Leo called to see if I wanted to go to a party with him and his sister Reagan, who was a junior at the University of Georgia and actually a lot like me. I’d hung out with her a few nights that week, and she was a sweet girl, but shy and sort of reserved. I’d liked her instantly. Feeling a surge of confidence, I went out on a limb and asked Leo if Zack would be at the party. I’d artfully avoided bringing him up the past few nights as my eyes had scanned the parties we’d gone to, looking for him and craving his voice wrapped around the lyrics of my favorite songs, but he had been MIA. At that point, I didn’t care if Leo knew I sort of liked Zack, so I just asked. He was silent for a few beats, obviously pondering what my question meant, but he didn’t pry. When he told me Zack wasn’t going out that night, I decided to stay home too. I was thinking about curling up with a book and going to bed early. Even though I hadn’t done much drinking the past two nights, since Zack’s words about drowning my sorrows in alcohol were running around in my mind mocking me, I’d still stayed out late, so I was tired.
