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He turned and chuckled at Sunnie in her Jasmine costume. She and her cousin Fiona had decided to throw a party on April Fools, giving it an Anything Goes theme. It had come at a time when Landon really needed a distraction. And an excuse to get drunk.
“I’ll take my chances.”
Sunnie gave him a funny look, tilting her head. “You never take chances. You reason everything out to the nth degree and then do the smart, grown-up thing. It’s a very annoying habit of yours. Some might call it a character flaw.”
“Well, hold on to your veil, Jasmine, because tonight, I’m all in.”
Her eyes lit up. “What’s the special occasion?”
“I’ve been a single man for a whole year.”
“Oh, shit. Yeah.” Sunnie’s gaze softened.
He and Allison had split up one year ago tonight. Her original plan had been to move to New York in March, but the lease on her first apartment fell through, which left her scrambling to find something else. It also gave her an extra thirty-one days to try to convince him to change his mind and come with her.
It hadn’t worked, and since then, Landon had spent countless sleepless nights wondering if he’d made the right decision.
It had been a very long, very heartbroken year, one he was certain he wouldn’t have survived without Finn and Sunnie, bolstering him, forcing him to go out and have fun and laugh.
It was funny that all through school, his best friend had been Finn, but since graduation, another name had been given that descriptor as well.
Sunnie, his best friend’s little sister. He and Finn had spent the better part of their early school years trying to shake her, the tenacious thing constantly begging to hang out with them.
Shortly after high school, he and Finn both realized how much they liked having her around, and she’d become a part of them, always up for a good time. Sunnie was the epitome of “live in the moment,” and she was a lot like her brother—lively, funny, a great storyteller. She was as true a friend as any person could ask for—there to laugh, cry or fight beside you, according to whatever the situation required.
“Is this a drown-your-sorrows night or a turn-the-corner night?” Sunnie asked.
It was a fair question. For twelve months, he’d been as much fun as the proverbial wet blanket. This morning, when he woke up and realized the date, it occurred to him his heart didn’t ache anymore. That it hadn’t in months, really.
“Turn the corner. We’re celebrating.”
Sunnie’s smile was infectious. “Oh, I can totally get behind that.”
And she did. In addition to the bacon feast she’d laid out as their party snacks, she guided them through every drinking game in her repertoire. Then they’d turned on music, alternating between talking and dancing.
Landon hadn’t lied about taking his chances. He wasn’t a big drinker by nature, but he’d thrown caution to the wind tonight, playing all the games, dancing like a lunatic, his volume matching that of the Collins cousins, which was a feat to be sure.
After getting Flo-Rida “Low,” he and Sunnie collapsed on the couch, laughing.
“We should play charades again,” Sunnie yelled out to the crowd still dancing in the middle of the living room floor. No one listened. Everyone was too into their own space, enjoying the night.
It had been a wild one, probably one of the best parties he’d ever been to.
“Hey, Sunnie,” Landon said, slurring his words slightly, as something just occurred to him. “Where’s stunt man?”
“Dumped him a month ago.”
“Did I know that?”
Sunnie shrugged. “I dunno. Did it need an announcement?” She was weaving even though they were sitting down, but he wasn’t sure if it was her moving or him.
“I guess not.”
“You and Finn were right. Couldn’t date a guy who dressed like that. I mean what the fuck was up with that jacket?”
“Made him look like a stunt man.”
“Made him look like a tool,” she countered.
