Page 90 of Until the Last Star Fades

“Rye, got any rum?” Erika’s request battled to be heard over a loud playlist stuck in the eighties and the rowdy laughter of Ben’s buddies from the diner.

Riley squeezed through the tight crush and past Casey, sitting tall on Piper’s tower of suitcases. “Not unless Scott brought some.” She lowered the music’s volume slightly on her phone, hoping Ben’s twenty-fourth birthday party wouldn’t get shut down by her ever-vigilant super. He usually had circus class Saturday nights, so hopefully he was swinging on a trapeze somewhere for another hour.

Overdressed in Prada, Erika tapped a carrot stick against her empty cup of prosecco. “I’m craving daiquiris.” Her eyes traced the twinkly strings of fairy lights stretching the short distance from the top of Riley’s ladder to her photo wall, a glittery arch of stars hung for Ben’s celebration.

“I can hit the liquor store downstairs. Riley, need anything else?” Erika’s fiancé loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar.

“You serious?” Riley inched past Piper heating up spring rolls in the toaster oven and laughed, pointing at the wine and beer bottles congregating around Ben’s birthday cake. Baked by Maggie, its icing was beginning to melt in the June humidity. “I didn’t realize BYOB meant ‘bring your own bar’ to you two. Scott, you shouldn’t have to buy more.”

“Hey, it’s the least we could do. One day when you’re a big-shot casting director in Hollywood and I’m a has-been hockey player, you can repay the favor.” Scott kissed Erika’s temple, weaved past Ben’s co-workers, and slipped through the door.

“This is nice.” Erika surveyed the room.

Riley wiped perspiration from her brow and adjusted the falling strap of her pink sundress, a steal from the bargain bin three summers ago. “It feels like a party in an airless elevator. My fan can only do so much—”

“No, I mean, nobody here likes hockey—well, except you. No one’s hassling Scott about their playoff collapse. It’s a relief.”

“My relief was when Leia and Tyler declined my invite.”

“It was nice you asked her. Did you invite Ben’s roomie, the stripper guy?”

“Hunter? He’s working—bachelorette party.”

Pouting, Erika bit her carrot stick. “Aww, no Eggplant then…”

“Eggplant?” Piper butted in, leaning her chin on Riley’s shoulder. “Overrated. I never find it satisfying.”

“I know you don’t!” Riley giggled, her eyes catching Cicely, Piper’s date, talking to Ben by the window. He looked through the crowd and, spotting Riley, raised a smile and his bag of mini pretzels.

Piper’s glittery lip raised into a snarl.

“What’s the matter?” Riley grinned at Ben.

“Those dudes, munching chips and slopping beers on my bed.”

Riley’s loveseat creaked, swamped with Ben’s bike courier friends wiping Cheeto dust on their jeans and vaping, filling the room with a fruity chemical stench. “Shit, I told them twice!” With a scowl, Riley squeezed past Casey to confront the smokers.

He slipped into the space she vacated. “Bet you’re missing dorm life now, Pip.”

“I am! Rye’s great, letting me move in for four months, but she talks in her sleep, and it’s like a 1960s commune here—no stove, no A/C.” She pulled her asthma inhaler from her halter dress’s pocket. “People fuck in the shared shower! It’s like biohazard central in there.”

Shoving up his sleeves, Casey gulped. “Ugh, the horror.”

“You could’ve rented a room somewhere else, you know.” Erika’s face pinched. “You’re not the only one inconvenienced—Riley didn’t have room to breathe before you moved in.”

Erika’s jealousy over Piper’s friendship with Riley was flaring again. Casey ducked the firing line and faked interest in Riley’s photo wall (now Josh-free) and Piper’s tray of appetizers balancing on the chest of drawers, PEZ-less for the party.

“Hey! I am helping with rent, you know.” Piper shook her inhaler forcefully. “I’m not a freeloader bugging her for beauty products, unlike some people—”

“Hi ya!” Ben, with Cicely in tow, interrupted the brewing argument. “You…all right? Who needs a drink?”

Erika’s face softened. “Shouldn’t we be asking you, birthday boy?”

“I’ve got a nice buzz on, cheers!” He raised his bottle of Stella to Erika. “Thanks to you and Scott helping with the booze.”

“Anytime.” Erika smiled sweetly.

Piper rolled her eyes and puffed her inhaler.