Life of the Party (Wayward #1)

CHAPTER 36

I can honestly say I have almost no recollection of the weeks and days that followed. I wouldn’t allow myself to be sober enough to let my mind work properly. At work, I screwed up orders and dropped plates and walked around with glazed-over eyes, buzzed and foggy, but still made enough to fuel our binge. Under Charlie’s tutelage, my skirts got shorter, my tops got lower, my heels higher—and my tip cup fuller.

At the end of every night, I would gather my earnings and hand them over to her—my source—who would, in turn, procure whatever drug she felt I might like to try. I don’t know where she went or how she got them, I preferred not to know. But I was more than eager to do whatever she brought home for me.

She’d get pills, and powders, and rocks for us to try, and then we’d go to the club, drinking and dancing. Guys would hit on us, which felt good, but sometimes they’d get too friendly, too persistent, and I’d barely remember myself in time before doing something totally regretful. I was so mind-breakingly stoned it was nearly impossible not to have a good time, nearly impossible not to forget. I was being stupid and dangerous, but I didn’t care. Grey wanted me to be careful, so I rebelled, being as reckless as I could.

I almost wanted something bad to happen. Then, maybe he’d remember me.

We kept this up until Charlie reminded me, somewhat painfully one morning, that I had to sober up for Marcy’s wedding. I didn’t want to, I craved the numbness I’d depended on and dreaded what would come once normal thoughts were allowed to form again. But Charlie forced me. She dragged me into the shower and sat me down afterward to do my hair and makeup. I was complacent for the most part, blinking stupidly in the mirror while she fixed me up. On the outside, anyway .

My insides were beyond her repair.

Charlie drove me into the city so I wouldn’t be forced to ride with my parents. I stared out the window as we drove, my eyes darting over the colourful blanket of prairie fields stretching out towards the horizon, feeling more and more like myself as I sobered up. But with it, just like I’d expected, came a world of hurt. With it came remembering Grey had completely forgotten about me.

“Charlie?” My voice was faint.

“Yeah, sweetie?”

“Thank you for coming with me.” I looked at my friend, her pretty blonde hair tumbling down her back, wide-lens sunglasses perched on her nose.

She blew her smoke out the open window.

“Don’t mention it, Mac.”

My parents had rented the entire private room of a restaurant in the city, La Grille, some fancy steak house, for Marcy’s rehearsal dinner.

Charlie and I sat at the private bar, our backs to the room. I could feel the cautious eyes of my parents on us, like we were ticking time bombs, volatile, liable to explode at any minute. When they weren’t glaring our way, Mom and Dad were simpering with pride, mingling with guests, ever the polite, charming hosts. Now and then, they’d glance over to smile at Marcy and Blake, the golden couple, practically shining from all the attention.

We were just about to sneak away for a cigarette when a tall, fairly handsome, but obviously rich and snobby type came and stood next to me at the bar. He ordered a cognac—what the hell was that anyway—on the rocks.

“You must be Mackenzie.” He turned to me then, his voice polished and arrogant, as rich as his suit. I smiled politely up at him.

“Yes, and you are…?”

“Smitten.” He smirked, raising his eyebrows at me.

“…Okay.” That was officially my cue. I grabbed Charlie’s arm and started for the exit, pulling her along behind me, giggling. When I looked back, he was watching me, unfazed, a cocky smirk set on his face. I rolled my eyes and headed out the door.

We found a picnic table in the alley of the restaurant. I climbed on top of it and lit a smoke as Charlie leaned against the brick wall beside me.

“Can you believe that guy?” I chuckled. “I can’t believe those cheesy lines actually work on some women. ”

“He was pretty cute.” She shrugged. “I bet he doesn’t get denied very often.”

“Are you kidding? I’m probably the first one who had the audacity.”

“Probably,” Charlie laughed.

“It’s your fault he tried to pick me up. You’re the one who made me all pretty.” I decided, looking down at my tight, dark blue skinny jeans and high, black peep-toed shoes. I wore a black scooped-back halter top, my hair was in a high ponytail, and my dark curls cascaded elegantly down my back.

“Well, I’d tell you to go for him, but I don’t want another Brad incident on my hands,” Charlie admitted. “He is really cute though. And obviously rich.”

I shook my head. “No way. I’d never go for someone like him. Even if Grey and I weren’t…” I trailed off, my words suspended in the air. I didn’t know how to finish my sentence. I didn’t know what Grey and I were anymore.

“Anyway, I’d never go for someone like him.” I stamped my cigarette out on the table and dug through my purse until I found what I was looking for. What I needed desperately. I brought the scoop to my nose and did some cocaine, super quickly—I was such a pro now it barely took any effort.

“Are you sure you should be doing that, Mac?” Charlie wondered skeptically.

“Yes.” I snorted deeply. “Want some?”

She shrugged and took the coke from my hand.

When we went back inside, it was time for us to eat. I was feeling pretty good by then; I had a nice combo of wine and blow going for me. There was an actual smile on my face as I took my place at the head table next to Whitney and Marie.

