1
Kaci
Isqueeze between two people I only vaguely know to try and make my way into the kitchen. After all, my Vegas apartment is way too small to host a party with thirty people, but it’s the only place that was readily available. Renting out a restaurant is out of the question, and public parks are too hot because temperatures in the desert have been soaring lately. Seriously, in Vegas we have something called “100 over 100,” which means a hundred days of the year that are over a hundred degrees in temperature. As a result, this place is hot and only getting hotter as we wait in anticipation for my ex to arrive.
I know it sounds weird that I’m throwing a surprise birthday party for a someone I used to date. Who does that, right? But it’s all good because Sean and I broke up on good terms a while ago, and there are no hard feelings. He went his way, and I went mine, and it wasn’t really a big deal. If anything, things are pretty much the same between us except we don’t sleep together anymore. In fact, we were never exclusive, so nothing’s that different at all. As a result, I’m happy to throw this surprise birthday party for my ex.
But still, looking around, I take a deep breath because my tiny one bedroom is now crammed to the gills to people.
“Oof!” I grunt, as a girl I only sort-of recognize elbows me in the ribs while going by. Seriously, eight hundred square feet is not enough for thirty people, not even close. There are folks already spilling out into the hallway, but how is that going to work when this is supposed to be a surprise party? They need to come back inside, stat.
Then someone shouts, “Turn up the A/C!” because it’s so hot, and I have to agree. Worming my way through the crowd, I push the button on the thermostat, but it’s already going at full speed even if it’s still like a sauna in here. Damnit.
Yet my guests seem to be enjoying themselves. People mill about, talking and laughing, and it’s a good-looking crew, as is the wont in Vegas. A lot of us work in the hospitality industry, and looks matter in this business. Not only that, but I know a couple folks who are only moonlighting as bartenders and cocktail waitresses as they pursue their true dreams of being a model or actor. So yes, it’s a young, attractive crowd, and I smile flirtatiously at a particularly charming young man while slipping into my tiny kitchen.
Thankfully, it’s a little quieter here, so I can breathe a bit. The chill from the fridge cools me as I open it, and I bring out a platter of cream cheese and olives, before setting them on a board with an assortment of whole wheat crackers.This is great, I nod to myself. One day, I’ll have a big house where I can throw lavish dinner parties where we aren’t swelteringen masse. But until then, I have to settle for what I can get.
Wiggling out into the living room, I set the tray on my dining table.
“Great party, Kaci,” a redheaded girl who’s friends with Sean compliments. “When’s the man of honor getting here?” Oh shit, thischicais the one who always gets raging drunk at parties, and I look a bit hesitantly at the beer in her hand.
“He’ll be here at seven because he thinks we’re going out to dinner to celebrate his birthday.”
“Smart,” she says before letting out a braying laugh. Then the redhead wanders away, slugging at the beer again. Oh shit. She better not make me regret providing bountiful amounts of alcohol tonight.
But I try to remain the gracious hostess, making small talk with various folks while sipping a cold seltzer.
“So how are people going to hide?” an acquaintance named Elaine asks. “Not to be rude, but there are a lot of people here, and not a lot of space.” She’s a pretty girl with hair that looks like a wavy lion’s mane, and I wonder if she uses a lot of product to get it like that.
I frown. Obviously, Miss Lion Mane is right. Some folks will be able to hunker down behind the couch, and some will be able to hide in the kitchen but yeah, the jig is going to be up as soon as Sean sets foot inside. Fortunately, my friend Sydney interrupts then, a reassuring smile on her face.
“This isn’t a third-grade party, Elaine,” she says. “People don’t have to hide. Sean will still be surprised no matter what.”
Elaine frowns.
“I know, but isn’t the point of surprise parties to hide?”
Sydney rolls her eyes again. “Only when you’re nine. Don’t think too much about it, okay? After all, Kaci’s his ex and Seandefinitelyisn’t expecting his ex-girlfriend to throw him a party, so it will be a surprise. Trust me.”
Elaine merely shrugs.
“Have it your way,” she says before strolling off. Meanwhile, I turn to my friend.
“Thanks for taking care of that,” I say gratefully. “Seriously, I have no idea why I even invited her.”
“Elaine’s just a legacy friend,” Sydney says with another roll of her eyes. “But yeah, don’t let people get under your skin, girl, because you’ve done a great job. Enjoy the party! Drink! Go wild!”
I giggle.
“Yeah, but you know I love to worry. It’s a part of who I am as a person.”
Sydney rolls her eyes for the umpteenth time.
“True. Maybe we need to get a few more drinks in you so you loosen up.”
But I frown then.
“Not until after Sean gets here because I want to be totally coherent when he arrives. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while now and put a lot of work into the planning.”