Champagne Toast (21 page)

“
Oh yes, I
’
m so, so, so excited!
”
sh
e squeals, hopping up and down i
n our booth.
“
I
’
ll be there for an entire semester and will have to miss graduation.  I
’
m going to miss Patrick
sooo
much, though. I hope he doesn
’
t dump me.
”

“
Why would he dump you?
”
I ask, ignoring all the obvious answers building up in my head for why
I
would break up with her.  The list is long.

“
Well, you know, we
’
ll be living different lives.
Doing different things.  I
’
ll be an ocean away, and he
’
ll be here.  I mean, thank God he
’
s doing a fifth year so he
’
s still in school or I
’
d be freaking out right now.
”

“
Why?
”
I ask incredulously.

“
Well, you know, he
’
ll be surrounded by all these women at work.  You know, like Evan is
.” 
She bites her bottom lip and makes an awkward face.

“
Wow, thanks Chloe,
”
I respond, looking shocked that she
’
s said these words.

“
But, it
’
s different with you,
”
she backpedals. 
“
You
’
re here with him.  You see him all the time.  I
’
m going to be across the Atlantic!  It
’
s a different thing,
”
she does her best to reassure me, although I can hear the shift in her voice.

She can
’
t undo the uneasiness she
’
s given me with her words.  The drink in front of me is my only escape.
Quickly, I down the dark chocolate martini and ask for another.  Evan looks at me suspiciously, but I simply smile my dutiful girlfriend smile and quickly drink my second cocktail when it arrives.  The second one does its job and I
’
m feeling fantastic.  My skin is buzzing, my head is feeling light and I
’
m ready to dance, something I normally don
’
t do.

Evan and I have both had a few cocktails, so dancing comes naturally to both of us.  Our bodies move together smoothly and my skin continues to tingle as his fingertips stroke my bare arms, giving me goosebumps each time.  His touch is all I need, and I
’
m focusing completely on the way he
’
s making me feel right here, right now.  Turning around, I back into Evan as we continue to move to the thumping music.  I can feel Evan
’
s arousal on my back and it turns me on.  Leaning back, I place my head back on his chest, my hands grasping his thighs as I grind into him.  Evan moves his hand, stroking my stomach underneath my tank top.  The pads of his fingers feel hot and make me moan as he strokes the skin just above the button to my pants.  Continuing on his determined path to turn me on as we move, he pushes my long hair to one side, leaving my neck exposed.  He blows seductively on my neck, sending shivers up and down my spine.  No one makes me feel like Evan does.

After several more songs, he leads me back to the table.  I
’
m so thirsty and need something to drink.  Foolishly, I order another martini even though Evan gives me a look
,
as if to ask if I
’
m sure I can handle it. 

“
Hey,
”
Hal shouts above the music,
“
while you wait for your drink, have a shot with us
.” 
He gestures to several full shot glasses sitting on the tiny round table.
I shrug and grab the shot, sending it quickly down my throat.
”

“
Shit, Kate,
”
Hal says with a smug laugh,
“
that was tequila, you need salt and a lime.
”

“
Real women don
’
t need anything with their tequila
.” 
I return his smug expression and I hear Evan laugh at my side.  If I were sober, I wouldn
’
t have taken that shot.
Vodka and tequila don
’
t mix well at all.  But, I
’
m not sober, so I really don
’
t care.

“
Well, you
’
re obviously enjoying yourself, Kate.  I knew if Evan dragged you out with us, you
’
d have a good time
.” 
A shocked look of betrayal takes over my face.  Evan shakes his head to reassure me
. . .
of what, I
’
m not exactly sure.

“
I am, thank you very much,
”
I respond snidely.  Hal, the smart ass that he is, clearly doesn
’
t understand that I have no interest in talking to him.  He
’
s killing my buzz.  Luckily, my martini arrives
,
and I quench my thirst with the smooth liquid.

“
So, I hear you
’
re a photographer,
”
Hal says, leaning in way too close for my liking.
His breath smells like garlic and my stomach churns as he breathes in and out through his pompous mouth.  Hal isn
’
t an ugly man, not at all.  In fact, he
’
s had women flirting with him all evening.   He
’
s tall with blonde spiky hair that
’
s thinning a little bit on the back of his head.  He has a few moles on his face that keep distracting me.  I feel like Austin Powers in my drunken stupor.
I want to point and say
“
Moley, Moley, Moley, Moley!
”
Instead, I chuckle to myself.  Hal doesn
’
t seem impressed, not in the least.

