As She Fades(24)

“These are leggings,” I stated. “I need a longer shirt.”

She stood up with a pair of silver strappy heels in her hands and rolled her eyes at me. “No, Rory Gilmore, you do not. Put this on. Get your makeup on and fix that hair. We’re going out tonight, too. Screw Kappa Sigma and their dumb parties. Charlie and three of his friends are headed to Linc. We will join them.”

“Linc?”

She beamed at me as she got to the door. “It’s a college club. Now get ready.”

After the door closed behind her, I stared down at the clothing she had picked out for me. There was no reason not to go out tonight. It would keep me from sitting here with my feelings hurt. It didn’t take much to talk me into it. I changed clothes, put on some minimal makeup, and used my wand on my hair. Everly still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. Luckily my teeth were brushed. It didn’t look like I was getting in there.

I checked myself in the full-length mirror Everly had put on the back of the door and almost went back to my closet to change. I didn’t typically dress like this. I wasn’t completely conservative or anything, but this was tight all over.

The bathroom door would have to open just then, and Everly caught me checking myself out.

“Where are you headed?” she asked, sounding surprised.

“Linc,” I replied as if I knew exactly what that was.

She raised her eyebrows. “With who?”

“Friends.” She was typically nosy.

“Guys?”

“And girls,” I added, then picked up my purse and opened the door. “Enjoy the party,” I told her. “Say hi to Slate for me.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. I didn’t want Slate to think I cared.

I didn’t wait for her response. I closed the door behind me and headed for Mae’s room, wishing I’d said, “Tell Knox hi for me.” That would have made more sense. Not jealous or petty.

I knocked on Mae’s door and Sam opened it. “Well, look at you,” she said, stepping back. “Looks like Vale has come out to play.”

Mae rushed out of the bathroom, then squealed and clapped when she looked at me. “Perfect. We’re going to have so much fun.”

I hoped she was right. I was in need of fun. I also wanted to forget I’d just told Everly to tell Slate hi for me. So stupid.

My phone dinged in my purse and I pulled it out to see a text from Slate. Late breakfast tomorrow? he asked.

I decided I’d ignore that. After a frat party tonight, I figured he’d need a late lunch. Not a late breakfast. Maybe I would, too. I turned my phone to silent and put it back in my purse. Tonight I wasn’t going to think about Slate.

“Y’all ready to do this?” Mae asked, fluffing her natural curls.

“Hell yes,” Sam replied.

“Then let’s go,” she said, walking past me to the door and swinging it open.

I had never been to a club. Not one. Ever. I could dance. I liked to dance. But I’d never danced in a club. This was kind of exciting. It was something I thought I’d one day do with Crawford. Again, here I was, moving on and finding a life without him. Every day that passed, the guilt eased and the pain let up. This must be what acceptance felt like. I wasn’t sure that was okay.





CHAPTER NINETEEN

THE HOT PINK band on my right wrist told the bartender and anyone else who cared that I was under twenty-one. The black stamp on my right hand told them the same thing. Apparently they were super cautious around here. I guess with college kids they had to be. I didn’t mind. It wasn’t like I had intended to drink anyway. Although I wasn’t sure this stamp was washing off anytime soon.

Charlie and his two friends Drake and Cole met us outside the club. It was obvious that Mae was interested in Drake. He was attractive and tall. He had a bit of a scholarly look about him I wouldn’t expect Mae to be drawn to, but she was. Sam latched on to Cole immediately. Which left me with Charlie.

“You look amazing,” he said as we weaved through the crowd.

“Thanks. Your sister went through my closet and chose my outfit.”

He chuckled. “I’ll remember to thank her.”

He was flirting. He did that often these days. Which was why going anywhere with him had been getting harder. I wasn’t ready to date. Crawford could wake up at any moment, and I wasn’t ready to let that go.

“Here’s a couple of empty seats,” he said, moving me toward the bar, where there were three empty stools. “You girls can sit while we order drinks.”

“Vodka soda,” Mae said to Charlie, who wasn’t wearing a pink band or a stamp. I had never asked his age, but apparently he was twenty-one.

He rolled his eyes at her. “Try a Coke,” he replied.

She glared at him, which only made him laugh.

“Might as well order me a Shirley Temple,” she grumbled, then turned her smile toward Drake.

“Don’t even think about it,” Charlie warned her and Drake. “She’s not drinking under my watch.”

“Ugh,” Mae replied, and crossed her arms over her chest.

Charlie turned to me. “You want a soda?”

“Coke will be fine,” I told him.

He then turned and ordered two Cokes and a beer. Guess he wasn’t against drinking, just underage drinking. That was respectable and rare.