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“She doesn’t. Not anymore.” I dropped my tone, looking off into the distance.
“She does. But not in the way you’re thinking. That’s why I had no idea who you were to her. Lyla only talks about you as if you were best friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while.”
“I mean, she’s not wrong.” I shrugged. “Wait, does your sister know I’m Lyla’s ex?” I nearly squealed asking the question.
“That’s a question for Lyla. But I think so. They don’t seem like the type to keep things from each other.”
I inhaled, exhaled, and then sighed. This was too much. This was a mistake.
I shouldn’t have come here.I told myself yet again, frustration growing each time.
“I should go.” I started to push off the hood when I felt his hand cover my knee.
“No, I think you should stay.”
“How come?”
“Because all in all, they’re excited for you to be here. Plus, without you, I don’t really have anyone to talk to at the reception.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Other than our parents, I don’t really know any of the guests.”
“And you don’t want to get stuck talking to your parents all night, right?”
“Exactly.”
I relaxed. He was right. At least we could talk to each other—the two odd ones out. “Alright, I’ll stay. But you’re not allowed to abandon me tonight.” It wasn’t like me to cling to anyone, especially a stranger, but nothing about tonight was normal.
“Hell, I should be saying the same to you.”
We both let out a laugh and somehow, everything felt easier. I may have known him less than thirty minutes but just knowing I wasn’t completely alone here was helping more than the shitty cigarettes and strong bourbon.
“Can I get a sip of that?” As if on cue, he nodded towards the bottle.
I handed it off to him without a second thought. I’d drank about a quarter of the bottle, despite being sure I’d had so much more. But I was at a very smooth buzz and needed to maintain that in order to not make a fool of myself.
Nico leaned his head back, drowning what had to be at least a double shot worth of alcohol.
“Damn!” I said, as if in awe of what he’d accomplished.
He rubbed his mouth with his free hand and said, “What? It’s been a long ass day.” His voice was rougher, as if the burning of the alcohol had adjusted his tone. He raised his eyebrows and smirked before tossing back another shot’s worth.
“Alright, don’t drain it all. Some of us have to go watch the woman they thought they’d marry get married to someone else.” The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I just mean… It’s just a saying.” I tried to cover up but from the smile on Nico’s face, he knew better.
“Yeah, I think we might need more liquor. Good news is, I know where it’s all being stashed.”
“Shit, seriously? Do you think we could break into that? And maybe some food? I’m fucking starving.”
He bellowed a laugh as he jumped off the hood of the car before extending his hand to me. I took it, more than willingly, and let him lead us around the backside of the oversized house that was used more for weddings than anything else.
He let us in through the back door and into a dark room.
“Where’s the light switch?” I asked.
Before I could look for it, I felt Nico press against me. “Shh, we’re not supposed to be in here.”
“Why not?”
