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"You sure you’re okay?" Albie asked h?" It was only then that I realised that Albie had left his hand on my back the whole tiain that I was fine Callback into the room soon after and his hair looked crazy, like he’d just spent the last half hour pulling on it
"Right, boys," he called out, "who’s up for shots?"
"Shit," Albie whispered "Clearly things didn’t go ith Nikki Shots this earlyshitfaced We’ve got practice to to hand et drunk with him," I pointed out
"Of course, I do" He s of the team sportso stupid, didn’t mean they all had to do it In my mind, that s I probably wasn’t being fair I knew little about friendship, and Albie seeuy Maybe solidarity was part of the mix I let them herd me into the kitchen, but politely declined the offer of a tequila shot I was nauseous just thinking about what O’Connell was doing Any alcohol to hit ht back up, and the bathroo finished the shots, the boys busied theainst the cabinet drinking so the blaave hiht aveour own pity party; only mine was alcohol-free and less hardcore than I feared Ryan’s would be I hoped Nikki wasn’t too upset, but I didn’t feel quite brave enough to wander around the house looking for her If people were using the downstairs bathroo the rest of the house for The hallway called to h I couldn’t see the bathroo into the abyss Even the fantasy of the two of us together had been a fucking joke I knew that being with O’Connell was never seriously a prospect, but ere alone together, I’d allowed myself to buy into the idea If there was ever any doubt before, he’d ht that a friend was all I’d ever be Maybe that had been his intention He’d seen ht before I was disillusioned any further If so, he’d succeeded I looked around the kitchen, and I’d never felt so alone I wanted to be a part of life instead of a spectator But I was fucking kiddingthe party had been the way to do it Even here, where I believed that no one would hurtshots Half an hour later and the boys were coured I’d about paid ently buood," she answered "Ryan just ether, that’s all"
"He didn’t do anything, you know I’irl that he wasn’t interested," I tried to reassure her
"I know, he told me It’s just that up until recently, he’d have been all over her and behind her there’d be a girl just like her waiting for a turn A long tio, I really liked him, and he turnedto show et it I’ ift to men, and I have no idea why It’s easier just to think of hi Anyway, how are you doing?" she asked
"I’ot an early shift to to make a o I know I haven’t been great company, but stay and I promise you’ll have a better time"
I didn’t remind her that for nearly two hours, she’d been no company at all After all, she didn’t hesitate to lend me these beautiful clothes or help me with my hair and rateful
"It’s fine, Nikki, really I haven’t been to a party in a really long tireat But if I don’t leave soon, I’ll never make it to work to?" Albie asked between shots He threw his arm around Nikki’s shoulders, and I suspected it was the only way he could stay standing
"Aren’t you glad you caht to talkO’Connell walk aith that girl, and a wave of sadness swept over me Despite that, a bit of h to try the experience I just wasn’t in a hurry to repeat it At least, now I could say that I’d been to at least one party while I was here
"I’ll see you guys at school," I offered, as Ishoas sure to face with Nikki about hoas getting home, when a deep unmistakable voice behind me said, "I’ll walk you home"
IT TOLD ME A LOT ABOUT how sad and pathetic I was, that knohat he’d just done and s her perfuotten me I didn’t understand why I was so desperate to be the focus of thisto stay in people’s peripheral vision Nikki and Albie stared at both of us slack jawed until Nikki recovered herself
"Well, hello gorgeous It’s very nice of you to offer, but we can take care of our friend" She softened the rejection with a pretty, yet sensual pout, which I suspected ell rehearsed
"It’s nice of you all to worry, but I can take care of myself," I intervened with finality