Applewild by Heather Lin Page A

a fashion statement.” She shrugged, finally finding her voice.
    “Yeah.” He didn’t seem convinced, but he dropped the subject.
    The music started—a loud, bass-thumping blast from Wayne’s truck. It broke the silence and eye contact between them.
    “Well.” Monroe grabbed her beer and smiled politely. “Guess you should get back to making new friends.”
    She headed for the chairs by the fire and raised her beer in Rodney’s direction as he hopped down from the Applewild truck. She finished the beverage in a few gulps so she could move back to the wine, but Shannon plopped down next to her and snatched the bottle before she could take a sip. She took a swig and was handing it back to Monroe when Mark grabbed it. Then it went to Rodney and one of the girls that had been flirting with Alton. By the time it finally got back to Monroe, it was almost gone. She downed the rest. She could already feel a buzz setting in. Wayne made his stuff strong.
    Another bottle appeared and she snagged the second swig. She made it count, and the wine almost shot through her nose as she dodged Shannon’s swipe for it.
    “Give that here! It’s totally my turn!”
    Monroe took another gulp and finally handed it over. “You stole mine!”
    “It’s ours , Monroe. Wayne brings it for everyone .” Shannon took a drink and rolled her eyes. “So, Rodney ,” Shannon began. Monroe could only assume she’d pre-gamed before the bonfire. She had a beer in her other hand and it sloshed dangerously in the bottle. “Are you very heartbroken over our little ‘Roe here?”
    “Shannon, seriously?” Monroe covered one side of her face, the side toward Rodney, so she couldn’t see him and he couldn’t see her embarrassment.
    “Nah, not at all. Got some free booze out of it. Plus those lovely ladies over there seem to be feelin’ pretty sorry for me. And I hot boxed the truck. With my fart.”
    “Ew!” Monroe and Shannon said in unison. Mark and Rodney high-fived.
    “I’m not driving it home, anyway,” Monroe pointed out.
    “I know. But you’ll know it happened.”
    “Ew,” Monroe and Shannon said again.
    “So where’s your second date of the evening?” Rodney asked as he took his drink of wine.
    Monroe grabbed the bottle. “Look around, you might find him.”
    “I could make myself available again.”
    “I’ll let you know.”
    She took a sip, then felt someone else take the bottle from her as Shannon grabbed her hand. “Come on! Let’s get some beer and shake our asses!”
    “I don’t really have an ass to shake,” Monroe said, allowing herself to be dragged to her truck.
    “Yes you do!” Shannon smacked her butt, making Monroe jump.
    “Jesus, Shannon, maybe you don’t need another one.”
    “No, I’m pretty sure I do.”
    She grinned and handed a bottle to Monroe. They twisted the caps, looped arms, and drank. Then Shannon pulled her to Wayne’s truck. He was dancing with his girlfriend by the open driver’s side door, hands in her back pockets, pressing her firmly against him. Shannon jumped in the bed and helped Monroe up.
    A country song about exotic beaches and beautiful women blasted from the speakers. The catchy guitar riff and alcohol coaxed Monroe’s hips into moving. Shannon threw her bottle cap at Wayne’s head and mocked his dancing, pretending to grind on Monroe’s ass. Monroe made a kissy face. He grinned and flipped them off.
    Mark came over and handed them each a hotdog he’d roasted over the fire. “You guys better sop up some of that alcohol or your brains’ll do it for you.”
    “Too late!” Shannon screamed over the music, but they raised their bottles to him in thanks and ate while they moved.
    Monroe and Shannon danced through three more songs. Wayne and his girlfriend headed for the woods sometime during the second, and before the fourth Mark approached the tailgate and held his hand out to Shannon. She gave Monroe a glazy-eyed, goodbye smile and let him lead her away, probably