Audre & Bash Are Just Friends(58)

She saluted him—a super-goofy move that made Bash erupt in laughter. When he recovered, he saluted her back. Everything was chill! But by the time they approached Manny Sanchez’s friend group, Audre was holding her cup so tightly, her fingers were shaking.

He whisper-yelled in her ear, “Just have fun! Go-with-the-flow energy.”

She nodded and then said to the group, “Hey, y’all! WHAT’S UP, WHORES?”

Maybe a little less energy, he thought.

The group turned around. Seeing Audre, they greeted her with tipsy hugs and “girl, how are you?” and “let’s take a pic” and “omigod you’re here this summer?” and “let’s get fucccked up” and “wait, you’re really drinking?” and “you know Bash?”

By the time everyone had finished the initial niceties, Audre had almost finished her punch. Bash had made it less potent, but as he watched her, he realized the punch had zoomed right to her head. Almost immediately, her face went all warm, gooey, and smiley.

Her expression was simply the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.

Soon, Audre was talking to everyone in the group—except Manny. Was she intimidated? Bash didn’t get it. He was just a short king in a polo shirt and khakis. What was so scary?

Bash stepped in, giving Manny a pound. “I didn’t catch your name?”

“Whassup, dawg, I’m Manny.”

“Good to meet you, Manny. You know Audre, right?”

“Yeah, we go way back, right, Audre?” Manny winked. “That debate championship.”

Audre smirked goofily. “Back in 2021, yep. I killed you,” she said a bit too forcefully. She tried to dull the edge with a little laugh, but it came out as a witchy cackle.

“I wouldn’t say you killed me. If memory serves, I let you win, ’cause you were cute.”

“Manny Sanchez, I murdered you. It was a bloodbath.” She pretended to point a gun in his direction. “Manny down!”

Manny fake-laughed, then turned to talk to the girl next to him. Audre was bombing.

“You’re being too competitive,” Bash told her, blocking his mouth with his cup in case Manny was a lip reader. “This guy needs to be the alpha. I can tell by his little… outfit.”

“Fuck that. I’m the alpha.”

“I know, I know,” he said, grinning because she was adorable. “You want some advice? It’s misogynistic, but it’ll work on him.”

“Tell me,” she said, leaning in closer to him.

“Compliment him. Ask him to explain something. Be positive, upbeat. Laugh at his jokes, not at him. You think he’s cute, right?”

“He’s in the vithinity… vicinity of cute,” she slurred. “I guess I lisp when I’m drunk?”

“Listen, you just made it to ten PM. So, you’re one challenge down. All you need to do now is… uh, kiss this dude, and we’re done. Let’s focus.”

“I need another punch,” she said, looking around for the deejay. Bash, with a worried expression, saw her sway a bit.

“Did you eat? You seem hella tipsy.”

She tapped her two front teeth. “I’m not hella tipthy.”

“Nah, I’m cutting you off.”

“You can’t cut me off.”

“Maybe this was a bad idea. I’m supposed to be looking out for you. Yeah, let’s go.”

“It’s not up to you! What are you gonna do, pick me up and carry me out of here?”

His gaze met hers for a few charged moments. She looked up at him, all radiant eyes and impossible dimples. She was too much. As if pulled by an invisible string, he leaned down close to her ear. And then, he lightly grazed her earlobe with his lips and replied, “Don’t tempt me.”

A shuddering tremble rolled through her. Her mouth parted and she sucked in a gasp, her cheeks flushing a deep, ruby red. The air crackled with tension.

“Hey! Y’all dating?” asked a tipsy, college-age brunette neither of them knew.

“We’re just friends,” they responded quickly, jolted out of that blazing moment.

“Love that for me. I can talk to you, then?” The brunette licked her lips, cozying up to Bash. “I’ve got some eddies… you want?”

“Who’s Eddie?” asked Audre.

“Eddies are edibles.” Cackling, the girl hooked her arm in Bash’s. “OMG she’s so cute.”

Bash didn’t want this girl hanging on him. But he knew that if his face showed what he was thinking, then everyone would know he was crazy about Audre. For her challenge to work, Manny had to believe there was nothing between them. So, the girl stayed.

But there was no way to communicate his strategy to Audre. She saw that chick all over Bash and, in her intoxicated state, was not amused.

“I’m ready for my challenge,” announced Audre. She finished off her cup, crushed it in her hand, and slammed it into Bash’s chest. A little too hard.

“Cool. I’ll just chill here with, uh…” Deeply uncomfortable, Bash shot the girl a smile that was closer to a grimace. “Sorry, what’s your name again?”

“Fiona. As in Apple.”

“Great to meet you, Apple,” said Audre, who almost got it right. She tossed her braids, turned her ring inward, and then scooted over to her target.