Baby (Laundromat Chonicles Book 3) Read Free

We go to parties like all kids our age but since neither one of us have ever drank alcohol, we don’t need an excuse for her not to drink. It’s an easy choice for me not to drink. If watching my dad puking his guts up after a binge or laying around all day with a hangover headache wasn’t enough to convince me that the stuff is rotten, then the violent shift his attitude gets when he’s really drunk is enough to convince me. My father doesn’t hit when he’s sober.
    I asked Lena not long ago at a rather large and rowdy party why she wasn’t drinking. She’d never, that I’ve seen, so much as put alcohol to her lips. Watching all the girls her age get drunk and rib her for not drinking sparked my curiosity. I didn’t want her missing out on what was considered a rite of passage for teenagers because I couldn’t bring myself to participate.
    “Babe, you can have a drink if you want. I’m here to watch you.” I gave her a sly wink, not wanting my girlfriend to miss out on something she wanted to do or try for my sake. She shook her head no then went back to sipping her iced tea, her favorite drink.
    “Why?” I had to yell the question. Between the blaring music and people talking over one another, it was nearly impossible to hear yourself think, let alone talk. She grabbed my hand, pulling me behind her into the backyard where it was remarkably quieter. A few stragglers migrated out there including a girl vomiting in the bushes, but at least we could hear each other talk.
    “You want to get me drunk?” The words flew out of her mouth, accusations heavy.
    “What? No!” I defended quickly.
    “Don’t lie to me, Hap! Why are you telling me to drink? You think I’ll get drunk and you can have sex with me?” Her eyes were lit with anger.
    “You’re kidding right? I don’t have to get you drunk to have sex, Lena.” I reminded her, my own anger matching hers. How could she accuse me, of all people, of wanting to take advantage of her when she’s drunk. Not only am I not that kind of guy, I don’t have to get her drunk to sleep with her. We already do that without the aid of alcohol.
    “Then why the hell are you asking me to drink?” Her arms cross over her chest protectively.
    “I wasn’t asking you to drink. I was asking if you wanted a drink. Big difference.”
    “How so?”
    “Seriously?” Her eyebrow shot up at me, demanding my reply. She’s so damn cute when she’s pissed. Frustrated, I ran my hands through my hair and took a step back to gather my thoughts. To say girls are confusing is the understatement of the fucking world. On a sigh I began slowly, trying not to let irritation take over. “I asked you if you wanted to drink because I know all of your friends do. I wasn’t sure if it’s something you want to try but haven’t. Since I don’t drink, I didn’t want to think you’re not doing it because of me.” Her face softened slightly. Her soft hand covered mine.
    “Hap, I don’t drink because I don’t want to drink. I’ve seen enough of my friends getting wasted to know I don’t want to act like that. But in all honesty, yes part of it is because of you. If I wasn’t with you, I might be like my friends and get drunk and hook up then do it all over again. I wouldn’t know any better. Because of you, I feel loved and comfortable and confident. I don’t need alcohol to have fun. I just need you.” She smiled at me, her face so genuine. I reached out to her, my thumb gently rubbing her cheek.
    “I love you.”
    “I love you too, now let’s go make fun of our drunk friends and make sure they get home safe.”
    Today’s Lena’s eighteenth birthday and we’re out to lunch with her mother. The conversation is light, nothing of real importance is being said. It’s nice. No pressure. No questions about college. No questions about what I plan to do after high school. What Lena plans to do. Instead time is filled with conversation about movies and the latest celebrity gossip.