Futures and Frosting (Chocolate Lovers #2)(17)

All of our friends are standing there cheering and clapping, and it was then that we noticed the bus was stopped and a police officer was standing behind them with his arms crossed in front of him.



“Oh my God, we got arrested?” I ask Carter.

Why the f*ck don’t I remember going to jail? Was I somebody’s bitch now?

“No,” he laughs. “We just got a ticket for indecent exposure. Turns out Jim didn’t explain the bathroom door situation clearly. That little lever you were trying to slide over? THAT’S what blacks out the window so no one can see in. Oops.”

Drew starts laughing and I noticed that he inches close enough to me so he can put his ear right next to mine and hear Carter’s end of the conversation I shove him away when I realize that’s what he was doing.

“Ha ha get it, Claire? Back door action? I was talking about the bathroom door. Or was I talking about you shouting for Carter to f*ck you in the ass over and over? Hmmm, I’m not sure. They are equally entertaining to think about,” Drew says with a laugh.

Oh my God. This day can’t get any worse.

“So anyway, I was just calling to make sure you were alive. As you can see, everyone ended up crashing at our place since the bus stopped there first. Jim gave Jenny a ride home this morning to take a shower and left Liz and Drew behind to make sure you didn’t choke on your own vomit or anything. I’m on my way to pick Gavin up from your dad’s and then we’re meeting my parents for brunch. There’s been a slight change of plans. Instead of them coming to our house, they rented out the small party room at the Oberlin Inn where they’re staying. They wanted to invite your dad, Drew, Jenny, Liz, and Jim and they didn’t want to impose on us.”

I quickly say good-bye to Carter and kick Liz and Drew out of the house so I can take a shower and start to feel a little more human.

Hopefully, that will be the extent of my embarrassing behavior from last night.





7. Whore Dizzle


I shower, dress and walk through the lobby of the Oberlin Inn in record time. I no longer reek of stale liquor, but I’m pretty sure I still look like ass. A view of my reflection in a mirror behind the registration desk confirms my suspicions.

“Mommy, you look old today,” Gavin says as we walk hand in hand around the corner and down the hall. “Like old lady and eye balls.”

“Gee, thanks. I love you too,” I mumble.

Carter had got a call to come into work to fill out a form that will add Gavin to his health benefits, so after he picked Gavin up from my dad’s and dropped him back off with me, he ran up there and said he would meet us at the inn.

Yeah, that’s exactly what I want to do. Walk into the lion’s den alone.

I had made a quick call to Drew and Jenny and asked if I could pick them up on the way for moral support. I’ve spoken to Carter’s parents a few times on the phone since we moved in together, but this will be the first time they actually see me and meet Gavin. I am beyond nervous about making a good impression. They are the complete opposite from what I'm used to. They never swear, they only drink on special occasions, and I'm pretty sure they've never puked in anyone’s lap after a night out bar hopping. I figured since Mr. and Mrs. Ellis already know Drew and haven’t forbid Carter from hanging out with him yet, I should be okay.

“I still can’t believe you don’t remember screaming at that old lady in the parking lot. It was priceless!” Drew whispers from behind me as we walk into the party room and see Carter and his parents talking to a waiter.

“I’m so glad I downloaded the theme from “Golden Girls” to her phone right after that occurred,” Jenny says to Drew.

“It really was a stroke of brilliance,” he replies.

I roll my eyes and try not to think about the events from last night that Drew and Jenny regaled me with on the ride over. Some things are best left forgotten—or lost in a drunken haze that no one should ever speak of again.

As we walk through the doorway of the room, Carter turns and we make eye contact. I suddenly don’t want to kill the two people behind me. Everything is momentarily forgotten when I look at him.

I can do this. Parents love me.

He excuses himself from the discussion and hurries over to us, scooping Gavin up in his arms and peppering his face with kisses. He reaches out and grabbed my hand to pull me in close and place a soft kiss on my lips.

“Mmmmm. You don’t taste like vomit and desperation anymore,” he whispers with a smirk as he pulls his face away from mine.

“Remind me to never drunk dial you again for a booty call,” I reply with mock irritation.

“Don’t worry,” he says as he turns and pulls me over to his parents. “If that’s your idea of a booty call, I’m never taking another call from you again at two in the morning from the kitchen while you’re down the hall in the bedroom. My penis can’t handle another rejection like that. Or should I say projection?”

Drew and Jenny start giggling behind us.

“Alright, get it all out of your system now you guys. We are never, ever speaking of what happened last night again. We all need to pretend like it never happened,” I state firmly as Carter wraps his arm around my waist and hefts Gavin up higher.

“Yeah, about that,” Drew says sheepishly, “you might want to check Facebook when you get a free moment.”