Champagne Problems

part 2

December 31, 2020
9:37 pm
———

We were the first ones to show up at the party. We helped Stephen set up the food and drinks. The rest of our friends arrived about a half-hour after we did.

Around 9:40, there was a knock on the door. Juliet and Meredith arrived. I went to the front door to greet them.

"Hey, Becky!" Meredith shouted. "Lemme see your hand!" After hugging me, she grabbed my left hand.

"Um, what are you doing?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Just looking at your manicure. I told her about how pretty the color you got was," Jules said. She turned to Meredith and said something quietly with a scowl.

"Um, okay." Everyone has been acting so weird lately.

I must be going crazy. Well, even crazier.

Jules and Mere whispered their way into the kitchen. I followed like a lost puppy. In the kitchen, we reunited with Drew, James, Stephen, and Ivy.

I automatically headed over to where Drew was sitting. I sank down into the barstool next to him. He instantly grabbed my hand.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hey. Why's everyone acting so weird today?"

His face scrunched up in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I just had a feeling. I must be reading into it." He exchanged a look with James.

Did he look worried? Or panicked? I don't know. Either way, all of the weirdness was making me anxious and unsettled. Why does it feel like everyone knows something that I don't?

"Let's turn some music on!" Jules said. She scurried over to the speaker and connected her phone.

Stephen passed out wine glasses and filled everyone's up with cheap rosé.

"Where's the Dom Perignon Drew brought?" I asked. Why would we drink cheap alcohol when we have a bottle of the good stuff?

"It's for later." Is all I'm told. Everyone exchanged a smile.

I took a swig of my drink, once again feeling left out of some joke.

"Well, it's nice to get together with everyone," I commented. "Feels like we've all been so busy with our jobs lately."

"Yeah. I miss our college days already," Ivy said wistfully.

"Our dorm was such a madhouse," James said.

"It was made for me," I joked.

Jules shot me a disapproving look. She has never liked it when I flippantly talk about my mental health. What can I say? It's a coping mechanism. At least I'm not denying my problems.

"Well, I thought we could relive our college days by doing a Power Hour," Stephen suggested, setting seven shot glasses and a few beers on the counter.

"I'm in." Drew is surprisingly quick to respond. He's not one to drink much.

"I'm in, I guess," I shrugged.

"Why not?" Ivy said.

There were nods of agreement all around the table. We all grabbed a glass and got started.

— — —

We gave up on the Power Hour about fifteen minutes in. We ran out of beer and it was too hard to keep track of the times. I guess it's just another one of those things my friends have outgrown in the past few months since graduation.

The girls and I mingled in the living room as the boys talked about football or something sports-related.

I wasn't truly focused on our conversation, though. I loved spending time with my friends, but I felt like we were in different places in life.

Hell, I started feeling that way with Drew months ago.

They're all ready to grow up and be responsible, but I'm not. Ever since we graduated, Drew has dropped hints about taking the next step in our relationship. I don't know if I even want to move in with him. I like having my own space. Where would I go to be alone if I moved in with him?

I was snapped out of my thoughts when Jules elbowed my side. "Becky, what do you think?"

"Hm?" I took a sip of my drink. "I think it's a great idea." I smiled, hoping that I didn't say something to reveal I wasn't paying attention.

I tuned into the conversation for a few more minutes before zoning out again. I glanced across the room to look at Drew. He was sitting on the couch next to James, bouncing his knee and nervously tapping his upper thigh.

What has gotten into him today?

I politely excused myself and went to take a seat next to Drew.

"What's wrong?" I whispered in his ear.

"Nothing," he flashed me a bright smile. "Just some wine jitters."

I snuggled into his side and listened to the guys talk.

— — —