Sticking close to the wall, I continue around the room, making sure no one notices me. Not an easy feat when the whole world is spinning. Pushing into the ladies’ restroom, I’m on myknees with my head in the toilet in seconds. Everything I just drank comes right back up.
“Gross,” I moan.
The door opens and closes. “Here, drink this.” Emilio drops down beside me, holding out a bottle of water.
I groan.Of course it’s fucking Emilio.
“Why are you in here?” I snatch the water from his grip, swish some around my mouth, and spit it out into the toilet before flushing.
“I saw you stumble in,” he says.
“I don’t need your help, Emilio. You can go now,” I tell him.
“Really? Because it looks to me like you drank too many glasses of champagne too quickly, and now you’re drunk and throwing up at your own party,” he says.
“It’s my party. I can do whatever I want.”
“Sure,” he draws out. “Drink some water. It’ll help.”
I really hate that it’s him in here seeing me like this. I hate that I’m always such a bitch to him, but it’s just easier to push him away than to do what I really want to do. Which is to pull him in, press my lips against his, and to hell with the consequences.
“I must look like a hot mess.” I frown while peering down at my black sequined dress.
“Nah, you’re the prettiest girl at the party, Frankie.” Emilio winks at me.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” I laugh.
“The only other girl I’ve ever said that to is my little sister,” he replies with such seriousness.
Great, so he’s relating me to his little sister. Family. That’s what we are. That’s why he’s always helping me. Obligation. I think all the males in our family are born with something in their DNA that makes them innately attentive and protective of the females around them.
“Thanks.” I lean my head against the back of the door.
“Why are you drinking anyway?”
“Didn’t you hear? It’s my birthday. I’m eighteen now.” I smile.
“I heard.” Emilio’s eyes roam down the length of my body before they meet mine again. He turned eighteen two months ago.
“I thought I would feel different. I don’t.”
“It’s just a number, Frankie. Your age doesn’t change you.”
“I wanted it to,” I tell him.
“Why would you want to change?” he asks.
“Because I’m a mess.” I shrug. “I don’t know.”
Emilio doesn’t say anything.
I look up at him. “This is the part where you say:Oh no, Frankie, you’re not a mess. You have all your shit together.”
“I’m not a liar.” He smirks. “But I happen to think you’re pretty great just the way you are. You don’t need to change.” He reaches up and pushes a few loose strands of my hair out of my face.
Oh god, this is it. He’s going to kiss me. I know that look in his eyes. I’ve seen it on other boys. Emilio leans in. I lean in closer and then my lips are against his. I swear something sparks to life inside me. I don’t know how to explain it, but it feels like I’m alight from the inside out.
My hands flatten against his chest and I push him back. My eyes widen. “We shouldn’t have done that.” I stand on shaky legs. “Thanks for the water,” I call out before running out the door.