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“I’ll get them,” Ian offered, ashing his cigar in the tray and glancing my way. I kept my eyes on his and didn’t let them stray until Jasmine squealed. “Hurry!”
Ian brought the beers back and passed them out and Julian spoke up. “Okay, so how does it go?”
“Easy,” Jasmine said, pouring more Patron into shot glasses. “Every time he sings Roxanne, you have to take a drink.”
The guys all grinned at her, amused, and she rolled her eyes. “Yes, the rules are that simple. You G.I. Joes won’t be so smug when you realize how hard it is to keep up. Now, get ready. And don’t stop tilting those beers until he stops.”
She lifted a shot and as soon as Sting got to the chorus, all the beers were tipped, except for Ian’s. He was glaring at me openly now, his eyes focused on my hand fidgeting with my necklace. I broke out in a mild sweat, as they all downed their beers.
“We need more, Koti? Please,” Jasmine said, trapped behind the table with Marines on either side of her. I nodded and quickly did her bidding before the next chorus. They all kept up with the song, downing four beers each, along with the free-flowing shots Jasmine poured. When a new hand was dealt, Ian excused himself, sprang from his seat and stalked toward me.
“Stop with the grudge, Koti. I said I was sorry.”
“Okay,” I said with a shrug. “You’re sorry. It’s fine. I’m not saying anything.”
“No, you’ve just been standing alone in the facking kitchen all night.”
“I’m taking care of your company.”
“No one asked you to.”
“Well, this is my house and I’m hosting. It’s fine. We’re good. Just go enjoy yourself.”
“Fine, Eish! I’m so over this,” he hissed taking his seat and giving me one last eye full of ‘you’re the asshole’ before he turned his attention back to his friends. An hour later, I was scrubbing my countertops in an attempt to drown out the noise when the familiar pang hit me.
“Come on, not now,” I begged as one of the guys—I think it was Drew—yelled out a loud bark and the music was turned up. Jumping out of my skin, I took long breaths. “It’s just a party. Jesus, Koti, calm down.”
But I couldn’t as my chest began rising and falling rapidly. The blood drained from my face as I rushed out of the house without trying to direct any attention my way.
Yards away from the house I sat on the cool sand, closed my eyes, and began to count.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
“Koti?”
“Not now, okay. Please just leave me alone.”
“Jesus, it was a dick move. I’ve apologized. I don’t know what else to say!”
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
“Koti, damnit,” he barked moving to squat in front of me. “Look at me.”
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
“Ian, I’m having a moment, okay. Please, please leave me alone.”
Air burst out of me as I began hyperventilating.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
I breathed in sync with the sound of the waves and barely heard Ian’s pleas to try to help.
“Tell me what to do. Can you tell me how to help?”
I concentrated on my breathing and was only faintly aware when he sat next to me.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
