“Come on, this bar is filled with hot guys. Madi and Sammi are already out on the dance floor. Let’s go!” She grabbed my hand and dragged me away with her.
From here, the night picked up. While laughing at Amy’s antics, I soon joined in, and the four of us got busy recreating the latest TikTok dances while also downing tequila shots. I gave Oliver a random cheerful wave while he was watching from the sidelines. Towards the latter part of the night, after having said goodbye to Madi and Sammi—the party poopers—I somehow lost Amy before finally spying her flirting with some gorgeous, younger, George Clooney–looking guy at the bar. As I watched in amusement, my best friend chatting with the enthralled stranger, a strong pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind. Woodsy with a hint of vanilla. Oliver. I sighed as I leaned back into his solid chest. Hmmm, yum.
“Are you OK? Are you having a good night?” he said, his lips close to my ear, making me shiver in delight.
I turned in his arms, linking my arms around his neck. “I would be better if you danced with me on my birthday.” Was this my flirting with Oliver?
“Well, don’t look now, but it looks like that is what we are doing.”
I glanced down to see our bodies pressed together, swaying slowly and out of time to the upbeat version of the Ed Sheeran song “Perfect” thumping in the background. I inched a little closer and closed my eyes, resting my head on his shoulder and sighing. Boy, he smelled so good. How was that possible? I bet I smelled like a vodka brewery—hmmm, was vodka made in a brewery?
Not the time for this, Lilly, I thought to myself. Focus. You are slow dancing with Oliver. It is like a birthday miracle. As I took note of his strong arms—was he pulling me even closer? I felt how soft his skin was under my lips—wait.
Oliver froze against me. “Lilly?”
Did I just kiss Oliver on the neck? Mortified, I raised my eyes to see Oliver looking at me with an intense expression on his face, his gaze bouncing between my eyes and my lips.
“Ollie,” I whispered, not wanting to break the spell and ruin the moment. In slow motion, Oliver leaned in, moving ever closer—
“Lilly!” My arm got jerked away in a sudden motion. “We have to leave! Now!” Amy hissed, dragging me away from Oliver. “I think I just tried to hit on my new co-worker.”
“What?” I asked, bewildered, still looking back to where Oliver remained, watching me with that intense look. “What did you say?”
“The new doctor starting at the emergency department? That’s him. The delicious snack over there. And I was flirting with him. We have to leave; I need to find a new job…” Amy continued to rant as we moved closer to the door. “Hurry up, Lil!”
