that’s really tasty, Eric.” The strong alcohol was masked by the delicious fruit juice. She could see how these types of drinks could get a person into trouble.
“Thanks kiddo,” Eric replied, sounding like a seasoned bartender from a movie. He snatched an unopened bottle from the counter and inspected the label. “I think I’ll be cracking open this eighteen-year Highland Park.”
After filling a short whiskey glass about halfway, he brought it to his nose, closed his eyes, and then inhaled the aroma of the spirit before taking a sip. He smiled wide before opening his eyes. “I love going to parties at rich peoples’ houses.”
Diana chuckled. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a whiskey connoisseur.”
Eric shrugged. “My mom might be a drunk, but she has an expensive palate.” He gestured toward the kitchen door with his glass. “Let’s go outside. It’ll be less noisy out there.”
“Sounds good,” Diana said with a smile
Eric took a quick look around, shrugged to himself, and then grabbed the bottle of whiskey with a wide smile before leading the way.
Diana followed him out the kitchen door and into the Shepherd’s backyard, which was situated in an open clearing in front of a dense stretch of woods. Taking it all in, she wasn’t surprised in the least to find they had an in-ground swimming pool. A rather exotic pool-house stood next to the crescent-moon shaped pool of water as well. Built entirely of gray stone, the small building contained many fluid elements that reminded Diana of growing vines and trees. The black wrought-iron window panes contained similar naturalistic elements such as leaves and buds.
Passing partygoers in various stages of carousing and inebriation, Eric and Diana took seats at a small table next to the pool underneath an umbrella. A candle burning in the middle of a glass pot, filled with polished gray stones, bathed them in a soft warm glow. It would have been terribly romantic had there not been a couple vigorously making out in the lawn chair directly behind Eric.
Placing his bottle on the table, Eric took another sip of his whiskey and continued to look pleased. “Alright, what happened?”
Diana took another sip of her own fruity drink. “Darien Shepherd—that’s what,” she said with narrowed eyes filled with indignation.
By his arched brow and slight, curious, smile, Eric seemed surprised by the notion. “The Scowling Shepherd made a move on you? I always wondered what type of girl he was into.”
“And what type of girl is that?” Diana asked surprised, and rather curious.
Eric went a bit red and laughed off his comment before answering. “Nothing bad; you know—the innocent book-worm type.”
Diana’s eyes went wide. “I am not!” She crossed her arms, taking offense at Eric’s assessment of her personality.
Eric crossed his own arms in defense, a sideways grin dancing across his face. “You put your hair in a fancy librarian braid and wore a cardigan to your first college party. It’s late August; look around. Most of these girls took the opportunity to wear the shortest skirts they could.”
Diana had to admit that Eric had a point—she probably was the most modestly dressed girl in their immediate area. She’d also spent a fair amount of her day in the library, for reasons of pure enjoyment, but she wasn’t about to let him know that.
“For example,” Eric said while gesturing behind Diana with his glass. “That girl chose the tightest black mini I’ve seen on campus in a while, and appears quite confidant in her decision.”
Diana turned around to inspect the girl with her own eyes and found Lani laughing and pulling a chuckling, and reluctant, Andrew towards the pool area.
“I have no idea why,” Eric continued. “But she seems to pull off that bright green stripe pretty well—must be the confidence.”
“Easy now,” Diana said with playful accusation, turning back around. “That’s my roommate.”
Eric cleared
“Thanks kiddo,” Eric replied, sounding like a seasoned bartender from a movie. He snatched an unopened bottle from the counter and inspected the label. “I think I’ll be cracking open this eighteen-year Highland Park.”
After filling a short whiskey glass about halfway, he brought it to his nose, closed his eyes, and then inhaled the aroma of the spirit before taking a sip. He smiled wide before opening his eyes. “I love going to parties at rich peoples’ houses.”
Diana chuckled. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a whiskey connoisseur.”
Eric shrugged. “My mom might be a drunk, but she has an expensive palate.” He gestured toward the kitchen door with his glass. “Let’s go outside. It’ll be less noisy out there.”
“Sounds good,” Diana said with a smile
Eric took a quick look around, shrugged to himself, and then grabbed the bottle of whiskey with a wide smile before leading the way.
Diana followed him out the kitchen door and into the Shepherd’s backyard, which was situated in an open clearing in front of a dense stretch of woods. Taking it all in, she wasn’t surprised in the least to find they had an in-ground swimming pool. A rather exotic pool-house stood next to the crescent-moon shaped pool of water as well. Built entirely of gray stone, the small building contained many fluid elements that reminded Diana of growing vines and trees. The black wrought-iron window panes contained similar naturalistic elements such as leaves and buds.
Passing partygoers in various stages of carousing and inebriation, Eric and Diana took seats at a small table next to the pool underneath an umbrella. A candle burning in the middle of a glass pot, filled with polished gray stones, bathed them in a soft warm glow. It would have been terribly romantic had there not been a couple vigorously making out in the lawn chair directly behind Eric.
Placing his bottle on the table, Eric took another sip of his whiskey and continued to look pleased. “Alright, what happened?”
Diana took another sip of her own fruity drink. “Darien Shepherd—that’s what,” she said with narrowed eyes filled with indignation.
By his arched brow and slight, curious, smile, Eric seemed surprised by the notion. “The Scowling Shepherd made a move on you? I always wondered what type of girl he was into.”
“And what type of girl is that?” Diana asked surprised, and rather curious.
Eric went a bit red and laughed off his comment before answering. “Nothing bad; you know—the innocent book-worm type.”
Diana’s eyes went wide. “I am not!” She crossed her arms, taking offense at Eric’s assessment of her personality.
Eric crossed his own arms in defense, a sideways grin dancing across his face. “You put your hair in a fancy librarian braid and wore a cardigan to your first college party. It’s late August; look around. Most of these girls took the opportunity to wear the shortest skirts they could.”
Diana had to admit that Eric had a point—she probably was the most modestly dressed girl in their immediate area. She’d also spent a fair amount of her day in the library, for reasons of pure enjoyment, but she wasn’t about to let him know that.
“For example,” Eric said while gesturing behind Diana with his glass. “That girl chose the tightest black mini I’ve seen on campus in a while, and appears quite confidant in her decision.”
Diana turned around to inspect the girl with her own eyes and found Lani laughing and pulling a chuckling, and reluctant, Andrew towards the pool area.
“I have no idea why,” Eric continued. “But she seems to pull off that bright green stripe pretty well—must be the confidence.”
“Easy now,” Diana said with playful accusation, turning back around. “That’s my roommate.”
Eric cleared
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