Page 20 of Lance

Willa

An hour later and I’m feeling pretty good. Well, the room is spinning a bit, but other than that, yeah. Prettygood.

“What?” Nia asks, yelling to be heard over the noise of the music, which seems to be getting louder the later the evening stretches on. Or maybe it justfeelslouder. Because of all the drinking. Kinda like how all the lights seem brighter, more colorful, than they did before. I wonder if that’s a documented effect of alcohol consumption. I’ll have to do some research when I gethome.

“What are you mumbling about?” Nia yells again, and I realize I must have been moving my lips. It’s a habit that usually makes me angry at myself, but tonight it just seemsfunny.

“I was thinking about studies on the affects of alcohol consumption and the subject’s perception of color,” I shout back. We look at each other for a moment and then both crackup.

“I think you have the subject for your dessert...your desert…you know. Yourthingy.”

“Dessertation,” I say, then frown. “Dissertation. How’d that word get sohard?”

Nia raises her glass high. “Must be the tequila!” And then we’re both cracking up again, holding on to each other to keep from fallingover.

I like this, I think. Feeling this way. I haven’t felt worried about anything for at least the last half hour. Hell, I even like the way the room is spinning. The logical part of me knows that I’m going to regret it in the morning, knows that spinning rooms are likely not a good sign. But for once in my life, the logical part of my brain is keepingquiet.

I could so get used tothat.

“Okay, so like I was saying,” Nia says, and I struggle to remember what we were even talking about. “Boys are easy,Wills.”

Oh, yeah. She was giving me tips on picking up guys. I should probably take it as a warning sign that I can’t really remember any ofthem.

“Little touches, you know?” I realize she’s still talking and try to focus on her face. But there appear to be two of her now, which is really weird and kinda freaking me out. “Like, on their arm,” she continues, grabbing mine. “But gentler than that. You know. Like agirl.”

“Grab their arm like a girl,” I repeat. “Gotit.”

“And lean in. They love leaning.” She attempts to demonstrate and ends up stumbling, grabbing my shoulder forsupport.

“And also…oh, wait. I need to pee.” She lets go of my shoulder and groans. “Ooh, I’m gettingdizzy.”

“I’ll walk with you,” I tellher.

“You’re sweet, Willa. A really sweet friend. I don’t tell you thatenough.”

I snort. “I’m just pretty sure I’ll fall over if you leave me alonehere.”

Giggling some more, we stumble toward the ladies’ room. Just as we reach the hallway to the restrooms, I catch sight of someone across the room. Blonde hair teased to the heavens, a tight pink dress. A man’s hand on her arm, his tattoos visible even fromhere.

“I’ll be right back,” I tellNia.

“What?” she cries. “Who’s going to hold meup?”

“You can do it,” I tell her. “I believe inyou.”

She follows my gaze, squinting. Her face breaks out into a wicked grin as she sees who caught my eye. “Attempt numbertwo?”

“Attempt number two,” I agree, peeling her hand free from my arm and placing it on the wall. “There. The wall can hold you up. I’ll be rightback.”

“Sure, sure. Leave me alone with the wall while you go get it on with a hot rock star.” With her free hand she gives me a thumbs-up. “I’m so proud of you I couldpuke.”

“I think that’s thetequila.”

“Get out of here.” She pushes me a little and pats the plaster next to her. “Good old Wally here will take care of me.” As I walk away I’m pretty sure she’s singingLean onMe.

It’s crazy how good I feel, walking toward Lance. I should be freaking out. When I talked to him earlier, at the bar, it took everything in me not to run away. But now…now I feelfine. Better than fine,maybe.

“I love tequila,” I mutter to myself, giggling some more. And then I’m standing right next to him and he’s looking down at me in surprise, those gorgeous dark eyes of hiswide.