It is New Year's Eve and we've been avoiding phone calls like the plague. Even from clients. Adam and Nathan have been texting about a party at their place. We agree to go after Nathan leaves a troubling voicemail message threatening kidnapping and dragging us unwillingly to it if we keep avoiding their calls.
We make our way up the walkway of the rented beach house Nathan and Adam share in Manhattan Beach. Our fingers are wrapped around each other's and I feel Jonah squeeze my hand harder as we stop at the door. It is open and we can hear people inside. I look at him and smile awkwardly. We are about to break apart our comfort zone. We both know it.
The music is loud and there are people crammed in everywhere. Because we live in Southern California it is warm enough to have people on the back porch and even that is full of bodies. Some we know, most we don't. I am scanning the place for Adam or Nathan but I haven't seen them.
"Let's get something to drink," Jonah says in my ear and I nod in agreement. In the kitchen we find Adam and Ashley.
"We were really hoping for kidnapping," Adam greets us. He acknowledges our open show of togetherness glancing from our hands to our faces and smiling in approval.
"Maybe some other time," I return his smile.
"Grab a drink, make yourselves at home," Adam points toward the counter where bottles of booze in every shape, size and color are lined up.
"Who are all these people?" I hear Jonah ask as I step away.
"Glad you could make it," Ashley greets me when I reach the booze counter.
"Do you know all these people?" I ask.
"Nathan invited the whole neighborhood," Ashely's voice shows the contempt she has for her boyfriend's roommate. I wonder if she knows about Vegas.
"Of course he did," I say back but it has none of the bitterness she thinks it should. She nods at me and walks away.
I find Jonah waiting where I left him and hand him his drink. "Cheers," he says before taking a giant swig of it.
We head back outside to the cool ocean air and make small talk with people we know and don't know. We have decided to lay everything on the table so when we are asked questions like "what do you do?" we answer honestly. The reactions are a mix of fascination and confusion. Some people ask further questions, some just nod and say "oh."
The countdown to midnight has started. Jonah is standing behind me with his arms wrapped around my waist. I am resting my head against his shoulder and we are echoing the crowd's loud chants as the seconds tick down. We get to "1" and I turn and face Jonah. I press my lips against his and wrap my arms tight around his neck. He holds me close and returns my kiss. "Happy New Year," he whispers in my ear as we hold each other in a strong, warm embrace.
I know that people are watching us. I don't care. Jonah takes my hand and leads me back into the house. Eyes follow us as we navigate through the crowd. There is no sign of the party slowing down and I swear there are more people here now than when we first arrived. I am not sure where Jonah is leading me but I follow him through the sea of people. He stops at the door to Nathan's room. "You know he's probably in there with someone," I say when Jonah turns the knob. He peeks his head in and opens it further.