Closing my eyes, I let go.
I let go of my worries.
My fears.
Doubts.
For a moment, I allow myself to be a girl, any girl.
Only for a night.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Pouring more beer down my throat is probably not the best idea, but logic left my brain an hour ago.
“Yes!” Sasha cheers while others yell, “Chug, chug, chug!”
I shotgun the beer in record time, tossing the empty can on the floor. My hands go in the air the same moment cheers ring around me.
The poor guy beside me is still trying to finish his.
A very unladylike burp leaves me, but I can’t find it in myself to be embarrassed.
Ansel’s figure pushes through the crowd.
“Annie!” I cry, throwing myself at him.
“Oomph.” His arms twine around me, holding the majority of my weight. “Are you drunk?”
“Pssh, no,” I slur, my feet going out from under me.
“Whoa.” Ansel holds on tighter to my body, picking me up. “Find your sea legs, Meadows, I’m not carrying you out of here.”
I slap him playfully on the arm. “You would if you had to.”
He rolls his eyes.
“Let’s dance.”
“Let’s not.”
He has no choice as I tug him into the crowd.
Now that the alcohol has loosened me up even more, I dance freely, finding a rhythm I didn’t know I possessed. I turn my back to Ansel, lifting my hair up and looking at him over my shoulder with a flirty look.
He looks pained for a moment, but the look is gone so quickly I’m convinced I imagined it.
“You can touch me, Ansel.”
I don’t know if he actually hears me above the music, but his hands grasp my hips from behind.
I sway my body against his, laying my head back against his chest.
“This feels nice,” I murmur, closing my eyes. My body feels heavy, tired. I have no idea what time it is, but I probably need to sleep even though I don’t want to.
“How much did you drink?” His voice vibrates against me.
“Not too much,” I lie.