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"Twenty-six" I say slowly My brain is trying to wrap around it all My twentieth birthday is in a week He’s six-years older than I am Eli is five-years older It’s not creepy older but I still feel off about the lying

I can’t breathe very well processing it all He takes another drink and instantly I notice he’s drinking too fast "You’re driving right?" I ask

He shakes his head, "No I had so under et us later

I don’t kno I feel I don’t knohere to put everything

"Are you pissed?" He watches hs He looks at me and shakes his head, "I never told you I went to the school I have never lied to you"

I point at hiht you went to school I asked you how things were and you knew I meant classes You knew"

"I did, but you seemed really comfortable with that idea and all I wanted was for you to be comfortable"

"I need to go to the bathroos lare at Shell She runs off the dance floor, following ht the paper bags, just in case of a moment like this I feel like I don’t know him at all I hate that

"What?"

I cross my arms and look at hs, "You did not interrupt ainst Vincent’s massive erection for this conversation"

I snort and fake sob I give her o to our school"

"I don’t understand"

"He’s like twenty-six and owns a co?"

"He lied Shell"

Her jaw drops, "How in the fuck do you keep scoring the hotties with the wallets Damn Girl, Vince doesn’t even have a car Sebastian has a job already He owns his shit Vince wants to be a gym teacher and Stuart is a chauffeur Your chauffeur"

My face is red I grimace I have no defense She doesn’t see howin the world that I do, so I don’t notice them the same way she does I don’t place value on theain

She throws her hands in the air, "OH MY GOD! HE LIED! YES, LET’S STRING HIM UP FOR TRYING TO CODDLE THE ORPHAN!" She turns to leave but looks back at me, "This is crackers dick You don’t want to date him You want to date Eli He doesn’t stand a chance You’ll find so with him no matter what Like Pinterest says, ’Look at that bitch, eating her crackers and shit’ This is crackers" She storms out

I look at my reflection and force myself to think about it I want to end it and just walk away It’ll be his fault I can make a clean break if he lied and he’s to blame I’d be able to walk away froage I bring

I nod at ht" I walk out of the bathroom and stalk across the bar It’s one of thoseand a hot pair of boots, to stomp across the bar with, tois la ballet flats I don’t let that take away fro I see his eyes widen when he sees me co

But I do the unexpected I grab his face and pull it down on mine I suck hi ain his His hands cup ined him capable of I e

He lets o and I slide down his torso He licks his lips and looks past h, "Common sense I was in short supply"

He beams, "You okay?"

I scowl, "I’ me because I’m an orphan"