Never Always Sometimes by Alsaid Adi

Author:Alsaid, Adi [Alsaid, Adi]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781460379370
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-08-10T18:00:00+00:00

AGAINST THE CURRENT

WHEN THE PARTY had mostly cleared out—excepting the few people passed out on couches or in the pillow fort at the foot of the stairs, plus a couple making out in the yard—Dave and Julia started going about the task of making the house somewhat presentable before the dads returned from Napa in the morning.

“I’d say that was a success,” Julia said, grabbing cans and tossing them into a garbage bag. Dave was searching the house for cups that people had tossed aside, the taste of Gretchen’s kiss still on his lips, a warmth inside him that loomed much larger than the buzzed, in-love-with-the-world feeling from the Kapoor party. That had been a flame, and this was a fire.

“Yeah, pretty great turnout. Maybe we’ve been wrong all this time about what makes someone a good beer host. I thought being from Bangladesh and having hundreds of siblings was a requirement, but it turns out you have what it takes, too.”

“I think the only real requirement is vast quantities of alcohol and a house to put it all in. And the attendance of a man on the cusp of celebrity such as yourself to lure in the masses, of course.” Julia kicked at the charred remains of the bonfire, then used a log that hadn’t been burned to scoop some of the cans into her bag. “The dads are going to empty my college fund when they see this. Good thing they already emptied it out for their restaurant venture! Student loans here I come.”

When Dave didn’t say anything—he was still recalling how he’d kissed Gretchen good night at the front door before she left, the smile on her face—Julia said, “Just kidding, I’m a little drunk. I’m sure they were always planning on making me get student loans.”

Dave took their garbage bags to the curb, then came back and grabbed new ones from beneath the sink. Julia was already in the kitchen, examining the remains of the chips and dips. “Gnarly, someone ate all of the butter.” She brought the bowls to the sink and dropped them in with a clatter. Whoever it was that had fallen asleep on the couch moaned in complaint at the sound. “Never mind, it’s all right here on the carpet.”

Dave rustled his fresh garbage bag to get it to open up. He slid in some crumbs and a couple of cups from the kitchen table, then took a seat on one of the chairs, staring off into the distance. “Hey, did you notice that Gretchen was here?”

“Yeah,” Julia said, picking with a fingernail at something on the kitchen counter. “I saw you two being chummy. You running for student council, too? Prom queen? Mayor? You’re running for mayor? I’ve created an ambitious, power-hungry monster. Forgive me, world!” She giggled, then walked toward the living room. “Well, shit. Maybe the beers on the ceiling fan were not a good idea.”

Dave followed her gaze to a beer can that had lodged itself in the drywall.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.