Amy kicked her sneakers through the air. “Oh! What’d you get?”
“Gorditas, bitch.”
“I meant at the swap.”
Jackie waved to Charlotte’s outfit like a model presenting a prize on a game show. “Am I good or what?” If she sounded a little salty, only Charlotte picked up on it.
Amy smiled benignly. “I love that top! It looks brand new.”
“The school store had overstock, and this one was slightly damaged.” Jackie slipped a finger behind Charlotte’s neckline at the back and gave it a tug. “They sewed the tags on upside down and couldn’t sell them.”
When Amy turned away to ask Nina about the music, Charlotte bumped Jackie’s shoulder with her own. “Thank you for the outfit. It’s perfect.”
“I know,” Jackie said. “You’re welcome.” She tapped a sharp nail on her party cup, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably.
“And I really am sorry I missed the swap,” Charlotte said in a low voice, her eyes fixed on Jackie’s knees. “I wouldn’t have gone to the quarry with Reece if I’d known I would have to work today.”
Jackie sucked her teeth and shook her head. “I’m glad you’re spending time with Reece. That is not what this is about.”
Frustration and guilt boiled in Charlotte’s stomach, mixing about as well as the cupcake vodka and cream soda. “If I could have gone to the swap, I would have. You know that.”
Her best friend sighed, looking forlornly at the door. Then she straightened up and shook out her shoulders. “We’re going to talk before we leave tomorrow. But not tonight, okay? Let’s just have fun.”
“Jackie, shouldn’t we at least—”
Jackie turned and fixed her with a stern glare. “Charlotte, please hear me when I say not right now. This weekend isn’t just about what works for your schedule. I want to enjoy the party. Okay?”
The wind went out of Charlotte’s lungs. The only thing keeping her from spiraling out in guilt and panic was the fact that this wasn’t her fault. And now their fight would loom over this evening like a dark cloud. Nothing put her in the mood to party like a prescheduled confrontation. She scowled.
Jackie gently tucked a stray curl behind Charlotte’s ear, her lips pursed. Charlotte had kept her chaotic hair loose, the only statement accessory she needed. “I’m glad you left your hair down. It’s so beautiful these days. The scrunchie’s for dancing later, if you get sweaty.”
Charlotte recognized the peace offering. She’d take it.
She closed her fingers around Jackie’s wrist and gave it a careful squeeze. “Thank you.”
The door swung open. They both turned to look, Charlotte’s heart leaping to her throat. It was only Matt returning from the bathroom.
She hadn’t heard from Reece since their fraternization in the third-floor showers. Not a text message, not even a meme. She had been too busy in the library to dwell on thoughts of him, but every time the door to the pregame opened, her hopes went up that it would be Reece standing in the hallway.
She knew she could just text Reece, but she found an odd pleasure in tormenting herself. The college thrill of the chase was something special—not knowing when and where you’d see your crush, reveling in anticipation while checking in with each other throughout the night. What’s up? Where you at? Wanna come over?
This was even better than the undergrad game of cat and mouse. Reece wouldn’t stand her up or blow her off. She didn’t need to fear being abandoned at some party when a hotter girl came along. Reece was temporarily hers.
His availability scared her in college. Now she found it exhilarating. She knew who she would end the night with, and she could enjoy the in-between tension without feeling insecure.
“What about you?” Jackie asked Amy, who had been left on her own as Nina chided Matt for disappearing. “What did y’all do today?”
“Big soccer game on the quad! Then we went on a liquor run.” Amy tapped the side of her party cup.
“That reminds me.” Her perpetually sweet face sobered with concern. Amy patted Charlotte’s knee to get her attention. Charlotte felt a tendril of dread close around her throat. “We ran into Ben.”
She stiffened. So he was still here. Some optimistic part of her brain had convinced herself he was gone. He hadn’t surfaced last night on Atwood, and he didn’t seem to be staying in Randall.
But why would he fly in from Europe for one night? Of course he stayed for the weekend. Ben would never miss the Lawn Party.
“We didn’t speak to him, because gross,” Amy continued. “He’s probably here to hang out with his frat. I saw a bunch of those Sigma Delt guys on the quad today.”
Jackie settled a hand on Charlotte’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You’re not going to see him,” she promised. “There’ll be hundreds of people there tonight.”
“It’s fine,” Charlotte said. Her voice felt tight like an overstrung violin bow.
Jackie poured Charlotte a gin and tonic from the bar on the windowsill, letting her wrangle her thoughts in peace.
My name is Charlotte Thorne. I am twenty-seven years old. I work at The Front End Review. I am safe here.
Charlotte accepted the fresh drink and abandoned her funfetti-tini on the bookshelf. “Thank you for the warning,” she told Amy.
Amy nodded. “I don’t think exes should be allowed at reunions. They should all be like Eliza and move to Sudan.”
“Dubai,” Nina corrected her as she joined the group. She clambered up onto Amy’s bed, careful not to spill her frothy cocktail on the bare mattress. “And I wholeheartedly agree.” She gave Jackie a layered look. Then she finally took a sip of her drink and gagged. “Jesus, this is terrible. Why didn’t anyone say anything?”
Jackie took her cup with an adoring smile. “I’ll make you something else.” She left the funfetti-monstrositini on the desk. “How about a Jack and Coke?”
“Please,” Nina said.
Jio nosed their way into the circle, tugging Matt along by the belt loop. “What are we talking about?”
“Exes!” Amy chirped. She grinned at Nina, who rolled her eyes.
