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"I don't drink," Nathaniel replies stoically.
"I already have mine in the SUV," says Danny.
"Okay then. Danny, are you okay to drive Nate? The girls and I will meet you there in half an hour," Tucker suggests.
"Bella, stays with me," Nathaniel replies possessively as he reaches for my hand and pulls me towards him.
"Okay fine! You take Nate and Izzy, I'll take Ava and Harper. Do you want us to get you anything, Izzy?" Tucker asks.
"I don't go out drinking much either, so just grab me whatever you girls get, please."
I climb into the back seat of Danny's car, assuming Nate will be in the passenger seat. But to my surprise, he slides in next to me. The drive only takes about twenty minutes, but it gives us all a chance to talk and get to know each other. Danny seems nice and friendly, regularly asking us both questions and telling us about himself, but I don't feel as comfortable and relaxed with him as I do with Tucker. Nate must feel the same way because throughout the whole ride he’s kept his hand firmly on my knee. Not in the same cute way he did at the diner, but more like he thinks his hand is protecting me from an unseen threat. It reminds me of the time we went to a skate park to meet his brother when we were kids. Some bigger kids came over and tried to be mean, Nate pushed me behind him, so the boys couldn't see me. Nothing much happened. Gabe came over minutes later and scared them away, but I felt safe knowing Nate always had my back no matter what.
When we arrive, red cups with what I can only assume is cheap beer are thrust in our hands. Nathaniel sets his beer down immediately, but I carry mine outside to the backyard. Danny leads us to the patio, where there are some comfortable chairs that he claims for himself. The party is pretty small currently, but people seem to be arriving steadily. Danny introduces us to his friend, whose name I can't remember but who is the one throwing this party, and tells us that he’s friends with Danny's older brother. Apparently, he throws parties all the time, and anyone and everyone just turns up; no invite necessary.
Tucker and the girls join us shortly after and hand me a bottle of some sort of blue drink, which they tell me is a type of pre-made cocktail called a blue lagoon. I try some, it doesn't taste too bad. A lot better than the wine I've tasted at parties thrown by my parents. The girls each pull out a different colored bottle of the same drink, though theirs are called piña colada and woo woo. Somewhere along the line, we just decide to share our drinks with each other rather than have all three bottles open at the same time.Tucker pulls out a beer for himself and offers one to Nathaniel.
"I don't drink," Nathaniel says forcefully.
"Oh sorry bro. You good if we still drink?" Tucker questions respectfully.
"I guess so, but if you act like an aggressive asshole, I'll knock you on your ass," Nathaniel half-jokes.
"Seems fair, dude, seems fair," Tucker responds with a shrug.
"Oh, and give me your car keys," Nathaniel quickly adds.
"Alright buddy. I wouldn't risk driving anyway. I was just going to take an Uber."
"I'll be your Uber driver tonight, as long as you don't mind me driving your car. I've got a driver's license." Nate pulls out his wallet.
"I trust you, bro. Something tells me you're used to being the designated driver," Tucker laughs, reaching into his pocket and handing his car keys to Nathaniel.
"If you only knew the half of it," Nate mutters, more to himself than to the others.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ISABELLA
The rest of the night goes by in a blur. We all laugh and joke, dance to cheesy music, and drink a little too much. The group tells funny stories about each other. I even open up and tell them about the disastrous way Nate and I met. "So there I was, stupidly climbing this big ass tree, trying to find my way home, when my coat got stuck and I went flying out of it," I say, laughing so hard I’m snorting.
"It wasn't stupid at all. It was brave and determined. You were so sure of yourself, even though it was obvious you had no idea what you were doing," Nathaniel adds frankly, but he’s smiling as if reliving the memory in his mind.
"How would you know? You only came after I’d already fallen," I ask, standing up and putting my hands on my hips, suddenly feeling very tipsy.
"Just because YOU didn't see me until you had already fallen out of the tree doesn't mean I didn't see YOU." He smirks.
"What does that even mean?" I question, feeling confused.
"Well, I watched you circle the tree," he says, reaching for my hand. "I watched your little face frown in frustration as you walked around the tree, trying to decide where and how to climb up," he continues as he pulls me onto his lap.
"And I watched with pride when you finally made it and saw how excited you were. Unfortunately, I just wasn't quick enough to CATCH you before you fell," he adds, pulling my body tightly against him. My heart pounds harder at his words and how tightly he’s holding me.
"I saw your coat get stuck and came to your rescue. But I didn't count on your stubbornness because you broke yourself free with far too much force," Nathaniel says, tilting my chin so that I’m looking directly into those big, beautiful blue eyes. I must lean forward because I feel my lips gently touch his before I sense him pull away.Damn, is my alcohol breath so bad that he doesn't want to kiss me? It can't be, he kissed me just fine earlier. Maybe he's worried that I'm too drunk now?
"Stalker!" I hear Tucker shout as the group starts laughing and joking among themselves again, but I can’t tear my gaze away from Nathaniel’s face.
"Why didn't I know that?" I whisper, leaning forward once again.
