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“I Follow Rivers” by Lykki Li is, hands down, Ava’s favorite song in the world

It’s her happy song, and she can’t not dance when it’s playing

When she makes no move to take the pouty expression off her face, I pretend to head into e out of my pilot’s uniform

Which I do

But once I throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, I grab —inbeat begins to filter into ht back in our dorht after she told me her boyfriend Blake had broken up with her before the very sao…

LukeI h the bar croith a tray of fresh drinks for everyone at our table, skirt around the crowd of dancing aliens at the booth next to us, and hand them off one by one Beer for Trevor and me, wine for Claire and Desi, and a strawberry daiquiri for Ava

Since I’ned to get the drinks

Soh, in the five ed to disappear

“Where’s Ava?” I ask, holding her daiquiri in my hand as I take the available spot she likely vacated

“Not sure” Trevor, a guy I’ve been friends with since high school and a fellow aeronautical engineering student, is the first to answer “Bathrooh his short blond hair and shrugs one lazy shoulder

Ava’s best gal pals, as she calls theirls in our dorm, as I know them— immediately take notice

“Uh oh…looks like we’re heading into karaoke round nulass of wine Her shoulder-length, bright-red hair sways back and forth over her shoulders as she glances pointedly between the stage and our table

Instantly, Desi’s hazel eyes turn big and ae

“I think this ht be round number four, to be honest”

When the opening beats of the all-too-fah the DJ’s speakers, I groan, run a hand over th to look toward the stage where Ava stands with a microphone in her hand

You know that saying, three sheets to the wind?

Well, when it comes to Ava, there are no sheets They’ve blown the fuck away No doubt, her need to drink away the thoughts of her stupid ex-boyfriend and his plans to ame career seriously is at the heart of her efforts