Page 156 of Tell Me I'm Enough

I lean back, looking at her, playfully rolling my eyes. “Yeah. I’m in. But I’m starving. Let’s grab something before going.”

Lani looks a little uneasy, but fixes her face quickly. “Yeah, sure. Whatever you want.”

* * *

“Take this shot with me, Lani!” I shout over the music.

She looks over at me and then at the shot. “Um, yeah. I will, just let me run to the bathroom really quick, okay? I’ll be right back. I have to pee.”

I down the shot in my hand and raise the other one I had ready for her. “I’m taking this one then! I’ll have another ready when you get back!”

She laughs and then disappears into the crowd.

A couple of Gamma girls pull me into their game of Beer Pong against the guys. Tank and Ryan are up against me and another girl—Hannah.

They’re beating us badly.

“Come on, Hannah!” I slur. “We can’t let them destroy us like this.”

She picks the ping pong ball up, swaying as she tries to steady herself and throw it. She ends up hitting Tank straight in the chest instead of remotely anywhere near the cups.

Tank lifts his chin at her. “Drink up, ladies.”

“This feels rigged,” I tell him, shaking my head.

After they easily beat us, Tank makes his way over to our side of the table. “Alright…how about we play that rematch pool game I still owe you?”

I look around, trying to see where Lani is, but don’t see her anywhere.

“Okay, yeah,” I say, patting the big giant on his shoulder. “I’m way too drunk already for that to be fair, so you drink up. I’m gonna go find Lani, and then I’ll be over there.”

“Sounds good to me. Make sure to bring her back with you. I like a little eye candy as motivation.” He ruffles my hair, and I slap his hand down, laughing.

It hasn’t been that long since Lani went to the bathroom, but it was long enough for me to play beer pong and drink way more than I needed to alone.

I keep searching for her around the house, checking every room until I finally find her sitting on the floor in one of the bathrooms upstairs.

She’s facing away from me, but I can hear the distinct sound of gagging.

“Lani! Are you okay?”

She quickly wipes her hand on her jeans and then turns to me—confusion and panic on her face. “Shit. Sorry. I got sick and have been up here trying to wait for it to pass.”

“Damn. I’m sorry. You didn’t even drink much yet? What caused it?”

“Yeah, no, I don’t know. Maybe it was the food we ate on the way here.”

“You barely took two bites. You think you’re getting sick or something?”

She shakes her head. “No. It feels like it’s passing. I’m not sure what caused it.” She goes to stand up. “We can go back out. I’m feeling better now.”

“You sure?” I ask, concerned.

She nods. “Yeah. I think I’m good now. Maybe a shot will help.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “A shot after puking. Very Lani of you.”

She washes her hands and then grabs me, pulling me back out into the party.