sighed. “Sorry about that. I’m on edge.”
“Graduation tomorrow?” I asked, masking the flicker of hurt.
He nodded. “Yeah. You could say that.”
I entwined my fingers with his and leaned forward until my forehead rested in the hollow below his shoulder. The music pounded in my chest along with my heartbeat. His hand slipped underneath the back of my shirt and he rubbed the exposed skin. I smelled his shirt and snuggled into him. We’d been together so many years and had seen the best and worst in each other. Was that love? Was that enough for a life together? I wanted to ask these things. But this was the worst thing ever to ask a guy near graduation. He’d run for the first bus out of town.
“Your drinks are ready,” he whispered in the sexiest voice ever.
“You flirt,” I teased.
“Moi? Hardly.”
I leaned up and gently brushed his lips with a kiss. “Bet us girls can kick your ass in pool.”
“Is that a challenge?” he asked, his eyes glinting. His usual fun and mischievous spark was back.
This was how it should be the night before graduation. A night of fun, full of things I’d never forget. Memories that would carry me through the dark times of life. When I was eighty years old and suffering from old people problems I wanted to call Brin and complain. She could tell me about her old people problems and we’d still find a way to laugh together even if we were using walkers. Heck, we could shop for old people diapers together.
Brin and Kama came up behind Seth. Brin smirked. “So, you’ll just hop on over to the bar and get us some drinks, huh?” She nodded to Seth. “Your sudden thirst didn’t have anything to do with him, I’m sure.”
I threw up my hands, palms out, in feigned innocence. “Completely coincidental. Right, Seth?”
“Well, actually, when we talked on the phone earlier, I let her know we might be here.”
I gasped in fake surprise then lightly stomped on his foot. “Jerk!”
“Hey, just telling it how it is, babe.” He winked and my heart melted in forgiveness. His brief episode of crankiness seemed to have disappeared.
Jamie came up behind Kama and tickled her ribs. I blocked my ears before her squeal sent the patrons running for the streets. Her squeal was famous for interrupting school assemblies, lunch periods, and other quiet times. Carter leaned an elbow on Brin’s shoulder.
“Hey, Brin. Want to hook up later at the party?”
“Keep on dreaming, Carter. No way you’re ever getting into my pants.”
I scolded her. “Never say never. Anything can happen on the night before graduation. Life-changing things like hooking up with a guy who’s been a friend since Kindergarten.”
“Jeez, girl.” Kama sighed in a dramatic way. “You’re so sentimental tonight.”
Seth wrapped me in a hug. “That’s right. One reason I love her.”
Warmth spread throughout my chest. Maybe I’d make it through this night after all.
Then he said, “It’s kept me from going broke for years.”
I gasped again in fake shock but I couldn’t maintain it long because it was totally true. I wasn’t a girl who needed bouquets of roses or diamond jewelry. Make me a card with badly written poetry or frame a picture of a special moment and I was all yours. Seth had known this for years.
Seth peered over our shoulders to the pool tables. “How about a game and a little friendly wager? Unless you think we’ll whip your butts.”
Jamie and Carter started flapping their arms like they were chickens and strutted around making clucking noises.
Kama motioned us toward her and we gathered in a huddle, our arms around each other’s shoulders.
“We don’t really need to talk about this, do we, girls?” she asked.
“No way!” Brin and I said at the same time.
“Let’s just pretend we’re strategizing,” I said. “Maybe we’ll intimidate them.”
We whispered and then gazed back at them. We burst out laughing, high-fived, wiggled our butts and twirled in a circle. Then as a unit, we grabbed our drinks, and headed over to the table.
I chalked the end of the stick, ready for the first play, but I paused. “Wait a second. We never talked about stakes. What’s the bet?”
Carter spoke up. “The losers have to refill beers for the entire party tonight.” He high-fived Jamie.
Brin shot them down. “Totally lame and unfair. We don’t drink as much as you.”
Jamie’s face lit up. “The losers have to sprint through town naked at midnight after the party.”
Kama huffed and crossed her arms. “Again. Totally