Page 94 of What We Knew Then
The house is even more ridiculous on the inside. Massive open living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows looking out toward the lake. Music blasting from speakers somewhere upstairs. People crammed into every available corner.
It smells like beer, expensive cologne, and whatever someone’s smoking near the back door.
Leo leans toward me. “This is already too many people. Even for me.”
I’m barely listening because that’s when I see her.
Cora’s standing near some speakers in the corner, surrounded by a group of girls I’ve never seen before. None of them look like the usual rink crowd or the library regulars she normally gravitates toward.
She’s in the middle of them, one hand wrapped around a red plastic cup. Her cheeks are flushed, hair a little looser than usual, eyes bright in that unfocused way people get after a few too many drinks.
She’s laughing at something one of the girls says, swaying slightly to the music. Then she lifts the cup to her mouth and drains the rest of it like it’s nothing.
My stomach tightens. She sets the empty cup down and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.
Drunk.Not tipsy.
Leo follows my line of sight and then slowly looks to me. One of his brows raises and he shakes his head. “You’re serious?”
I don’t answer because something about the way she’s standing there feels wrong. Not just the drinking. The whole thing. Since I’ve met her, we’ve never talked about any of these people or any of the parties like this.
One of the girls next to Cora throws an arm around her shoulders, shouting something over the music.
Cora laughs again, but it’s a little too loud. Like she’s trying to convince everyone—maybe even herself—that she’s having a great time.
Leo lets out a low whistle. “Okay,” he says. “That’s… not what I expected.”
I drag my hand on the back of my neck. “Yeah.”
Across the room, Cora reaches for another drink some guy is handing her. Leo and I share the same look of panic—she just took a drink from someone we don’t know and has it to her lips.
Leo comes in with the loud, “Cora girl! There she is!”
Cora’s eyes brighten when she sees him and she lifts the cup to hug him. I reach for it and lightly pull it from her hands, setting it away from her.
“Leftie Leo. My favorite hockey player,” she says, her words slightly slurring.
He laughs and holds her up. “That’s me.”
Cora looks at me and her attention shifts. “You came!” Her arms are around my neck instantly and she’s leaning into me. She smells like lime and tequila—her drink of choice.
“Having fun?” I ask, my hands at her lower back.
She nods, her glassy eyes squinting shut. “Yes! I made friends.” Cora gestures to the group around her. They smile and wave. “I’ve not done this enough!” she shouts, throwing her head back laughing.
This really isn’t surprising. Cora’s been on such a strict schedule, or timeline, set by herself that I don’t think she’s had much of the typical college experience. Sounds like she spent most of it dating that fuck-face Freddy and that’s where any of her free time went.
With the slip of control, she seems to be tumbling down the hill a bit. Which is okay—I’ll be there to catch her if she gets too far.
“Let’s go to the beach!” she suggests.
It’s one of those times where arguing with the drunk girl you’re in love with probably isn’t the best move. So, I wave to Leo who has found a group of people he knows—because of course, he knows everyone.
“Hey, can Cora borrow your jacket?” I ask.
He nods, takes it off and hands it to me.
Turning back to Cora, I smile. “Only if you promise to wear this,” I suggest. She closes her eyes and smiles, offering me an arm to help her get it on.
