“I don’t date,” Joey said before I could backtrack and brought his beer bottle to his lips.
“That’s right. Thank the baby Jesus.” I gave a theatrical shudder. “I’m just speculating. But at least now you know how much I can fit in my mouth.”
Joey choked, spewing beer all over his plate.
“Ugh,” I complained. “Now you’ve ruined your fries. I was going to eat those.”
Grinning, I handed him a wad of napkins.
“Hey, Joseph,” Colt called from the other end of the table. “Come down here, dude.”
“Excuse me,” said Joey, still shaking his head and got up.
Lizzie took his place. “Okay, watching you guys is as addicting as crack. Seriously.”
“He’s addicting,” I admitted to her. “I’m in so much fucking trouble.”
“Relax,” she said. “It’s just a chemical reaction in your brain. Don’t you remember studying dopamine in chemistry?”
I stared at her blankly.
“You know,” she said.
I really didn’t. I remembered enough to pass the final.
“Remember dopamine is the pleasure chemical in the brain. It responds to unpredictability, small pieces of information, and reward cues.”
When I still had no response, she went on. “It’s why we get addicted to things that are not good for us. To things that are unpredictable or hard to pin down. And when we pin them down for a moment, we get a reward, and so we seek more and more and more. Yes, you’re addicted. But it’s just because of dopamine. If you know that, then you can keep it in perspective.” She shrugged.
“You are such a nerd,” I said finally.
“Yep, but you love me.”
“Yes, I do.” I laughed.
But as I looked down the table at Joey, I wasn’t sure it was just a chemical reaction.
Keri Ann clapped her hands. “Guys,” she called. “I think it’s time for her present.”
“What did you do?” I asked her warningly.
“Just wait.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement and she bit her lip.
Cooper walked around the table and handed me an envelope. It looked like it was a birthday card, but there was something inside it. I took it and looked nervously around at everyone because they were all grinning like lunatics.
Even Woody and Harry had walked over.
I opened the envelope and pulled out the card. Opening it, a key fell out. A car key. I held it up. “What on earth?”
“The VW Bug,” said Cooper. “It’s yours.”
I gasped. “What?”
“Yep, so remember I told you the guy didn’t want to pay for the new transmission? Well, he ended up signing the car over to the shop. Well, we all clubbed together and paid for the cost of the transmission as payment to buy it back from the shop. And so, we bought you a car.” He shrugged. “It’s parked in the front lot.”
“She’s speechless,” said Woody and guffawed. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Are you serious?” I whispered.
“Yeah. We all signed the card. Anyway, it could be a lemon. But I promise I’ll work on it if it ever needs fixing.”
I grabbed Cooper and squeezed him hard. “Thank you,” I said. I was tearing up again. Jeez. I spent the next little while moving around the table to each person, hugging and thanking them, including Woody and Harry who had both contributed. Reading the card, I learned I’d also be thanking my mom, Nana, Mrs. Weaton her neighbor, and even Paulie from The Snapper Grill.
I’D HAD WINE earlier, so I had to wait a few hours for it to wear off. But before everyone started for home, we all moved to the parking lot for our good-byes, and I got behind the wheel of the VW Bug. Keri Ann jumped into the passenger seat.
“When was the last time you drove?” she asked nervously.
“Ha,” I responded. “That’s my worry too. Not much since our learners. Mom always has her car and it’s been easier to bike.”
“I know,” she said. “I’d feel the same. And now you have an audience. Eek.”
My own car. I couldn’t believe it. I started it up, moving immediately into first gear. Luckily, I’d learned how to drive in a stick shift car. I rolled forward and turned out of the parking space, and everyone cheered and clapped.
“So far, so good,” I muttered and eased into second, making it without lurching the car.
“Cool. Just stay in second and bring this baby home. I’ll come over tomorrow so you can practice.”
I did just that, turning at the end of the row and driving slowly back to where we started. “Thank you so much for organizing this, K. Tonight could have—”
“Really sucked. I know.”
“Yeah,” I said. I thought briefly of telling her about the letter, but it was late and I might get emotional again. “Thank you for being the best friend a girl could have,” I said instead as we pulled into the parking space and I shut off the engine. “And for having a hot brother who’s been doing a fine job of keeping me distracted.”
Keri Ann gagged loudly.
I chuckled.
“But, be careful, okay?” she said in a serious tone.
“I will. I have my eyes open.”
“Good,” she said and we got out to say good-bye to everyone.