They were sizing up the groomsmen, trying to decide who they’d be paired with at the wedding. I leaned forward curiously to look; I hadn’t even thought about that awkwardness yet.

“Maybe I’ll get Colin,” Whitney whispered. “I hear he’s going to be a surgeon.”

“I think you will. I think Derek is my partner, the married one.” Marie frowned.

“Who’s mine?” I interrupted.

“Oh, um,” Whitney glanced over. They were still kind of awkward around me since the big fight. “You’re with Blake’s brother, Jake.”

“Blake’s brother’s name is Jake?” I giggled.

“Yeah. Why?”

“They rhyme.” I laughed. “Don’t you find that funny? ”

They just stared at me. I began to wonder if I was drunker than I thought. I cleared my throat. “So, which one is he?”

“That one, there. Next to Blake.” Whitney pointed, leaning back so I could see. “He’s a stunner, huh? A total catch, he’s in finance. Totally loaded.”

Of course he was. I looked with disdain at Jake—A.K.A Smitten—Blake-the-dick’s brother. I should’ve known he was related to Blake. His superior countenance was a dead giveaway.

“Great,” I stated sourly.

“I’d trade with you in a heartbeat.” Marie decided.

“Yeah, I’d take a piece.” Whitney agreed. They giggled like girls at a school dance. I rolled my eyes at them. They could have him, as far as I was concerned.

As soon as dinner was over, I left my table to join Charlie back at the bar, trying to think of a good excuse to ditch the soiree so we could go and actually party.

The crowd was thinning out and we probably could’ve gotten away with it, but then Blake cornered me, leaning heavily on the bar top, his eyes bleary, his grin crooked.

“Too many sherries, Blake?” I teased.

He wasn’t listening. He was looking past me, beckoning someone over. “Mackenzie, have you met…my brother? He’s in finance, you know.”

“So I hear.” I sighed, glancing over my shoulder. Smitten was heading over to us, swaggering in his finely tailored suit. I could see the resemblance now I knew they were related—Jake looked like Blake but was more handsome, dimpled, his light hair swept across his forehead.

“Jake, this is Mackenzie. Marcy’s little sister. Soon to be my little sister.” Blake smiled. He actually pinched one of my cheeks. I slapped his hand away.

“We met already.” Jake looked me over, a cocky grin on his face. “Unofficially.”

“Was she nice? Be nice to him, Mackenzie. He’s absolutely perfect for you.”

“Is he?”

“Oh yes.” Blake nodded.

I flipped my hair behind my shoulder. Even if Grey and I weren’t together anymore, he’d serve as a perfect excuse, for the moment. “Well, I already have a boyfriend, and I happen to think he’s perfect for me.”

To my astonishment, this made the brothers laugh, like I’d told them a hilarious joke. I crossed my arms and glared as they leaned against each other with mirth.

“Right, right. The rock star, right? Motorbike, the whole shebang.” Blake chortled .

“Can we meet this rock star? Get an autograph?” Jake smirked.

“He’s not here. He’s in the studio, actually, with his band. They’ve got a record deal, and they’re recording their first album.” I bragged haughtily.

“And he can’t take a day off from music to be here? For your only sister’s wedding?” Jake chuckled. “Come on. You guys can’t be that serious.”

Wow. I really didn’t need this. I could do without the airing of my exact thoughts and fears, especially coming from this dickhead. I shook my head and gathered my things from the bar, angrily stepping down from the stool. “You don’t know anything.”

“Uh oh, you hit a nerve, brother. I think you’re onto something.” Blake grinned.

“I am, aren’t I?” Jake persisted, smiling smugly. “Are you even together?”

“Of course they are.” Charlie came to my defence then, her blue eyes flashing. “They’re inseparable.”

“Oh yeah? If they’re so inseparable, where is this guy?”

“I told you. He’s in the studio!” Fuming, I pushed roughly past them. I didn’t stop to talk to my mom or my dad or Marcy or anyone. I stormed through the restaurant and out the front door, pausing on the sidewalk outside, breathing in the cool night air. Traffic rushed by on the busy street, horns honking, a car alarm sounding in the distance, drowning out the angry thoughts swirling through my head.

“Mac?” Charlie’s heels clipped on the sidewalk behind me. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I lit a cigarette. “Sorry. I just had to get out of there.”

“I don’t blame you. What a couple of dicks.” She scoffed.

“Right? Ugh…idiots. ” I frowned, crossing my arms.

We started walking toward the hotel, only a few blocks away. I pulled my cell phone from my purse but the screen was blank—no messages, no nothing, just infuriatingly silent like always. I sighed.

“You know what the worst part is, Charlie?”

“What’s that?

“They’re right. Blake and his brother. About Grey and I.” I looked up at the sky, but I couldn’t see the stars from the bright city lights. “I don’t know what I thought we had…but I think, whatever it was, it must be over now.”

Charlie didn’t have anything to say to that. She slung a comforting arm around my shoulders and we walked in silence the rest of the way.