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“I like the idea of having a party in the lounge with the guys,” I said first to get them on side. “And we can call it a legit party. Everyone will find out I’m turning eighteen anyway. But let’s leave inflatable penises and stagette stuff like that out, okay?”
Melissa rolled her eyes and sighed. “Whatever.”
“Aaaand break!” Lena threw up her hand. “Legit party it is! We’ll tell everyone not to bring anyone outside of our building. Maybe Ian can help us with that.”
“We shouldn’t involve him,” I said quickly. “There will be drinking and I don’t want him to get into trouble.”
“Maybe he’ll show up for a bit like last time.” Carly gave me a knowing smile. “Just long enough to wish you happy birthday but not long enough to get caught condoning drinking.”
“Pretty sure he’s seen more than Mini-me drinking,” Melissa said under her breath.
“What?” Both Lena and Carly’s heads swung toward her. When she didn’t respond, merely smiled at me prettily, they looked from her to me...and back again.
I sighed. Was there anyone that didn’t know at least something about Ian and me? All I needed was for the three of them to get together and talk. Piece their stories together.
“He’s seen me drink a few times. He’s a cool RC.” I tried to shrug casually and then rambled on to change the subject. “I just wish we could go to a bar on Friday. It’s such bullshit that you can join the army at eighteen but you can’t have an alcoholic drink, don’t you think? Get your priorities straight, America. I mean, jeez.”
“That’s why I smoke weed instead,” Lena said wisely.
“Yeah, except that’s illegal too.” Melissa sniffed.
“I don’t think it will be for long.”
“Um, pretty sure it’s a gateway drug.”
Lena scoffed. “Are people actually still saying that?”
“It’s a fact!”
“Drinking alcohol is worse for you than smoking weed. That’s why I barely do it.”
“That’s why you’re already drunk.”
“I think we need more wine,” Carly interrupted and grabbed another bottle. She opened it and came around to top us all up. The warm burn in my stomach was more than welcome. How had I gone throughout high school without sneaking more than a few shots out of a Tequila bottle?
“You should all smoke a joint with me,” Lena was saying. “Right now. Some of you need to chill out more than others.”
I laughed into my glass, coming dangerously close to spitting wine all over myself.
“You know what’s a good stress reliever?” Carly said, her eyes finding mine again. “Sex.”
There was a cough, and we all turned to look at the door. Ian was standing there, a small smirk on his lips. “Sorry for interrupting girl talk.”
Lena rose onto her knees, her glass swaying dangerously over my comforter. “We’re having a legit party for Lex this Friday!” she announced. “You know, because she’s turning eighteen and legitimate now.”
Oh shit. Ian was so going to get the wrong idea. I met his eyes and shook my head slightly, indicating that no, she wasn’t referring to what had happened between us.
“We’re inviting the entire building and getting Lex drunk! And you’re invited.”
“Am I now?” he responded in characteristically vague Ian fashion.
“Yes. You and all the guys.”
“You can pretend you don’t know about it,” I rushed to add. “You know, so you don’t get in trouble.”
“Right. Because of the underage drinking.” He was wearing an unreadable expression as if he was trying hard to remain stoic.
“Yeah.” I glanced at Carly, who shrugged. I could tell what she was thinking—since when did Ian care if people drank?
I straightened my shoulders. “You don’t have to come.”
“He’ll come.” Lena slurred, oblivious to the awkwardness in the room. “Won’t you, Ian?”
He finally tore his eyes from me and smiled at Lena. “Of course I’ll be there. For the whole thing.”
Warmth flooded from my chest to my cheeks. “Cool,” I said, sounding completely lame.
“So I was just in the lounge and thought I’d come by to talk to you about our group project, but I’ll catch you another time.”
Before I could respond, he was gone.
Melissa frowned after him. “Was that weird? Is it just me, or is Ian kind of weird?”
I bit my lip, wondering if his strange behavior had less to do with the drinking and more to do with the talk he’d wanted to have tonight.
“He likes Lex,” Lena said. “I totally caught him flirting with her today.”
“He was not,” I argued, but she ignored me anyway.
“Party’s on! Let’s drink on it.”
We all tipped our wine glasses back. Carly winked at me from across the room.
“Eighteen hey, Lex? So much is going to change.”
***
When the day finally came, I could barely contain my excitement. I was even excited about my party…and not just because Ian was coming. Finally—finally—I was eighteen. The best thing: now that I was a legal adult, Ian would no longer feel guilty about anything that happened between us.
I was all dolled up in an outfit Melissa and Carly had chosen for me. Short skirt, tight tank top, curled hair and dark eye makeup. The only line I’d drawn was on the heels, opting for black flats instead. I looked hot and felt good.
The guys had picked me up more Smirnoff Ice for the occasion, but by the time I could open my first bottle, I’d already had three vodka shots and a tequila shot—all courtesy of Kent. A generous drunk, he’d set up a bar and was giving away shots left and right. It wasn’t even 10 p.m. and the lounge was crammed full of people. Obviously no one had listened to the “don’t bring your friends” rule.
“One more, one more,” Kent said, filling another shot glass with tequila and thrusting it at me. “To eighteen.”
“To eighteen.”
We knocked glasses and I tipped my head back all the way, relishing in the burn that slid down my throat. As I licked my lips clean and raised my head, I caught Ian out of the corner of my eye. He standing beside the window and speaking with Carly, but his eyes on me. They were dark and slightly narrowed like they’d been the last time I’d caught him staring. And now I knew what it meant.
I plunked the shot glass down on the counter and made my way over. As I approached, Carly smiled knowingly at me before excusing herself to grab another drink.
I leaned back against in the cool glass of the window. “Hey Ian.”
“Hey Lex.”
“I’m glad you came.”
“You think I’d let you get drunk with a bunch of eighteen year old college guys? No way in hell.”
I laughed, secretly reveling in the fiercenesss in his voice.
“Because that would make me an irresponsible RC.” He shrugged.
“Of course.” I smiled.
“I’m willing to play babysitter and keep the filthy man paws off you. Drinking a few beers while I do so is also a perk.” He knocked his beer against mine.
I took a sip. Now was my chance. If I didn’t say it now, I never would. “I don’t mind all filthy man paws. Yours, for example.”
He chuckled and shook his head slowly, still smiling. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”
“What?” I asked, batting my eyelashes innocently.
“I’m still your RC, Lex,” he said softly.
“And is there anything in the RC handbook saying you can’t date a student?”
“Probably. If not, it’s frowned upon.”
“When did you start caring about rules so much?” I asked, a few beers past discretion. I leaned in close to him and whispered, “You didn’t seem to care when you were spanking me with a paddle.”
