"Come around any time you want," the bandleader told me. Balwin looked so proud.
"I knew you could do it," he said.
"I wouldn't have if you weren't here. Balwin.''
"I'm glad I was," he said.
Shawn stepped up between us quickly.
"Nice," he said. "Really nice. Cmon. We're all a-going to Michael's house to party and celebrate,"
"What? Why? What's wrong with staying here?"
"We're finished here," Shawn said.
I looked at the group getting up from the table and I thought about my father's advice.
"I don't want to go to anyone's house. Shawn," I said firmly,
"Why not?"
"We were supposed to go out to dinner. We haven't even eaten yet."
"We'll get something to eat there," he said.
"Maybe you should just take me home," I told him.
"Are you kidding?"
I shook my head and the smile of incredulity turned to a look of annoyance.
"Why?"
"I don't want to go to anyone's house," I said.
"I thought we were going to have a good time. Don't you want to have a good time?"
"Yes, but I don't want to go to anyone's house for it," I said.
"Aw, c'mon."
"No," I said as firmly as I could.
He glared angrily at me for a moment. Then he went to his friends to tell them, and they all started on me.
"We were just going to listen to music, have something to eat, enjoy the night.'
"We can really party."
"What's the problem?'
I didn't reply to any of them. I sat at the table, my arms crossed under my breasts, fixing my attention on the stage and ignoring their comments and pleas.
"You got yourself a chunk of ice all right,' Sonny told Shawn. He stared down at me furiously.
"I'm leaving and going to Michael's," he finally said. "You coming or not?"
I looked up at him.