Continuation:
The front door swung open, and the group tumbled inside, laughter spilling into the quiet apartment. Sully nearly tripped over the rug, Marco caught himself on the wall, and Juliette, hooked onto Soph's arm with Em on her other side, as if she could keep them upright.
"One last shot!" Sully's voice rang through the kitchen as he stumbled toward the counter, waving an imaginary glass in the air.
Juliette groaned but couldn't help laughing. "You're ridiculous. We've already had—what—like, eight?"
"Nine," Marco corrected with mock precision, holding up his fingers. His smirk was sharp, but his eyes had that glazed look that betrayed him. "But who's counting?"
"I am," Soph deadpanned, steering Em toward the counter. "And my official recommendation is that no one listens to Sully right now."
"Oh, come on," Sully said, reaching for the bottle of tequila sitting on the counter. "One last toast for the birthday girl." He pointed dramatically at Juliette.
Em grinned, pulling down shot glasses. "I think she deserves one more. Don't you, Jules?"
Juliette rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "You guys are such bad influences."
"That's what friends are for," Marco said, waggling his eyebrows as Sully sloshed tequila unevenly into the glasses. Liquid pooled onto the counter, and Marco muttered, "Close enough," before handing them out.
Sully slid one toward Juliette. "No birthday is complete without the hangover from hell. Trust me. It's tradition."
"Tradition?" Em asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Sully said with all the confidence of someone three drinks past his limit. "Ancient tradition. The Greeks did it. Or maybe the Romans. Either way, it's history. You can't argue with history."
Juliette snorted, shaking her head. "You're so full of shit."
"Correction," Sully said, lifting his glass. "Full of wisdom."
They gathered around the island, forming a loose circle. Soph leaned heavily into Juliette's shoulder, giggling at nothing, while Marco clinked his glass against Sully's with a little too much force, splashing tequila over both their hands.
"To the birthday girl," Soph said, beaming at Juliette.
"Twenty-one never looked better," Em added, winking at Juliette.
Juliette's chest tightened in that warm, overwhelming way. She lifted her glass, cheeks already flushed. "Thanks, guys. Seriously. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Cry more," Sully said with mock solemnity.
"Get lost literally everywhere," Marco threw in.
"Eat nothing but mac and cheese," Em added dryly.
Juliette rolled her eyes, laughing as she shook her head. "Alright, enough roasting the birthday girl. Cheers."
"Cheers!" they chorused, their glasses clinking together before they all downed the shots.
The tequila burned like fire, and Juliette winced, but Sully let out an obnoxiously loud "WOOOO!" that had everyone cracking up again.
"Alright," Soph said, setting her glass down firmly. "Party's over. Bed. Now."
"Mom mode activated," Marco teased, earning a sharp side-eye.
"Mom mode keeps you all alive," Soph shot back, grabbing his hand to pull him towards her room.
YOU ARE READING
Unspoken Goals
RomanceAbigail and Juliette have been inseparable since childhood. From kicking soccer balls in their front yards to sharing secrets at their special spot, their friendship has always been unbreakable. But as they navigate their way through college, the li...
