With an evil smirk, he reared his hand far above his shoulder. I closed my eyes tight. After a few moments, I peeked back. Just before his hand made contact, he stopped and gave me a gentle pat.
“Nineteen!” he exclaimed.
The guests cheered, and America started a drunken rendition of “Happy Birthday.” I laughed when the part came to say my name and the entire room sang “Pigeon.”
Another slow song came over the stereo, and Parker pulled me to the makeshift dance floor. It didn’t take me long to figure out why he didn’t dance.
“Sorry,” he said after stepping on my toes for the third time.
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “You’re doing just fine,” I lied.
He pressed his lips against my temple. “What are you doing Monday night?”
“Going to dinner with you?”
“Yes. In my new apartment.”
“You found one!”
He laughed and nodded. “We’ll order in, though. My cooking isn’t exactly edible.”
“I’d eat it, anyway,” I said, smiling up at him.
Parker glanced around the room and then led me to a hallway. He gently pressed me against the wall, kissing me with his soft lips. His hands were everywhere. At first I played along, but after his tongue infiltrated my lips, I got the distinct feeling that I was doing something wrong.
“Okay, Parker,” I said, maneuvering away.
“Everything all right?”
“I just think it’s rude of me to make out with you in a dark corner when I have guests out there.”
He smiled and kissed me again. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just wanted to give you a memorable birthday kiss before I left.”
“You’re leaving?”
He touched my cheek. “I have to wake up in four hours, Abs.”
I pressed my lips together. “Okay. I’ll see you Monday?”
“You’ll see me tomorrow. I’ll stop by when I get back.”
He led me to the door and then kissed my cheek before he left. I noticed that Shepley, America, and Travis were all staring at me.
“Daddy’s gone!” Travis yelled when the door closed. “Time to get the party started!”
Everyone cheered, and Travis pulled me to the center of the floor.
“Hang on … I’m on a schedule,” I said, leading him by the hand to the counter. I knocked back another shot, and laughed when Travis took one from the end, sucking it down. I grabbed another and swallowed, and he did the same.
“Seven more, Abby,” Brazil said, handing me two more twenty-dollar bills.
I wiped my mouth as Travis pulled me to the living room again. I danced with America and then Shepley, but when Chris Jenks from the football team tried to dance with me, Travis pulled him back by the shirt and shook his head. Chris shrugged and turned, dancing with the first girl he saw.
The tenth shot hit hard, and I felt a little dizzy standing on Brazil’s couch with America, dancing like clumsy grade-schoolers. We giggled over nothing, waving our arms around to the beat.
I stumbled, nearly falling off the couch backward, but Travis’s hands were instantly on my hips to steady me.
“You’ve made your point,” he said. “You’ve drunk more than any girl we’ve ever seen. I’m cutting you off.”