a place to crash, you just let me know. I can tell you’re good people.”
Eliza gives me her number and walks off when she sees her boyfriend come in.
Grant comes over to me with a beer and grins. “You make friends so damn easily.”
“It’s easy. Everyone’s so nice.”
“It helps that you are really fun to talk to, I suppose.”
He swigs his beer and looks out onto the patio where we see the band gathered, talking about something or other.
“Grant,” I mutter.
“Yes?”
“You ever think that maybe college isn’t for all of us?”
“You’re thinking about leaving?”
“No, I’m not. But…this girl was just telling me about her life in Chicago, and it sounded really rad.”
Grant continues staring, and he looks concerned. “They’re talking about something serious,” he says.
Violet is standing fairly close to us, and though she’s smiling, she’s got a worried expression.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
She shrugs. “They got some major record label interest today, so they’re having a debate.”
“That’s good news, though, right?” I say.
“Yeah,” Violet says without a ton of enthusiasm. “It’s just…Johnny’s been having these headaches lately. I’m worried about him. It’s probably just my overactive brain. I’m pre-med, so I think in terms of the worst-possible scenario for everything.”
“What could it be?” Grant asks.
“I’m sorry, I don’t want to bother you guys with this stuff. Are you having a good time?”
“An amazing time!” I say.
“This is our first Red Lemons after party, thank you for inviting us,” Grant adds.
“Well, holy shit. You’re totally welcome and you guys should totally come to a show in the city some time.”
Violet gives me her number, and Grant ribs me.
“I told you! People are just drawn to you, Maya.”
“Is it a good thing?” I say, baiting him.
I’m expecting him to say simply, ‘It’s a very good thing,’ but instead he thinks for a few moments before he responds.
“It’s a gift. It can be good or bad. Look at Johnny, he has a gift and he’s using it to spread good energy. You’ve got to figure out how to use your gift in the best way for the world.”
I run my hand through the back of his thick hair. “Just when I think I’ll get away with a clear-cut answer, you go back to Shaman mode.”
He puts his beer down, grabs my hips and pulls me into him with a jolt.
“Don’t ever think you’ll get a simple answer from me,” he whispers in my ear, then kisses me.
My lovely buzz flows through me, and for a moment, I just enjoy.
Tonight feels so damn good in so many ways.
When Grant pulls his lips off of mine, I tell him that very thing.
“I think this could possibly be the best night of my life,” I say.
“Great people, great music, great weather, a great party…” Grant says.
His hand falls to my ass and he squeezes, causing me to moan. “Have I told you I love having adventures with you?”
I nod. “And I with you.”
We look around. “I’m pretty sure partying with the Red Lemons is going to be like partying with the Beatles was back in the sixties,” I say. “And they’re so chill.”
Grant nods. “Let’s continue to have the best night of our lives then.”
We do have the best night of our lives.
Until one point in the night, when a pretty, drunk redhead comes up to Grant when I’ve got my back to him.
“Hi,” she bubbles.
“Hi,” Grant replies.
“So…Clark Kent?”
“Excuse me?”
“I meant, uh, you look like Clark Kent. You know. If you had glasses on.”
Grant and she chat for a minute, and then he heads to the bathroom, comes back, and says hello to me.
“Hi.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “Hi. So…Clark Kent?”
“Yes, that’s me from what I’ve heard.”
“She was cute,” I say, looking at her over his shoulder. She shoots me a dirty glare. “Why’d you turn her down?”
“Are you serious?”
“Well, we’re not exclusive. Maybe she wants your number.”
“Good for her.”
“Come on, seriously?” Maybe it’s the drunk me, but this girl is a beauty. And I have a hard time believing Grant wouldn’t at least want to go on a date with her. “You’re not tempted by that?”
Grant just smiles. “Why would I be tempted by a fast-food burger, one-night hook-up when I just discovered what premium, grass-fed steak tastes like?”
I open my mouth to respond, but I’ve got nothing.
Grant smiles and slides his hand onto my back. “You’re the grass-fed steak I’ve tasted, in case you’re wondering.”
I can’t stop laughing hysterically for a solid five minutes after that.
We drink more beers than we should, have an impromptu