Chapter EIGHT

It was at least an hour later when my dad pulled me over to dance with him, for a slow song. It was I Swear by All 4 One, and as my dad swayed slowly, my hands at his shoulders, he grinned. He was drinking, but not fully drunk. I'd never seen him drunk. It was so obviously now that I was not his little girl anymore. We were both adults.

"How's your night going?" he asked, but didn't wait for me to answer. "I see you and Mateo have been -"

"We were just talking," I said quickly.

And we had been talking, for the past hour. We talked about our parents. We talked about college. He went to Penn State and would leaving again in a couple weeks. I told him I was starting at Minnesota State in September. I figured out quickly that I liked talking to Mateo. A lot.

"Okay," my dad smiled at me again. "But seriously, Elena, thank you for being here."

"Of course I'm here, Dad," I replied quickly.

We danced until the song ended, and he added, before walking off to find Jenna, "I don't mind if you drink. Just get take a cab back to my house."

I nodded, and watched him go. Jenna was kissing him a moment later. I didn't talk to my dad much for the rest of the night, but that was okay. He was busy dancing and partying with his new wife and his friends. I watched from the sidelines, then even considered leaving early. I was not drinking.

"Hey..."

I heard someone half shouting at me, while I was somewhat spaced out.

I turned and saw Thatcher, a few feet from me. He had a serious look on his face and and it softened slightly as I looked at him. I didn't say anything.

"Hi, um, I'm leaving. I just wanted to -" he went on, but I wasn't paying attention.

I was looking around, trying to see if anyone was watching our interaction. I saw Mateo, on the dance floor with his cousins. I didn't see his girlfriend anywhere.

"What?" I asked Thatcher, looking back at him.

"I'm just... I'm sorry. I'm not like that... and it was -"

"It's fine. Mateo told me you have a girlfriend and you would never speak of it... which is what I was hoping for," I interrupted him. 

"Yeah... I still wanted to apologize though," he went on.

"No need. It was a mistake, for both of us," I told him. "Yeah?"

Thatcher nodded, and I really thought it was going to leave. I'd never see him again, and that was fine by me. But he turned back.

"He likes you."

My mind went blank. "What?"

"Mateo. He didn't tell me, but I can tell by how he reacted about... last night," Thatcher said, which totally surprised me.

"No." I shook my head.

"I've been seeing how he's looking at you tonight. I know Mateo."

"Well, still no. Our parents are married," I said out loud, to remind myself as well.

Thatcher shrugged. "Fine. But it's not like you're related. You two just met."

"Aren't you leaving?" I asked him, then forced a smile.

He grinned. "Yes. It was nice to meet you, Elena."

I nodded. "Yeah, you too."

So, that was when I started drinking. I'd gotten my dad's approval, at least. First, I had a glass of white wine. I stood near the head table, alone, sipping it. Then I had two rum and cokes. I was stumbling a bit as I went back for another glass of wine. The music was loud and I had no one to talk to, so I went out the side door of the building after I downed my last drink.

It only took a few stumbling minutes to get to the water. I sat in the sand, my toes in the calm, warm water, taking off my shoes again. I was drunk and felt good, but as I thought back on the day, I had to close my eyes. It all hit me at once.

Mateo, in his apartment, that morning. He knew what I had done with Thatcher. I thought then that he maybe didn't know, but he did. The look on his wasn't wasn't judgement, it was jealousy. Mateo, in my dad's kitchen later that morning. He knew then, even giving me a head's up about Thatcher's girlfriend. As if I was going to suddenly throw myself at him again. No. But Mateo... he'd been looking at me all day. I thought he was just being friendly, because he knew I didn't know anyone. But was it more than that?

The water was still. The air was sticky. I don't know how long I sat there on my own, but I liked it. It wasn't my birthday anymore, but least the day had gone well.

My phone was in the wristlet I had with me, so I pulled it out.

TESS. I NEED ADVICE.

HEY, WHATS GOING ON? HOW IS THE WEDDING? She answered after only a few minutes.

GOOD. IT WAS GREAT. BUT THERES THIS GUY.

OHHH, AND?

WELL, HE'S HANDSOME AND SWEET AND APPARENTLY LIKES ME. BUT IM SORT OF DRUNK.

OMG. ONE NIGHT STAND AT YOUR DADS WEDDING? THATS BADASS, she told me.

NO, TESS. I'M NOT GOING TO SLEEP WITH HIM.

OH, THEN, WHAT? She wanted to know.

ITS JUST THAT HE'S -

I didn't get to send that last message, because I heard someone walking in the sand behind me. I tucked my phone away and looked over.

"Elena," Mateo said, his voice sounding sort of nervous.

"Hey."

"You freaked us out. No one had seen you in an hour," he told me, coming closer.

"Oh, shit, sorry."

He was standing, so I looked up at him. My head felt dizzy so I had to look away again. Drunk. I was so drunk.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, finally lowering himself to sit beside me.

"Uh. I was drinking. Like, a lot. In a short period of time, and -"

"I thought you weren't drinking tonight?" he asked, keeping a bit of space between us in the sand.

I shrugged. "Thatcher apologized."

"Oh. For taking advantage of you, I hope?" I couldn't read his expression now.

I shook my head. "I guess. But I knew... I mean, he didn't... anyway, I started drinking, and the music was too loud, so I came out here."

"I'm glad I came to check here," he smiled, then kicked some sand with his shoe. "Your dad has been a bit worried."

"I didn't realize it had been that long," I admitted.

"Well, the water can do that. You want to go back in and tell your dad you're okay?"

I shook my head again. "I'll text him."

"You want to stay out here?" Mateo asked, curious.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Any specific reason?" he asked, then laughed.

"Are you drunk?" I asked him instead.

"Um, not really. A bit."

"I am," I admitted.

Mateo let out a laugh, which he stopped quickly. "You want company? Or should I go?"

"Stay," I said, without a hint of hesitation. It was the only thing I knew for sure - I wanted him to stay.