“None?” Everleigh eyes her suspiciously.
Lennox rolls her eyes and jumps off the bed to slide on her sandals. “Nope. Let’s go.”
“Hmm, there’s a story there,” I say as I check my makeup one last time in my little hand-held mirror.
“Yeah, there is,” Madison says as she follows Lennox. “We’ll get it out of her. A few drinks and the tea is spillin’.”
Throwing everything back in my little bag, I follow the girls out into the hall, and Madison and I stop at our room to drop off our hair and makeup supplies.
I double-check my purse as I shove my lip gloss inside and grab my sweater, Madison doing the same. Once outside, we all climb inside Madison’s Honda and take off.
Thank God Madison has a car. I miss mine and the freedom it brings. Having to rely on others or on public transportation sucks. Pretty much everything we need is on campus, and with the beach and mountains only a short walk away, I get by just fine. But if I had my car, I’d be exploring as much of Northern Cali as I could. It’s absolutely beautiful.
“So let’s get these boys straight,” Lennox says from the back seat.
“You still don’t remember everyone’s names? We’ve hung out all as a group a few times now,” Madison says.
Everleigh is laughing uncontrollably, clutching her stomach. “Lennox has the memory of a ninety-year-old woman. Sometimes I wonder if it’s from all the partying she does.”
We all erupt into laughter, even Lennox herself.
“Hey, I can’t help it! I suck at names.”
“I’m surprised you remember ours!” I tease.
“Okay, here’s the breakdown.” Madison taps her hands on the wheel. “Mason is my twin brother. Asher is his best friend. We all grew up together.”
“Yes, that I remember,” Lennox says.
“They scored a dorm room together, don’t ask me how, but they managed it. And they made friends with a few guys in the hall.”
“Holden and…” Lennox trails off.
Madison’s mouth drops open. “Wow, you remembered a name!”
“Oh, oh, ohhh,” Everleigh chants from the back seat.
“Shhh!” Lennox says. “Ignore her.”
“Aha! I knew it,” Madison says.
“What? I’m lost over here.” I shrug from the front seat.
“Nothing, Lo. Mads and Eve think they know tea they don’t. Anyway, continue, Madison.” Lennox tries to change the subject, but we don’t easily forget like she does.
“Holden and Remi are roommates who live across the hall, and Landon and Rhett live next door to them. And that’s it. I mean, obviously, more guys are around, but those are the only ones Mason has introduced me to.”
“I hope everyone is there tonight so I can put a face to the name and hopefully commit them to memory,” Lennox says.
Everleigh cracks up again. “Likely story. Let’s see how drunk you get first.”
I shake my head and listen to the chatter as I stare out the window. A cool breeze blows this beautiful afternoon with the sun hanging low in the sky. How is it November and not cold?
I can’t believe how much I love it here. It’s everything I hoped for and more. The future here excites me, and so does this party.
* * *
The party is in full swing when we arrive. It doesn’t quite live up to the hype, but it’s pretty close.