“Oh dear Lord, you’re going to end up in jail!”
Liz laughed and shook her head. “Ye of little faith! Vickie doesn’t get caught.”
“Stop calling me that!” she snapped.
They laughed then, but Hayden had eventually agreed to sit this one out. As much as they bantered, Liz didn’t think Hayden actually wanted Victoria to dislike him.
“Are you ready, bitch?” Victoria called from the end of the hall. Liz blew her hair out of her face and shrugged. It wasn’t getting any better than this.
“I love when you dress like a slut,” Liz said when she walked out to see Victoria in a red dress that sheathed her voluptuous frame and mile-high spiked heels. She was busting out of her top and her already thick makeup was darkened and heavy, with bright red lipstick to match.
“What? This is like every day,” Victoria said with a wink.
“Uh-huh.”
“At least you look fabulous on your birthday.”
“Is that a compliment?” Liz asked, glancing down at her outfit. She had chosen a short lace dress in white with skinny straps that cut down into an eye-catching square neck courtesy of her balconet bra. She knew she had a nice rack, but she didn’t normally show it off. Tonight was not one of those nights. Vibrant blue heels gave her an additional four and a half inches on her frame and accentuated her already toned legs.
“Don’t get used to it.”
Liz laughed just as they heard a knock on the front door. Hayden walked in without waiting for someone to answer, and Liz smiled brighter when she caught a glimpse of him. Clay had told her Hayden loved her over New Year’s, but it was different hearing him say it and knowing that he meant it. Whatever she was feeling . . . while it might not be love . . . it was definitely something strong.
“Ready to go, gorgeous?” he asked, pulling her into his arms and kissing her on the lips.
“All ready.”
“I’m not sure I should let you go out like this alone. You’re going to have people fighting for your attention.”
“You’re ridiculous. No one is going to be fighting for anything except Victoria and the shots she’s going to be buying,” Liz said with a bemused look in Victoria’s direction.
“Yeah, shots. Let’s go so we can have some,” Victoria said, shouldering past Hayden. “And I already told you, Lane. She’ll be fine in my capable hands.”
Hayden glanced over at Liz as Victoria sauntered out the door. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to let me stay?”
“You don’t have to convince me. You have to convince her,” Liz said, pointing at Victoria’s retreating back.
He groaned and nodded. “Come on. There’s no hope for her.”
They all piled into Hayden’s Audi and he drove them the short distance to Franklin Street. They lived only about three streets from where the bar was, but in heels it wasn’t a super fun walk.
Victoria jumped out of the car as soon as Hayden pulled over to let them out. Liz leaned over and kissed Hayden softly on the lips.
“Have a fun time,” he said.
“We will.”
“Call me if you need me.”
“I will.”
“I’ll come pick you up at bar close, all right?” Hayden said, his voice earnest. She could see the worry line forming between his eyebrows; the war going on in his head was written all over his face: he was clearly not comfortable letting her go off with Victoria, but he trusted Liz.
“Sure. Try not to worry,” she whispered, dropping a hand on his sleeve. “We’ll be fine.”
Hayden grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for one last kiss. “I know you will, but I’ll be here in case you aren’t.”
“Thanks,” she said softly, before popping her door open and moving to leave. “I’ll see you later.”
“About time,” Victoria said, tapping her foot. “Let’s get drunk.”
Liz laughed and followed her friend into the first bar. She couldn’t even remember the last time it had just been the two of them out. Hayden was usually with them, and she didn’t usually drink much when he was around. Before she had started dating Hayden she hadn’t gone out at all. She just hadn’t been into it. The last time might have been when Victoria came back from London last summer. Brady had picked her up that night and they had met his best friend, Chris. That felt so long ago.
It was so long ago.
Victoria strutted straight up to the bar. “Kyle! It’s my best friend’s twenty-first birthday and she needs to get so f**ked up that she doesn’t remember anything!” she announced to the bartender loudly enough for anyone else to hear.
Liz groaned. This was going to be a long night.
Kyle looked up at Liz, who took a place next to Victoria. His eyes lowered to her chest and then back up to her face. Liz felt the color rushing to her cheeks, but he just smiled and winked at her. “Shots coming right up.”
That was the beginning of the end.
Liz wasn’t exactly a lightweight. But by the time Massey showed up at the bar, Liz had had enough drinks in that short time frame that whatever concoction she was drinking tasted like fruit punch.
Victoria just laughed at her. “It’s not Kool-Aid, I swear.”
“What is she even drinking?” Massey asked with a giggle as she fluttered her fingers in Kyle’s direction.
“I don’t know.” Victoria shrugged. “Kyle, what is she drinking?”
“Kool-Aid,” Liz answered immediately.
“It’s a 3AM and vodka mixture with cranberry,” he called back to Victoria.
“See, not Kool-Aid.”
Liz thought she shrugged, but her eyes felt heavy and she wasn’t sure what her body actually did. “What’s 3AM?”
“Oh my God, who let you drink this much?” Massey said, covering her mouth and almost shaking with laughter.
“3AM is caffeinated vodka,” Victoria explained.
“Yeah, it’s what the bartenders drink to stay awake,” Massey followed up.
“It tastes like Kool-Aid.”
“No it doesn’t! It tastes like shit!” Massey cried.
“Here, try it. It’s so good,” Liz said, shoving it into Massey’s hand.
“Um no . . . I’m more of a Maker’s Mark kind of girl. You should probably slow down if you want to be coherent. Where is Lane? Shouldn’t he be taking care of you?”
Liz rolled her eyes. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I’m totally fine,” she slurred, and hugged the glass back to her chest.