Raw Need

“You let me know when you’re ready,” Sonya smiled. “I’ve got more than a few single friends who wouldn’t mind climbing Mount Tayvon.”

“Please tell me you’re not talking about Patricia,” Paulette groaned to her wife, making Sonya bark out a laugh.

“God, no,” she said. “That woman-”

“Coach!”

I was distracted from hearing what was wrong with the Patricia woman by the cheerful shout of the girls at the other table waving me over. A waitress was setting down a tray covered in shots - enough for at least a couple each. Excusing myself from my table of adults, I got some good-natured ribbing that I better represent the older generation well and hold my liquor.

The girls made space for me and I ended up sitting between Emily and Charlize, whose parents had moved a couple of years ago but she’d stuck around Raleigh for college. Amelia was sitting across from me and she leaned over and put a shot in front of me, then lifted one for herself along with all the other girls.

“To Tayvon,” Amelia dec