**********
“I think we are in need of a night out,” Callie commented as we walked inside after another day of just laying out under the sun. Nash had stopped by for a little bit to swim, bringing Madison out who insisted on seeing me. She looked so cute in her tiny bikini, and the way Nash was instructing her on how to swim and playing silly little games in the water was so sweet. By the time he left to take her in for a nap, I think all three of us were in love with Nash.
“That actually sounds perfect, Cal. I wanted to get together with this guy I met the other day, Reed. Totally hot, fun, and smart as hell. He asked me out on a date, but I told him he would have to wait for a bit. Do you mind if I bring him along?”
“Not at all, just gives me an excuse to meet up with Drew. Do you think Nash will want to come, Della?”
“Um, I guess I could ask him and see.”
By the time we grabbed something to eat, showered, and got ready, all three of the guys had agreed to go. Nash insisted on picking me up, so Callie and Zoey were going to ride together to pick up Drew and Zoey’s flavor of the week.
“Damn, Della. I wish I could tan like that,” Zoey sighed, coming up from behind me to look at my reflection in the mirror. I had thrown my hair up, which had practically turned pretty blonde from all of the sun I had been getting lately and then chose a strapless white sundress that deepened my tan.
“Oh, please, I would kill for that skin of yours, even though it seems like a pain in the ass with all of that sunscreen you use. Have you ever considered buying stock?” Zoey rolled her eyes as she slid on a pair of wedge sandals and tossed a set of keys to Callie.
“Mind being the DD tonight? If all goes right, maybe I’ll end up going home with Reed.” She wiggled her eyebrows as we headed down the stairs, and I looked out the front window when I heard the crunch of gravel and saw Nash jump out of his truck.
He looked handsome in a white polo paired with cargo shorts, his hair smoothed down that had grown out a little since school had ended. I opened the door just as he was about to knock and he grinned, looking me up and down. “You look amazing, Della. Are you all set to go?”
“Yeah, I think so. Cal, are you two about ready to head out?”I called out from the doorway.
“Just about, we’ll make sure to lock the door behind ourselves, see you in a bit.”
Nash helped me into the truck, and we headed towards campus. We had decided on going to the pub, even though it wasn’t my favorite place in the world. Way too many memories, but tonight, I was going to put a lid on those.
We waved at Serena who was getting out of her car just as we were leaving. She looked worn out from a long day at work, and I knew she would still have to deal with a four-year-old when she got home. It had to be rough.
“Does Serena have much help besides you and your mom? Is Madison’s dad in the picture at all?” I asked as Nash merged onto the highway.
“Nope, just us really and a few friends. That asshole took off as soon as he found out Serena was pregnant, and she hasn’t heard from him since. She hasn’t gotten a dime in child support. I know they were young when it happened, but that doesn’t matter, he should have stepped up.”
“That’s too bad, it seems like Serena’s really trying though. Hopefully, she’ll be able to be on her own two feet someday.”
We pulled into the bar, and I quickly scanned the parking lot, letting out a deep sigh as I opened the door car door once I saw that Justin’s car was nowhere in sight. Nash grabbed my hand as we walked through the parking lot and inside the bar. I found a table big enough for all of us as he headed towards the bar to get us drinks.
I waved Zoey and Callie over when they walked in with their dates and took a sip of the drink that Nash handed me. “What the hell is in that?” I managed to get out, my lips puckering at the sour taste.
“A little bit of this, a little bit of that,” he vaguely answered while pouring beers for the other two guys.
“I have a feeling you’re trying to get my drunk tonight.”
“Well, it’s normally not too hard,” Zoey piped in before grabbing onto mine and Callie’s hands. “Let’s go dance before we get too wasted.”
The three of us danced through a few songs together before Drew and Reed joined us on the dance floor. I knew Nash wasn’t much of a dancer, so I wasn’t too surprised when I looked back at the table to find him watching me with a smile. “Haven’t had enough to drink yet?” I asked as I tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear and took a sip of the new drink that was set in my spot.