Wallbanger(66)

“Um, yeah. Yeah, I am actual y,” he answered.

“Great! Caroline, you can go with him,” Mimi decided, clapping her hands and turning to Ryan.

“Ryan, you’re next.”

“No, no, wait a minute. First of al , I can’t just go with Simon to Spain. And second of al , it’s my turn,” I protested, as Simon sat up.

“Actual y, you could ‘just go with Simon to Spain,’” he said, turning to me ful y. The other side of the hot tub got very quiet.

“Um, no, I can’t. You’re working. I can’t afford a trip like that, and besides, I don’t know that I can take time off next month.” I felt my heart swel

as I processed what he’d just said.

“Actual y, I heard Jil ian tel ing you the other day that next month would be a good time to take your vacation before the holiday season,” Mimi

piped up. She sank back into the shadows as I glared at her.

“Be that as it may, I also can’t afford it, so discussion ended. Now then, I believe it’s my turn. Let’s see, who should I pick?” I looked around at

everyone.

“It wouldn’t be that expensive. I’m renting a house, so that would be paid for. Airfare and spending money—that’s al you’d have to cover,”

Simon added, not letting this go.

“Hey, that’s a pretty good deal there, Caroline,” Mimi spouted, her energy making little ripples across the tub.

“Okay, Mimi, truth or dare?” I asked, gritting my teeth and pushing ahead with the game.

“Hey, we’re discussing something here. Don’t change the subject,” she objected.

“Wel , I’m done discussing it. Truth or dare, you little shit,” I said again, letting her know I meant business.

“Fine. Dare,” she pouted.

“Great. I dare you to kiss Neil,” I shot back, not missing a beat.

“What?” she shouted, as the entire hot tub erupted in gasps.

“Hey, we’re just playing a game, right? And Mimi, real y, it’s not that shocking that I would dare you to kiss the guy you’ve been seeing for

weeks now, is it?”

“Wel , no, I just, I don’t like public displays,” she sputtered, almost going under. This from the girl who was almost arrested for public nudity

when she was found under the bleachers at a footbal game freshman year at Berkeley.

“Oh, come on, what’s the big deal?” Simon chimed in, and I looked at him grateful y.

“Nothing, it’s just—” she said again, and Neil interrupted.

“Oh, come here, Tiny,” he exclaimed and pul ed her over. They stared at each other for a second, and then Neil swept her hair out of her face.

He smiled, and she leaned in. I heard Sophia inhale at the same time Ryan did, and we al watched as Mimi kissed Neil.

And it was weird.

They broke away, and Mimi swam back over to her side. Next to Ryan. Al was quiet for a moment. Simon and I looked at each other, not sure

what to do next. We’d been outsmarted. And I got pissed when I got outsmarted. I began to burn. The fact that I was drunk had nothing at al to do

with my overreaction.

“Okay, I guess it’s my turn. Hmmm…Ryan, truth or dare?” Neil started, and I stood up, splashing everyone around me as I did.

“No, no, no! That’s not what was supposed to happen!” I yel ed, stamping my foot, losing my balance and going under in the process. Simon’s

strong hands brought me back to the surface, and I continued my alcohol-induced tirade. Flashes of lightning, now much closer, blazed across the

sky.

“You were not supposed to let her kiss him!” I sputtered, spitting out water and pointing at Ryan and then at Mimi. I whirled on Sophia. “And

you were supposed to get mad at her!”

“Why would I get mad at Mimi? For kissing her boyfriend?” Sophia mumbled, taking a sudden interest in her fingernails.

“Argh!” I screamed and turned back to Mimi.

“Mimi, are you even remotely interested in Neil?” I chal enged, hands on my hips as I steamed into the night air.

“Neil is exactly what I’ve always wanted in a man. He is my type to a T,” she countered robotical y, flinching when Ryan looked at her with hurt in

his eyes.

“Blah, blah, blah, have you fucked Neil yet?” I screeched, pointing wildly as I tend to do when I drink.

“Okay, Caroline, you’ve made your point,” Simon soothed, trying to get me to sit back down.

“What point? What are you two talking about?” Sophia asked, leaning forward.

“Oh, please, the four of you are ridiculous! I don’t care what you al think you want on paper. In reality, you’re doing it al wrong!” I answered,