Chapter 31
Daniela
We’re in Napa for the big bachelorette weekend. Originally, we were meant to stay the weekend in Sacramento, but we were feeling spontaneous, so we booked this on a whim and Britney and Kylie were totally down to join us.
“Girrrl, get your ass off the table!” I yell at Layla with a drunken slur.
We’re at some random bar, having the time of our lives with our little crew.
The music is too loud, the drinks are insanely overpriced, and way too many greasy men have tried to hit on us already.
But we’re having a blast. Layla is beyond wasted, and it’s probably time to get her home soon.
She’s currently on the table shaking her ass, putting on a show for us.
“You know what, you do you girl!” I shout, giving up. I clap my hands and cheer her on instead.
She leans down for another sip of her drink, and I slide it away from her.
“I don’t think you need any more!”
She pouts, climbing down and slouching next to me in the round booth.
“I love you,” she slurs. “Like, doing this whole wedding without my mom obviously sucks, but I’m so grateful that you dropped everything this summer to be here with me.”
“I didn’t drop anything. I’m a teacher with no life outside of school!”
“Still, you didn’t have to!”
“Well, I was more than happy to,” I tell her, giving her a hug. Her eyes are starting to form tears. “No don’t you dare! This is a happy night! Not a sad night!”
Her tears only build more, even though she’s trying to force a painful-looking smile. “Okay,” she croaks out as the first tear escapes.
“Hey! Layla!” I holler, tapping her lightly on her cheek. “You’re marrying your dream man. This is a happy night. No more,” I say, wiping her cheeks with my thumbs.
“I am so happy. Liam is the best.” She nods, trying to pull herself together. “I just wish you could find someone too…I know you don’t trust anyone outside of your little bubble, but eventually, you need to let a few more people in. You can’t remain stagnant forever.”
“Well, that was very insightful for a drunk girl,” I admit.
At that moment, Kylie and Britney return from dancing. It’s just the four of us tonight.
“I think it might be time to call it a night,” I yell at them across the table, fighting the excruciatingly loud music.
They nod, and we settle our tab for the night, courtesy of the groom.
Then we order a car back to the rental.
I sit in the back seat with Layla on one side and Britney on the other, hoping Layla doesn’t puke on me. I’m not sober myself, but I’m starting to feel better since we got some fresh air after stepping out of the club.
We stop for some late-night fast food and then head home.
“Hey.” Layla has some pep in her again after a few nibbles of her food. The driver had asked us to wait until we get dropped off, but Layla snuck bites of that burrito like it was a high stakes heist.
“What?”
“Are you feral for Mr. Farrell?”
“Oh my gosh. Stop it. No, I am not feral for Dex Farrell.”
“You know what rhymes with Liam?” she asks .
“Nothing?”
“Colosseum. Liam from the Colosseum. My gladiator.”
“Wow. That’s…something.” I laugh.
Then she flashes a teasing grin again, nudging me in the side. “Sexy Dexy,” she sings, laughing some more. “I knooow you think it!”
“Do not.”
“Oh, yeah. Just like the time you didn’t secretly go see Twilight without me too. And who did you go with? Oh yeah…Ashley frickin Gregory.”
“Be glad you didn’t go. It traumatized me. I was only what…ten?”
“The betrayal,” she whispers in an ominous voice.
“You’re ridiculous,” I tell her. This poor driver.
“You’re ridiculous,” she retorts sleepily. “You can’t even admit to your best friend that you’re totally into him. It’s okay though. Eventually, you will.” My laughing comes to a halt, and I stare ahead as her head slumps against my arm.
A tear falls down my cheek, and I curse myself for turning into the drunk and emotional one.