Resolution

83. West Coast

"Down on the west coast, they got a sayin', 'if you're not drinking, then you're not playing.'"

Song: West Coast

Artist: Lana Del Rey

Music throbbed through the small apartment as Maggie and I busied ourselves in the kitchen, attempting to make drinks out of the meager supplies we had present in our apartment.  We’d managed to find a few beers for the boys and were currently adding an alarming amount of alcohol to a mixture of juice, soda, and, most frighteningly, water from the sink.  We didn’t seem to have any full bottles of alcohol, so the liquor being added to our already scary mix was little bits of whatever we had: vodka, rum, and whiskey. 

“You go first,” I said with a grin, staring at the dark liquid in Maggie’s cup.  She frowned deeply before raising the glass to her nose to sniff it bravely.

“I don’t wanna,” she whined.  She appeared very uncertain about the liquid she was about to drink.  Rightfully so, I thought.

“Fine, same time,” I said, laughing.  She nodded before agreeing.

“Deal.  One, two, three!”

We raised our glasses to our lips, wincing already before we even tasted their contents.  I was surprised when I managed to swallow the ‘drink’ without much effort.  There were so many things poured into it that it was hard to pick out any one flavor.  Maggie looked surprised as she swallowed hers, her eyes widening happily.

“It’s not terrible,” she said, shrugging and taking another drink.

“It’s not good, either,” I laughed. 

“Guys, enjoy your beers while they last because soon you’ll have to resort to this,” Maggie said, raising her glass to Jay and Harry in the living room.  Jay wrinkled up his nose in distaste.

“I’d rather drink it straight,” he called.  He glanced at Harry in amusement before muttering quietly. “Don’t trust you women…”

“I’m sorry, what?” Maggie called loudly, making it clear she’d heard him.  She smirked at him while he grinned at her innocently.  I smiled at their exchange, still shocked but thrilled at the discovery that they were getting along nicely.  I didn’t know if there was more to them than just hooking up, but it was pretty obvious to me that they at least enjoyed each others’ company. 

We exited the kitchen, leaving our supplies out on the counter for the rounds of drinks that would surely come later.  Maggie settled on the couch next to Jay, sitting closer to him than before but not actually touching him.  Harry watched me draw nearer, reaching his hand out to snake around my thigh when I got close enough and pull me into his lap again.  He kissed my shoulder lightly before I settled back against his chest happily. 

“I’m so glad we’re staying in tonight,” I said.  I didn’t feel much like braving the raucous crowd tonight and was looking forward to letting loose with our small group.  Maggie and I used to spend random evenings drinking cheap wine and just hanging out.  It felt like years since we’d done that.  Tonight was much like that, only with the added bonus of having Harry with me. 

“I feel like an old man,” Jay complained.  “If you guys make me play some kind of board game I’m out of here.”

I grinned as I was reminded of the night Harry and I had just spent with his family, drinking and playing games just as Jay had mentioned.  I took a sip of my strange drink as I felt Harry’s hand land beside my thigh, the tips of his fingers tracing lazily back and forth across my leg.