Free Invisible Love Letter by Callie Anderson

night. I danced out my anger; the liquor only added to my hazy mind.
    I closed my eyes and swung my hips. A firm pair of hands wrapped around my waist like a glove. “You shouldn’t dance like that unless I’m behind you.”
    I twirled to face him, our bodies flush. “I figured you were busy.”
    “I was, but now I’m where I want to be.” His eyes were glued to my lips.
    I brought the bottle of warm champagne to my lips and took a swig. “Are you having a good birthday?”
    “I am now.” He wrapped his hands around my lower back and began to dance.
    Weston didn’t leave me, even when Axel, Harry, and a couple of other guys sauntered over and handed him shots. But after an hour of our bodies grinding against one another, I could tell Weston had hit his wall. His movements were sluggish and his eyelids looked heavy. The boys handed him his last shot and I knew he wouldn't be driving us home.
    “I don’t drink,” he slurred.
    I laughed. “Give me your keys.”
    Weston buried his limp hand in his back pocket and yanked out his car keys. “I’m one lucky bastard. The hot chick at the bar is taking me home.”
    “I’m not taking you home—a cab is—but I wanted to make sure you didn’t drive.”
    The lights flickered on and the music turned off for last call as Axel and Harry helped Weston out of Rinse and toward the cabbie line. I handed Axel Weston’s keys before I hopped in a cab with Leslie. My head rested on the leather seat and I gazed out the window. My mind drifted to Weston’s hands on my body. I wished we had gotten more time together.
----
    I looked in the mirror .
    Another year older, another milestone reached.
    Today was the anniversary of my father’s death, but for once I wouldn’t remember that day. I would let my hair down and let it be about me.
    That morning, Leslie had attempted to bake me a cake. After making a complete mess of our kitchen, she shipped me off to get ready. She said that since I’d refused plan anything, she’d taken matters into her own hands. My hair had been blown out for the occasion, my makeup done to perfection by Sally, but I still had no clue where we were going. The only hint I had from Leslie was to wear my most comfortable shoes because we would be dancing.
    Leslie wore a tight blue dress paired with killer high nude pumps that made her five inches taller than me. Based on her outfit I dressed in a charcoal lace dress with my all-time favorite shoes.
    The doorbell of our miniscule apartment rang. Peeking my head out of my bedroom, I noticed Axel, Pete, and Harry had arrived, followed by Monica and Kate. I gave myself another once over in the mirror and stepped out of my room. Weston had said we were going to celebrate, but I hadn’t heard from him.
    “Happy Birthday!” Axel shouted, and popped the top off the bottle of champagne he had in his hand. Leslie and I didn’t own flutes, so we distributed red solo cups.
    “Thanks for coming out with us tonight, guys,” I said before I took a sip of the bubbly. The fizz tickled my nose. I wished Weston was there. Pushing him out of my head, I faced Leslie. “Where are we going?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t plan it. I was simply the messenger.”
    Her expression was puzzled. I opened my mouth to speak, but Axel interrupted in a thick British accent. “Drink up because our chariot awaits.”
    We filed out of our apartment, our solo cups in our hands. A stretched limo was parked at the curb. I turned to Leslie. “A limo?”
    “Yep, it was Weston who set everything up,” she said with a huge smile on her face.
    I looked around for him or his car. Nothing. Maybe he had other plans and would meet us wherever we were going. One could only hope. I shook my head at my thoughts. I was such a glutton for punishment.
    “Come on, Emmy.” Axel held the limo door open. “You need to climb in first since you’re our guest of honor.”
    Holding Axel’s hand, I lifted myself into the back of my