Measuring Up

“It might be a little wild there, but not bad wild. They’re cool people. You’ll have fun.”

“Cool.” I’m a

“Are you sure you wa

on the road, but mine are on him.

“No. I want to. I do. I’m just being a dork.”

“You are kind of dorky.” Tegan laughs.

“And you like me so what does that say about you?”

“That I’m lucky.” I don’t reply to that. We’re parking in front of a big house out in the boonies. I guess the guy’s aunt and uncle own it and they’re out of town.

He doesn’t turn off the engine. “Seriously, though. Do you want to do something else? We can hang out with your friend, Emily if you want. I’m up for anything. It just feels good to be doing something.”

Everything he says or does makes me like him more. He said he’s lucky? I think I’m the lucky one. Or actually, maybe both of us. “I do want to go, Tegan. I just

get nervous. I haven’t really done the whole party thing. The people at my school are jerks, so this is all just new to me. I don’t want to back out though. I want to have fun and meet your friends.”

He sighs. “You know, one of these days, you’re going to have to tell me what happened. Who hurt you, but for now, I’m stoked because I really want to have

some fun with you tonight. I haven’t gone to a party or anything in a long time.”

And he’s right, I do, but not now.

***

The house is swimming with people. Tegan and I have a hard time weaving through the crowd, but he doesn’t let go of my hand once. A few people say hi to him

as he leads us through the sea. “We’re headed downstairs!” He has to yell over the crowd and music so I can hear him. “Rick and Bo said they’d be down there

playing pool.”

Instead of trying to fight the noise, I nod my reply. Tegan presses a quick kiss to my lips and starts to walk again. Will I ever get used to that? I’m really not sure I want to lose the excitement. We find the stairs that leads us down to a game room, complete with a pool table, air hockey, big screen TV, and a wrap-around couch.

There are a couple guys playing air hockey. At a pool table, two girls and two guys are playing doubles.

They all look like Tegan. Well, not as good looking as he is, but they dress like him and you can tell they’re the type who were popular in school. The girls?

They’re all wearing skirts, tight shirts and look way, way different from me.

“Holy shit! Tegan’s here. We didn’t think your workaholic ass would actually show up!” One of the guys yells, beer in his hand. Everyone turns to look at us. I

try to smile, hoping I don’t look as nervous as I feel. Tegan’s squeeze on my hand helps.

“Whatever, douchebag. Just because some of us work and have plans doesn’t mean you need to talk crap.” They’re laughing. Tegan lets go of my hand long

enough to bump knuckles with a few of the guys and then he’s holding me again.

“Hey! I work. I just have a life too which up until tonight, you haven’t had for a while.” The guy looks at me. “Hey, you must be A

I’m not even embarrassed to admit, I’m doing a little squeal inside. It’s cool that Tegan has told these people about me and it soothes my nerves a bit. “Nice to meet you.”

Another guy comes over, wearing a baseball hat. “What’s up, Teag.”

“What’s up. This is my girlfriend, A

“Good job getting Tegan out of the house. He’s been a hermit lately,” Sandra says.

Their words surprise me. I know his mom said he focuses on work a lot and I know that’s because he helps her and is saving for school, but hermit seems pretty

heavy. “Thanks, but he’s usually the one dragging me around.” They seem nice, smiling at me as I speak. Pretty soon Bo’s dragging them all back to the table to finish the game and I’m standing against the wall with Tegan watching them.

The game ends quickly afterward. They ask us if we want to play and both Tegan and I say no, so they start a second game. “Want to share a beer with me?” he

asks. I’m not much of a beer girl so I tell him no. He comes back with one for himself and a bottle of water for me. A few people come by and talk to Tegan here and there. He introduces me each time and I’m surprised I haven’t gotten any double takes. No strange looks. Nothing.

Tegan finishes his beer and sets it on a table, leaning against the wall, he pulls me against him. My arms find their way around his neck, as he’s holding my waist, brushing his fingers back and forth.

“Not so bad, huh,” he whispers against my ear.

Truthfully, I say, “Not at all.”

“I knew you’d have fun. My friends are all pretty kickback.”

“I thought you said they’re wild.”

“It’s different. They like to have fun and in a few hours, they’ll be a little crazier than they are now, but they’re cool too. Kickback, just like to have fun and hang out. And they like you. I can tell.” He kisses by my ear, teasing his way down my jaw line. “I’m not the only one with good taste.”

I laugh him off, but inside I’m glowing. He’s always saying stuff like this to me and I never say it back. Never say it first. I’m not sure why. “I’m the one with good taste. I kind of like you, you know?”

“Only kind of?” He holds me tightly against him.

“Maybe a little more than kind of.”

“I knew it!” Tegan’s lips slide toward mine, but before they hit their destination, we’re interrupted.

“Tegan! Get your love-struck ass over here and play a game with us. The girls are done and Mike wants to play so we need someone else for doubles.”

“I’m busy,” Tegan tells Rick.

I remember how excited his friends were to see him. How they say he hasn’t hung out much lately. “You should go play. I don’t mind watching.”

He gets a little light in his eyes and I know he wants to go play, but was nervous about leaving me. “You sure?”

“Absolutely. Unlike someone, I’m not a hermit.”

He gives me a quick peck.

I watch him head over to the pool table. It isn’t but a few seconds later that I hear, “Come sit with us, A

“How long have you guys been together?” Sandra asks, examining her fingernails. It’s weird because it doesn’t feel like she’s ignoring me or not interested in

what I’m saying, where with someone else, the gesture might come off that way.

“Um… a couple weeks? Not too long.”

April turns to face me. “Oh, I love how you met stories. Where did you guys meet?”

Oh joy! This is where I get to explain that Tegan is helping me lose weight. So not the romantic story I’m sure she’s expecting…but then, it does kind of feel that way to me. I never would have expected it, but I like our story. “We met at the gym he works at. I am—was a client of his…”

“Oh, Tegan’s getting hot and heavy at work. I never would have thought it possible. Now we know why he’s such a workaholic, he’s there to see you!” April

teases and I can’t help but like her train of thought.

“No, remember we haven’t been together very long.”