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Bex looked around but didn’t see anyone she recognized. She headed to the bar. She figured if Aiden wasn’t coming, she might as well get shitfaced.
She showed her ID and the bartender passed her a cup of something fruity. She took a sip and could barely taste the alcohol. Which was very dangerous.
“Bex!” she heard behind her. She turned to see her high school best friend, Erica, standing there. Her blond curls stuck out untamed but she still looked great in her navy sweater dress.
Bex sat her cup on the bar and caught Erica in a hug as she flung herself at Bex. “Hey, Erica,” Bex said.
“How are you? It’s been so long!”
“I’m good.” They both took seats at the bar and Bex picked up her cup.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” Erica flagged down the bartender and got a drink of her own.
“We broke up about a month ago. I’m back on the market.” She took a sip of her drink.
“Really?” Erica spun on her stool and observed the room. “Maybe you’ll meet someone here.”
“Honestly, I was hoping to reconnect with Aiden. I don’t think he’s coming, though. For all I know, he’s married with kids by now. I’ll probably end up drinking the night away. I mean... Being single is nice, but I miss being with someone.”
“Aiden’s not married with kids. But I absolutely understand what you mean.” Bex let the comment go.
The two drank many of the fruity cups and soon became the life of the party. They danced and sang, encouraging drunken group dancing. They mingled, networked, introduced themselves to spouses and people they didn’t know, and were generally the life of the party. Erica stopped drinking around 8:30 to take a break but Bex kept at it. By the time the reunion was almost finished, Bex was fully drunk.
Erica knew there was no way she’d get home alone.
Erica pulled out her phone and ordered Bex an Uber. The list of possibilities popped up and Erica giggled when she saw Aiden’s name as one of the drivers. She booked his ride, slid herself partially under Bex, and helped support her as the two staggered outside.
She sat them on a bench by the curb. Their bench was illuminated by a street light so it seemed like the best place to wait. Bex passed out as she sat there, her head lulling backward.
Erica’s phone chimed that the ride was almost there. She giggled to herself again. Hopefully this worked out.
Aiden’s black Nissan pulled up to the curb and he popped out. His dark hair was long on the top and short on the sides. He had it combed so that his bangs fell over his left eye. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“We’re good. My friend here had a little too much to drink and she needs a ride home.”
“Gotcha. No problem,” Aiden said.
He circled the car and rounded up his passenger.
Bex woke as strong arms gripped her to help her balance. She tried to look at their owner, but his face blurred before her eyes.
“Bex?” he asked with surprise.
“That’ssssss my name. Don’t wear it out,” she slurred. She giggled then hiccupped, which made her giggle again.
“How...” he began, but when she almost fell over, he paused and adjusted his arms to hold her steady.
When he had her stable, he asked, “How did she get this far gone?”
Suddenly, the world tilted and her feet flew out from under her as this guy lifted her into his arms bridal-style. Her stomach lurched, and everything whirled around her.
“Whoa. World, stop moving!” she shouted.
The air whooshed as the man crossed to the parking lot. He seemed to move at the speed of light, though he was probably only walking.
He deposited her in the backseat of a car and uttered a few curses as she struggled against him while he tried to buckle her seatbelt. When he finally got the seatbelt fastened, he stood back and shut the door.
Her head fell back against the seat and she shut her eyes, hopeful that everything would stop spinning. Queasiness rose in her stomach.
