Growing Pains

Chapter Twenty-Three

Bridgette

The second I got to the party I downed a shot of vodka. I wasn't sure how I handled being by Geoff for over an hour, but I pulled through. There was some infuriating about him, but I couldn't tell if I wanted to slap his chipper smile off of his face, or rip all of his clothes off. I figured it would be best if I didn't go with either option.

I passed Court on a couch about twenty minutes since we arrived, and she was tipsy.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one," I muttered to myself as I took in the scene.

She was talking to a group of boys, loudly, as Justin had his hands all over her waist. She had a beer in her hand and was flinging it around as she talked. She looked completely at ease, which was an odd state to see Courtney in. She was typically as tight as a wire, always buzzing with something new.

I noticed Duncan watching her as Dakota pouted while she was texting someone on her phone. He rolled his neck, his shoulders looking remarkably tense. He grabbed Dakota's hand, whispered something in her ear, and took off towards the main room.

I shrugged off the odd scene as I took another gulp of my beer. It was my first of the night, and was sure as hell not going to be my last.

Thirty minutes later I was out by the back porch, doing another round of Jell-O shots with a group of boys I didn't know. I was looking at one in particular who looked yummy to say the least.

I ran my hand down his arm and whispered, "Hey." He smiled at me, leaning in to say something else, but I didn't get to hear it because I was suddenly pulled away.

"Okay, come on," some guy said as he pulled me away by the waist. I let out a whiney noise because I was very upset. That guy was cute!

"Not nice," I whined again. It wasn't.

"Bridge, I'm saving you from yourself," A pretty blonde boy told me. He had very sparkly eyes. I liked sparkly eyes.

I leaned in, "Do I know you, pretty boy? Oh, right! You're Geoff." I started laughing, "Remember when we were at that party in Malibu? And we got into that closet and—"

"Okay, that's enough from you," Geoff said as he muffled my mouth with his hand. I licked his hand in retaliation. He pulled away with a scowl, "Bridge, come on." He looked so funny with his face all scrunched up, so I started laughing.

"Jesus, how many drinks did you have?" He asked as he pulled me inside the house. It was very hot in comparison to outside. The porch was very cold. I never cared for cold.

I turned to him. I forgot the question, so I asked, "What?"

He shook his head, "Never mind. Come on, lets go upstairs."

"Okay," I said with a smile. I looked at our entwined fingers and he pulled me upstairs. I liked the feeling of his hand. It was rough and warm. It was a good hand to hold.

He opened a bedroom door, knocking first. He was probably worried that someone was doing it. I wondered if maybe we were gonna do it.

He sat me down on the bed and stood in front of me. He frowned, "Why did you do this?"

I was very confused by this question, "Do what? I didn't do anything."

"Bridgette, you're drunk off your ass," He chided. I frowned, sticking out my bottom lip. I didn't want Geoff to be mad at me. He was so pretty and pretty people should be happy.

His cheeks got all red and he started coughing, "Uh, thanks, I guess."

I looked up at him, "Did I say that out loud?"

He swallowed hard and nodded, "Yeah, but it's fine. You don't know what you're saying."

"Okay," I said with a smile. Suddenly a fantastic idea popped into my mind. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him down and kissed him. I wrapped my other arm around his neck, kissing him with as much passion as I could muster. He kissed me back, bringing one of his palms to the side of my cheek.

He let out a soft noise as our kiss deepened, sparking fire into my veins. I knocked off his hat as I ran my hands through his hair, which felt so freaking silky. His smell wrapped around me, making me feel all hot and gooey on the inside. His free arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, which made me briefly gasp in surprise before colliding my lips with his once more.

Man, this kiss was good—all raw and hot. No wonder I slept with him. That was really good too. That was like the best I ever had.

From that memory alone, I started unbuttoning his shirt. And once those top two buttons were undone, he sprang away, completely out of my reach.

He lifted the back of his hand to his mouth, his pretty eyes filled with surprise. He dropped his hands, "Bridge, woah. We can't do that. Not again."

I frowned, "Why not? Did you not like it?" I'd be really sad if he didn't because I did.

He shook his head, "It's not that. It's that you're drunk, and you hate me when you're sober. And I'm going to have to tell you all of this when you're no longer in this state. So, it's best that we leave it at just a kiss."

"I hate Sober Bridgette. She's such a fun sponge," I grumbled as I crossed my arms.

Geoff laughed, "That's a shame because I really like Sober Bridgette. More than I should." He muttered that last part to himself, but I still heard it.

"You should tell her!" I exclaimed. "Girls love to hear when guys like them."

He laughed, louder this time. He smiled at me but his pretty eyes seemed sad, "I can't, unfortunately."

I pouted, "Why not?"

"Because she just agreed to be my friend, and I'd rather have her as a friend than not have her at all," He said to me with a sad smile.

I yawned and laid back on the bed, "Well, that sucks."

He laughed, "Yes, it does." I felt the weight of the bed shift as he sat down near the head of the bed, away from me. "Go to sleep, Bridge. I'll stay here."

I yawned again, "Okie dokie." I felt my eyelids grow heavy, but I wanted to say one last thing, "I hope Sober Bridgette remembers this conversation."

I closed my eyes, feeling sleep pull at me. But just before I went under, I heard Geoff whisper, "I hope she doesn't."