Elise:Lucky for you, I’m the forgiving type. Hey… thanks again for last night. I shouldn’t have drunk that much, and I’m embarrassed, but I really do appreciate you taking care of me.
Dan:It happens to the best of us, are you feeling any better?
My fingers hover over the phone screen as I consider my response, but just as I start to type something witty, my professor catches me unaware.
“Elise?” she asks, arms crossed and looking up at me from the lecture floor. My face burns with humiliation as the heads of all the other students turn in my direction, too. “Are you attending class today, or just wasting my time by catching up on your social life while I teach?”
“Sorry,” I say, cringing at the embarrassment. “I’ll focus.”
The teacher harrumphs, but resumes teaching. I’m not usually a problem student, so I guess I’m allowed a slip up here or there without too much public shame.
Thinking about shame has my thoughts wandering back to my complicated feelings regarding the man I was just texting. Dan had cleaned me and comforted me, and made me feel a way that I’d never felt before. Sometimes, I’m ashamed that I am so affected by him, but other times I can’t get the idea of what he and I can do at my party in a few weeks once we're alone out of my head.
It’s so, so wrong for me to be so attracted to him, but I can’t help it. It’s such a strong, biological response that I couldn’t stop it even if I wanted to. Truth be told, it’s easy for me to savor the thoughts and phantom sensations he invokes in me, but much harder to think about bringing all of those things into the real world.
I put on a fake expression for the class to look like I’m paying attention, but behind my eyes all I’m thinking about is Dan, and all the trouble he’s been causing me lately. Trouble, and pleasure, all rolled into the inconvenient package of my brother’s best friend. What in the world am I going to do?
“Thanks for inviting me over,” Tatiana says, wearing her own pair of dark glasses in a trendy tortoiseshell pattern to cover her bloodshot eyes. “I’d have just stayed in bed all day otherwise.”
“You’re most welcome, girl!” I wave for her to come in and we head to the kitchen where my Chinese takeout is waiting. “We need some junk food to beat this hangover.”
“You bet,” she answers, removing her big sunglasses.
It feels good to be finally home after a long day of classes, and I must say, I’m quite happy I didn’t have to go to the office today; thank God, it was my day off.
I’m opening the paper bags of Chinese takeout and spreading the cardboard pagodas out on the counter table while Tati takes a seat on one of the stools.
“Considering how I’m feeling, I was sure that you must be feeling worse,” I tell her. “I’m a lightweight, but you’re on another level.”
She laughs sardonically, pulling a bag of egg rolls toward her. “That’s for sure. I know you’re making fun of me but it’s so true that it hurts. I’ve never been more hungover in my life.”
“Have you ever even been drunk before?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve felt some tingles from drinks before, which I assumed meant I was drunk, but apparently I’m naïve because last night was something else altogether. Ishouldn’t have stayed with Mark and those girls for as long as I did.”
“How long exactly?”
Tatiana bites into her egg roll, chews, and swallows before answering. “Two entire hours after you left.”
I groan in sympathy, breaking my wooden chopsticks apart and rubbing them together. “I hope they were good company at least.”
“I don’t even remember the girls' names, but Mark was nice. He was more interested in you I think but once we got to talking about art we clicked. It was a good time, besides the hangover.”
“I still feel bad for leaving you,” I admit. “I wasn’t in my right mind, either.”
She shrugs, looking unbothered. “It’s fine! We’ll be more informed of our limits next time around.”
“I hope so.”
Between bites of fried rice, I get a text. I’m excited at the possibility that it might be Dan, and we could continue our casual flirtation from earlier today, but it’s my brother instead.
Andries: Hey! I talked to Roxanne, and she said to invite you over here for dinner this Thursday evening. Is that okay for you?
I’m surprised because I was sure Roxanne didn’t actually want to get together, but was instead doing it for Andries’s sake.
Elise:That should be fine, but I have to admit I feel a little awkward going to her place on my own. Can I bring someone?
Andries:Who did you have in mind?