Lessons of the Heart Read Free Page B

concoction, and hands me one.
    “Drink and have fun. It’s our birthday party. Cheers,” she says, clinking her cup to mine.
    I take a sip and lean against the center island. “One drink. Remember I’m driving so I can’t get drunk.”
    “We’ve got Liam to drive us if it gets out of hand. I’m sure he’d be willing to bring us back to pick up your car tomorrow morning.”
    I take a sip and contemplate my actions. According to Liam, he paved the way for me to be slightly crazy without Mom and Dad going overboard. And it helps that they trust me and my judgment.
    I’ve never actually been drunk before. But this punch tastes like Cherry Kool-Aid, and that’s bad.
    I whip out my phone and text Liam.
    DRINKING THE KOOL-AID. NEED A RIDE.
    NO PROB. BE THERE AT 12:45. U OWE ME.
    I let Penny know about Liam.
    “WOO!” she says, way too loudly. “All right! Time to party!”
    She refills our cups before dragging us back to our little group of friends, huddled over on the couch. Justice and Chase have now joined them and I silently groan to myself. Not Chase. Can I avoid one person all night or would that be rude?
    “Happy birthday, Britta,” Chase says, slinging his arm over my shoulder. I wince as his beer breath falls on my cheek.
    “Thanks.” I try to wiggle out of his hold, but he doesn’t take the hint and moves closer to me. I bump into Justice.
    “Happy birthday, Britta,” she says, taking a sip from her cup.
    “Thanks.”
    “Anything special planned tonight?”
    I shake my head. “Nope.”
    “Other than I’m getting her plastered,” Penny chimes in from the couch.
    “Yes, apparently turning eighteen is the magical age to get trashed.” I pause. “Oh wait, that’s twenty-one.”
    “So who do you think Mr. Ward slept with? My money is still on Krista Baker,” Penny says, finishing off her drink.
    “Not Krista. She’s too smart for that,” Cami slurs.
    “Besides, isn’t she screwing Wes?” Dez asks.
    “That’s what I heard, but you never know. Maybe she was failing her class and needed the extra credit,” Penny says.
    “Like anyone would have sex with Mr. Ward,” Lyle says, chugging his beer.
    “He wasn’t sleeping with anyone at school,” I say. Everyone’s heads turn toward me as if I’ve sprouted another one.
    “How do you know?” Drake asks.
    “I overheard a couple of the teachers talking while I was working on Mrs. Davis’s papers. They said that he was sleeping with Mr. Leonard’s wife, Melissa.”
    A collective gasp sounds and then everyone scrunches their faces together.
    “Dude, that’s messed up,” Chase says.
    “The principal’s wife? Holy ballsy. He really must not have wanted his job,” Dez mutters.
    “Or he was really in love with her,” Cami says.
    I shrug my shoulders and finish off my cup. “Either way, it wasn’t a student.”
    “Could you imagine what would happen if a teacher slept with a student? I mean, none of the teachers in the school are that good looking,” Penny says.
    “There’s a few though that could be worth it. Mr. Sanchez isn’t bad. He’s got that Latino thing going for him,” Dez says with a smile.
    “What about Mr. Johnston? He could be hot,” Justice adds.
    “Yeah, if you add more hair and take off ten years,” Penny says back.
    “All you girls have it wrong. The teacher to sleep with is Ms. Alpine. She’s fucking gorgeous,” Lyle says.
    The other two guys nod their heads in agreement.
    “The only reason you say that is because she’s got huge boobs,” I respond.
    “And? Is there any other reason to have sex with a girl?” Drake wiggles his brows suggestively.
    We all laugh and I look down at my empty cup.
    “I need more alcohol for this conversation. I’ll be back.”
    As I walk away, Chase catches up. “What are you doing?” I say.
    “I just want to spend time with you.”
    Chase could be considered sweet if someone was attracted to him. He’s good looking enough, with that classic All-American high