Carter lifts me up in one smooth motion. I lose my balance for a heartbeat, but he is right there, pulling me into his embrace.
I laugh and pull away.
He points to one of the pathways leading away from the crowd gathered in the clearing and puts his warm hand on the bare skin on my back.
I don't really like the way he is playing on the edge of flirtation, but the night is warm and lovely, and the urge to get away from a certain crowd is too strong to refuse. So I let him take me away into the night, vaguely aware of the prickling on the back of my head.
I refuse to turn back and look.
Carter and I find a secluded spot with a lovely wooden bench. We sit down, and he offers me the flask.
I sniff and wrinkle my nose at the strong smell of alcohol.
"What's in there? Whiskey?" I take
