L exi

T he music was loud, and the lights were strobing throughout the entire club. I had promised Mandy that she and I would have a girls’ night out, and we ended up deciding to come to the Expose Club. I liked it here, especially since my father was well-known and I never had to wait in line to get into the club. Mandy liked it because she could let loose, have some drinks, flirt with hot guys, and release all the tension from her grad school stresses. It was definitely a good use of our time on a Saturday night since everyone had been on edge about everything lately. Even the last time I had talked to Hunter, he’d sounded like something was wrong, which weighed on me. However, as Mandy and I danced around the club, taking in the scenery, I let all of that go and tried to enjoy myself. Mandy didn’t go out like too often, and I wanted to make sure she had a good time .

We started with several drinks, did some dancing, and then took a moment to drink more when we bellied up to the bar for some shots. After some more time out on the floor, we danced through the club and back into the bar, laughing hysterically as we approached a couple seats. I sat down, sweat beading on my forehead, and ordered another drink. Mandy pulled up the chair next to me and ordered a water, causing me to roll my eyes .

“What?” she asked. “If I don’t stay hydrated now, I’m going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow .”

“For some reason, I don’t think one glass of water per every three Jack and Diet Cokes is going to do you any good,” I said, chuckling. “But nice try .”

“Hey, it’s worth a shot,” she said, clinking her water against my drink. “So, how are things with you and Hunter ?”

“Things between us are amazing, but I’m starting to think it would be a good idea to tell my father,” I said .

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “We’ve pretty much told each other we’re in it for the long haul. We both thought about breaking it off, but neither one of us could bring ourselves to do it. We care too much about each other .”

“Good,” Mandy said, causing me to furrow my brow. “You two are happy. That’s good. I mean, at first I didn’t really take it seriously. I thought it was just some fling between you and an older man, but now I’m seeing that there’s more to it than that. Look, Lexi, I just want you to be happy, and safe, and make decisions that are good for you. If you want to tell your dad, then do it. Even if he reacts poorly, you’ll still have Hunter, and he’ll still have you .”

“Wow,” I said, laughing. “Thank you. It feels right to have you on our side on this. You are my best friend, and I couldn’t imagine going through this without you. It’s been lonely as it is, having no one to talk to about the things I’m going through. Without our few minutes of talking, I don’t know if I could have kept it up .”

“I’m glad you did,” she said. “You are finally happy and relaxed. So, let’s go dance and get me to that same place !”

She jumped up from the chair and grabbed my arm, pulling me back toward the nightclub on the bottom floor. I followed her, grabbing her waist and dancing to the music as we went. It was a really great night with a lot of dancing, a lot of alcohol, and no stress whatsoever. We both ignored the men trying to hit on us and focused on having a really good girls’ night together. It had been a long time since I was able to let my inhibitions go and just have fun. I was always looking over my shoulder, wondering what I was doing wrong, and questioning whether my father was going to look down on me for being young and reckless, as he liked to call it .

When the night was over, we were both pretty drunk, but Mandy was worse than I was. I hailed a cab, and we climbed into the back, giving the driver Mandy’s address. We leaned into each other, giggling and talking the entire ride .

“I love you,” Mandy said, sighing. “You are like the sister I never had .”

“I love you, too,” I slurred. “Can I tell you a secret ?”

“Always,” she said, slapping my leg .

“I am head over heels in love with Hunter,” I whispered .

“I knew it,” she yelled. “I knew it! Aww, I want to be head over heels for someone. Damnit !”

“Hopefully someone you don’t have to sneak around with,” I said, laughing .

“Yeah. I’ll keep my sights off my father’s friends.” She giggled .

The driver looked through the rearview mirror at us and laughed. I pointed my finger at him and sloppily leaned forward. He smiled as I tapped him on the shoulder .

“Don’t you judge,” I said sternly .

“I would never judge,” he said in a thick Italian accent. “My wife is ten years younger than me .”

“See, and you love her just the same,” I said with approval .

“Of course,” he said, laughing .

“See, Mandy, it all works out,” I said, elbowing her but getting no response. “Mandy? Oh, you’re passed out. Great .”

I brushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead as we rode toward her place in Brooklyn. She was so adorable, and I could tell that she didn’t drink very often. Admittedly, I was pretty wasted, but she was passed-out drunk. I was kind of curious about how I was going to get her into her apartment. I shrugged my shoulders and left the thought for when we arrived .

Once we got there, though, she was only half lucid, and I struggled to get her upstairs to the apartment. With one of her arms draped over my shoulders, it took about twenty minutes to get up one flight of stairs and across the hall. When we got inside, I pulled her along to her room, allowing her to fall face-first into her bed. I took off her shoes and pulled the blanket over her, knowing she was going to have a killer headache when she woke up .

I walked out of the room, feeling less wasted, and closed her bedroom door behind me before leaning back against it and catching my breath. As my lungs settled, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket, and I struggled to get it out. I didn’t even look to see who it was before answering. The voice on the other end was welcoming, and my heart immediately melted .

“Hey, you okay?” Hunter asked .

“Yeah,” I said, laughing. “I just dragged Mandy up to her apartment, half passed out .”

Hunter laughed. “I’m assuming girls’ night was a success then .”

“It was a success,” I said, slightly slurring my words .

“Good,” he said, chuckling. “Look, I won’t keep you. I’m sure you’re tired. But I need to see you tomorrow night. Will you come over at around six for dinner ?”

“That sounds amazing,” I said, noticing something off in his voice. “Hunter ?”

“Yeah,” he replied .

“Is everything okay ?”

“Everything will be fine,” he responded. “Get some sleep, and I’ll see you tomorrow night .”

“Okay, sweetie.” I yawned as I lay down on the couch and pulled a blanket over me .

“Bye,” he said with a smile in his voice .

“Bye, bye,” I replied, hanging up the phone and dropping it on the floor .

I rolled over on the couch and looked up at the ceiling, trying to stop the spinning that was taking over me. It had been so good to hear Hunter’s voice, and part of me wished I was in his bed right then, snuggled up in the comforter and wrapped in his arms. I realized I was in love with him, but that wasn’t something I was ready to tell him yet. I was just happy that, in my drunken stupor, I hadn’t let it all out while on the phone with him. That would have been slightly embarrassing and not romantic in the least. No, with Hunter, I wanted it to be special. I wanted to tell him my feelings in a way that we would remember for the rest of our lives. I also wanted to make sure it wasn’t a one-way street. No one wanted to say I love you to someone who didn’t feel the same way .

Either way, as I lay there on the couch, one foot on the floor to try to stop the spinning, my mind wandered to thoughts of Hunter and what he was doing at that moment. We had something so very special, and I couldn’t wait until we didn’t have to hide it anymore. I really felt like nothing could get in the way .