On my way off the dance floor, I passed the DJ station that was raised halfway up to the ceiling and saw a couple groping each other in the corner. Get a room! I was a little grossed out, but their obvious affection for one another made me think of Ryan. Should I call him? He did offer up his driving services tonight. I joined the line for the bathroom and pondered my options. I was just about ready to go home. I knew we could always take a taxi and Anna said that Ethan was available to pick us up, too, but how lame was it to have the groom pick up his bride (and her sister) from her own bachelorette party? No, we couldn’t ask Ethan to do it. I looked at my cell to see what time it was. It was almost one in the morning. Ryan was probably sleeping by now anyway.
But I did look pretty hot in my little black dress and sexy heels. Maybe I could text him to see if he was still awake. If he didn’t answer, I would call us a taxi.
Me: Hi – r u there?
It was my turn to go pee. Oh, he texted me back so quickly!
Ryan: Hey Julia, are u ok?
Me: Yes
I started to type and ask him why he was still up but then my phone rang.
“Hello?” I answered.
It was a concerned-sounding Ryan. “Julia, are you okay? Do you need a ride home?”
“Um … yes!” I yelled through the phone, trying to shout over the loud dance music.
“Where are you? I can pick you up.”
“Well, let me talk to Anna first. She’s picking up some college guy,” I said the words, but they didn’t come out as clearly as I had heard them in my brain. I clearly drank more than I thought. “Can I call you right back? I’m peeing right now.”
Oh God, did I just tell him I was peeing? My face burned with mortification. So embarrassing! When I drink too much, I never have any issues with memory loss. Even if I pass out, I still remember everything I did the night before. My problem, however, was that I had absolutely no filter when I was drunk. It’s like that part of my brain just temporarily dissolves and shuts down. I pretty much say whatever’s on my mind and do whatever I feel like doing. Sometimes I wished I could forget things the next morning, because there were some pretty cringe-worthy events in the past that I really would’ve rather not remembered.
“Julia, where are you?” He didn’t seem fazed by my pee comment.
“At Trinity, it’s on Yesler Street,” I slurred. The word Yesler came out more like Yethler.
“Okay, listen, you sound … a little out of it. Why don’t I just pick you up in thirty minutes, okay?”
How sweet of him. I think he sounded worried.
“Can you take Anna home, too? She lives in Magnolia.”
“Yeah, of course. Anyone else?”
“Um, maybe.”
“Just wait outside the entrance. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay,” I said meekly. “See you in a little bit.” Ooh … I really was feeling dizzy. I leaned my forehead against the bathroom door for a minute before flushing the toilet.
I walked back to the dance floor to gather the troops. When I spotted Anna, she was still dirty dancing with one of the cute college boys and he was nuzzling her neck. She tilted her head back, laughing. Oh, it was so past time for us to go. Thirty minutes later, we all headed outside. Bridget and Allison both lived in the same north Seattle neighborhood, so they shared a taxi home. I was glad to see them leave before we saw Ryan. I was worried that Ryan might feel a little uncomfortable with an MS HR representative watching him take me home. Sarah lived in Belltown only a mile up First, so she was coming with us.
We’d only been outside a few minutes when his black Range Rover pulled up. “Julia!” he shouted, lowering the passenger side window and pointing up ahead to the load and unload section of the curb. We walked over to his car as he pulled it over. He hopped out of the car and sauntered on over to us. Anna was barely standing, leaning on Sarah’s arm.
Ryan looked like he’d just woken up. His hair was a little messy and his face revealed some stubble. My eyes drank him in, though. It had been five days since I’d last seen him. He was wearing jeans, flip flops, and a navy blue pocket t-shirt. He was also wearing eyeglasses. They were those retro, black-framed ones you would see on Mad Men; probably Gucci or something. He looked quite sexy in them. I always had a thing for men who wore glasses. I momentarily envisioned removing his glasses and kissing him.
When he reached us, I threw my arms around him. “Ryan, my hero! Thank you for coming to get us.” I made a concerted effort to speak clearly and not slur my words. I needed to remain dignified. He chuckled and his dimples were just so cute. I wanted to kiss him right on the sidewalk.