“
What did I miss?  Why are you giggling?
”
he asks, looking me in the eye.  His words are loud and demanding, and his garlicky breath invades my senses.

“
Oh, it
’
s nothing,
Hal
,
”
I say, emphasizing his name. 
“
Hey,
Hal
, have you every heard of
Hal
-itosis?
If not, time to Google it
.” 
I say before laughing in hysterics, falling back in the booth.  My sides hurt from my cackling
,
and I hear Evan apologizing on my behalf.

“
I should really get her home. I think she
’
s had a little too much to drink,
”
he says.  A tiny part of me is embarrassed, but mostly I
’
m entertained by my own joke too much to really care.  Evan wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me back to a seated position.  Hal is pissed.

“
Oh, Hal, it
’
s just a joke!
”
I yell over the music. 
“
Lighten up!
”

“
Evan, I agree it
’
s time you take your girlfriend home, she
’
s making a fool of herself,
”
Hal says, his voice arrogant and rude.

“
Watch it, Hal.  She may be drunk, but she
’
s still my girlfriend.
Show some respect,
”
Evan says, scooping me up in his arms. 
“
Come on, sweets.  Let
’
s get you home.
”

Taking the train back to my apartment, Evan is quiet and even though I
’
m nowhere near sober yet, I
’
m starting to feel guilty for my behavior.  He has to work with Hal everyday
,
and I don
’
t want to be the source of any tension for him.

“
I
’
m sorry if I embarrassed you,
”
I say reluctantly, knowing I need Evan
’
s reassurance even in my intoxicated state.

“No worries
, sweets.
You could never embarrass me.  Besides, h
is breath is awful and I sure as hell wasn
’
t going to say anything,
”
Evan admits.  I can
’
t help but break out into hysterics once again, flopping my head on Evan
’
s shoulder and laughing so hard my lungs feel like they might burst.  Evan begins to laugh
too,
while we
’
re surrounded by stares.  He kisses the top of my head and takes a deep breath.

“
It
’
s an adjustment.
And I know you
’
re doing your best.
”

“
Thanks, Ev.  I
’
ll work on it,
”
I say, catching my breath.  And even through my martini-filled haze, I know that I must.  If I
’
m going to keep Evan, I can
’
t behave like this again.  There
’
s only so many times that I
’
ll be able to embarrass Evan without him questioning why he
’
s with me.
And I can
’
t let that happen.
Ever.

And then, I do what I said I would never do, what I make fun of other girls for doing: I throw up on the train and Evan holds my hair.  He really
does
love me.

Evan

April 19, 2010

“
Good evening, my name is Beth and I
’
ll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with a cocktail?
”

“
Yes, that
’
d be great, Beth.  I
’
ll have a scotch on the rocks with a twist.  And the lady will have a dirty martini,
”
I order as Kate raises an eyebrow.  Our waitress nods and walks to the bar.

“
It never gets old,
”
she says with a smirk.

“
What
’
s that, sweets?
”
I ask, looking over my dinner menu.

“
You ordering for both of us.  I like it.  I didn
’
t really think I would, but it
’
s nice.
”

“
I should know your favorite drink by now
.” 
I shrug, like it
’
s no big deal, but deep down I know Kate is revealing a little more about herself to me.  She
’
s like a puzzle that I slowly get to piece together over time.  I feel so close to having a completed picture of her, but for whatever reason
,
I always feel like I may never find all the pieces I need.  Kate
’
s been off lately and I can
’
t put my finger on it. I really wish I could.  Whenever I bring up her photography, she gets defensive and shuts down.  And it completely throws me off.  It messes with my head.  But, I can
’
t help myself.  I want her to be successful.
I want her to shine like I know she can.  Ye
t,
she seems satisfied to stay in the background.  I just don
’
t get it.  I keep hoping that one day when we
’
re married
. . .

“
Ev, where
’
d you go?  You
’
re like a million miles away,
”
Kate says, looking perplexed. Her eyes look lonely and I feel guilty for spacing on her.