Page 5 of The Upside of Falling
“No.” I don’t even take a second to answer her. The answer is automatic. Going to a party has zero appeal to me right now. Because listen, this is what has to happen if I decide to attend this party. I just finished teaching a workout class, which means, the rinse off I gave myself at the gym is not going to be sufficient. I’m going to have to take a full-on shower and scrub everything, because if I’m anything, I’m thorough. And since it’s a party with former high school people, I’m going to have to look good—you know, saving face and all—which requires a full dose of makeup and curled hair. And to top it off, I’m going to have to dig through my clothes to look for something nice to wear, and something nice isn’t always comfortable. And boy, do I want comfortable right now.
“You didn’t even think about it.”
“I don’t have to. You know tomorrow is my day off, I don’t want to spend it hungover.”
“You don’t have to drink.”
I give her aget reallook. Even with one drink I feel terrible the next day. I think it’s all the rabbit food I eat.
“You know if I’m there, I’m going to have at least one drink to lessen the annoyance of all the other drunk people around me.”
“That’s true.” She bites the side of her cheek. “I bet there are going to be a lot of hot guys there. Derick said Stryder Sheppard might be there.”
“Who’s Stryder Sheppard?”
Ryan’s eyebrows shoot up straight to her hairline, forkful of pancakes halfway to her mouth. “Rory, you know who Stryder Sheppard is.”
“You know, if I did, I probably wouldn’t have asked you.” I scoop a pile of pancakes into my mouth.
Rolling her eyes, Ryan says, “He’s the boy who Dani Barton took to prom. He went to Coronado High School. The super hot guy who ended up going to the Air Force Academy.”
Ohhhhh . . .
“See, you remember.” Ryan triumphantly shakes her fork in the air.
“He was the one who looked like a model and had those seriously amazing blue eyes, right?”
“Yup. The crystal-blue ones that spoke of such naughty things whenever he made eye contact with you.”
Oh yes, I remember Stryder Sheppard at the prom. He was the only boy in the ballroom who filled out his tux impeccably. Broad shoulders, full biceps, strong legs. Back then he looked like a machine ready to honor and protect, I can only imagine what a few years in the Air Force might have done to him.
“And you know what, I bet he’s not coming alone.” Ryan obnoxiously wiggles her eyebrows up and down. “Bet he has some hot Air Force friends with him.”
“Hmm . . . I do like military men. There’s something so hot about giving a piece of their life to serve and protect.”
“That’s my girl.” Ryan cheers and shoves more pancakes in her mouth. “So are you in? I’ll drive.”
Taking a few seconds to think it over, I consider all the pros and cons.
Cons: Knowing Ryan, we’re going to be out until the early hours of the morning, so I’m most likely going to regret my decision tomorrow morning when I’m not feeling good. I’ll also have to go through an entire “getting ready” routine that I’m so not in the mood for.
Pros: I might meet someone.
Call me a romantic, but I’m twenty-one and way past my single-lady days. I’m over it. I want something more, something meaningful, something like my parents have. I want to love somebody, take care of someone, and if I’m honest, I want to have someone take care of me.
I think that is something people are often reluctant to admit.
I want a man.
My life is complicated. I’ve given up a lot, and for once, I really want to search out something that makes me happy.
A relationship. Love. Comfort. Protection. Someone to talk to at night about my day.
Someone to share this life with.
And maybe a party in the mountains at rich Tom’s log house is not the place to find love, but then again, I’m not meeting anyone worthwhile at the gym or anywhere else I go. Might as well give this party a shot.
“You’re going to have to drive, because my little bug is not going to survive those roads if it snows tonight.”
