Forever Light(20)

“I’m envious.” I pout.

She puts her hands on her hips and cocks an eyebrow. “Stop that. You have no reason to be envious. I’d kill for your ass.”

I laugh and turn back to the mirror and finish applying my makeup. Heather picks up the curling iron and starts helping me curl the ends of my hair. I’m not getting fancy for the party because I doubt I’ll even stay that long once Landon arrives. We’ve barely spoken since I high-fived Cash in the hallway a few days ago. I decided to go for casual, it’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone. I can’t handle having to please anyone else. I wear my favorite pair of worn jeans that have a fancy design on the pockets with a tight flannel shirt…so tight I have to leave the first few buttons undone in order to give my boobs room and I decide to wear my dark brown knee high boots that match my shirt.

When Heather and I are ready we head over to Austin’s house where the party is being held. Austin’s a tight end on the team. It’s a little bit of a walk but since we’ll both be drinking there is no way we were driving. The walk is good for me anyway. It’ll give me a chance to clear my head a bit. Preps me for what I know will be a battle.

We get about halfway there and Heather senses my uneasiness. “So, the boys won today?”

“Yup.”

Heather kicks a rock down the sidewalk. “Who’d they play?”

“California Golden Bears.”

I’m being short. I don’t mean to but I really don’t want to talk about the game. The game I should have went to but figured it was better I didn’t since I knew Landon wouldn’t want me there.

“The score?”

“Sixteen to fifty-five.” I look over to Heather and lift an eyebrow. “Where are you going with this?”

She looks up to the sky still walking along, “Why didn’t you just go to the game? You never miss one.”

I shrug.

“Macy,” Heather says in a warning tone.

I sigh, “Because Landon and I aren’t exactly speaking.”

Heather eyes me waiting for me to continue. I shrug, “Cash high-fived me in the hallway when I was with Landon.”

She starts laughing, she laughs so hard she bends over. “Are you fucking kidding me? What? Are we in grade school?”

I smile, “I thought the same thing.”

Heather links her arm with mine, “Girl, what are we going to do with you? You can’t live with him and you can’t live without him.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”





People are spilling out onto the porch of Austin’s house when it comes into view. We could hear the bass and people yelling and laughing from a few blocks over. We’re walking past Austin’s neighbor’s house when Heather nudges me. Some guy is pissing on a tree for the whole world to see. Two girls barely dressed are lying on the front lawn with Solo cups littered all around them.

Heather grips my arm a little tighter knowing I’m about to bolt. “Don’t. Break out of that damn shell of yours and keep your head held high. You didn’t do a damn thing.” I relax, just a little bit. “If you don’t show, Landon wins. Is that what you want?”

“Are we playing football now?”

She stops walking and causes me to stumble a bit. “Macy…”

I roll my eyes, “No, I don’t want him to win.” He always wins though.

She smiles, “Good now put a smile on that pretty face of yours and swing those hips when we walk in that door.”

I glare at her.

She smirks, “I bet you ten bucks Landon talks to you within twenty minutes if you do what I say.”

I raise my eyebrows, “You’re serious.”

She drops the smile and steels her face, “Do I look serious?”

I laugh, “My mother makes that face.”

A shock of horrible flashes on Heather’s face, “Better your mother then grandmother.”

We both start laughing and push through the crowd on the porch. It’s wall-to-wall people. Some are dancing, some are huddled in corners, a few are playing beer pong and the rest are standing around talking. Heather and I make a bee line to the kitchen needing a beer to make it through this damn party.

A hand on my hip causes me to falter. I quickly turn around about ready to lay into the loser for touching me when Cash winks at me and has his hands up in surrender. “Just me, Mace.”

My shoulders sag in relief.

I lean over and place a kiss on Cash’s cheek. “Congrats on wining today.”

Cash smiles, “Thanks, I didn’t see you at the game though.”

I’m a little shocked that he even noticed that I wasn’t there. I didn’t think I mattered that much to him or anyone for that matter. “Oh you know, just staying clear.”