Page 22 of A Solid Guide to Surviving a Situationship

Her arms flailed in the air. Her shoulders rolled sensually. Her hips swung wildly.

Full camp performance.

I burst out laughing.

“You’re insane!” I shouted, my vision spinning, my heart light.

“Dance!” she shouted over the music.

And I did. The tequila worked fast. The rhythm of the Bruno Mars song carried me along with the crowd. The music swallowed everything—the thoughts, the sadness, the memories.

Honey spun dramatically beside me.

I laughed again.

For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t thinking about Victor.

I was just dancing.

Eventually, Honey and I staggered back to the VIP section.

My friends were exactly where we left them, lounging on the couch and watching the dance floor like responsible adults observing a zoo.

“You guys are missing out!” I announced, slightly out of breath.

Andre raised an eyebrow. “You’re drunk.”

“I’m happy,” I corrected. “Isn’t this what you wanted for me?”

“Yeah,” Andi nodded. “But you’re very drunk.”

“You should all go dance,” I insisted, pointing dramatically toward the crowd below. “Seriously. Life is happening down there.”

Mel laughed. “Look at you! Tequila and suddenly you’re a motivational speaker.”

“I’m serious!” I said.

Honey smirked. “You’re too adorable when you’re intoxicated. Can’t blame those guys downstairs staring longingly at you, wondering what that juicy ass tastes like.”

Everyone swooned.

“I mean,” I shrugged arrogantly, “look at me.”

“That’s the James we know!” Andi said proudly, handing me another shot.

I drank it immediately.

“Okay, but first,” I added, “I need to go to the toilet.”

Andre nodded. “Good luck surviving that journey.”

I waved at them dismissively and stepped away.

The walk through the crowd felt like navigating a moving ocean. Bodies swayed around me. Lights flashed overhead. The music pounded so loudly that I could feel it inside my skull.

The world tilted slightly as I pushed through the crowd.

Definitely drunk.