“Not even a thank you?” He smirks arrogantly.
“That would imply you did a good job. Don’t tell me you’re the needy type, seeking praise.”
He chuckles and lets me go, then removes the rubber and tucks himself back into his pants.
I walk back to the house, waving his lighter in the air. “But I will thank you for this,” I say, noticing the big yellow smiley face on it.What is this guy, some frat boy?
Oh well, like I give a shit. It’s not like I’ll ever see him again.
But suddenly, the high I was riding only moments ago turns into a chilling sense of shame and isolation.
No, Lorraine, I want to forget. Please, help me forget.
I take a long swig from the bottle of vodka, once again trying to push down that lump constantly lodged in my throat.
No matter how much I try to distract myself, it just won’t go away.
2
ROMI
“Go away,” I mumble with a pounding headache, trying to slap away whoever is shaking me awake.
“Romi, wake up.” Sienna’s voice is laced with concern.
Fuck. These last few weeks, she’s been my self-appointed babysitter.
“Go away.” I roll over, pretending like she’s not there.
A splash of cold water shocks me into sitting upright. I gasp, and it’s not Sienna’s worried gaze I find; it’s Ara’s intense green eyes, narrowed expectantly.
“Up,” Ara, my no-nonsense friend, says.
Lily, my soft but firm friend, stands behind her, looking between us, likely uncertain of Ara’s approach. Because, let’s be real, Ara's the only one besides me who would be willing to throw cold water on a friend as an intervention.
“What the fuck!” I gasp, now sitting in my wet bed, the blanket across my stomach and legs saturated. I glare at Ara, who’s about six months pregnant, giving her serious stink eye for throwing the water on me.
I look at the empty space beside me. “Where’s… ahhh?” I click my fingers. I can’t remember her name.
“Your most recent conquest? She left twenty minutes ago. We caught her trying to steal one of your lamps.”
I frown.A lamp? Really?“You'd think she’d try to take my wallet or something, huh?”
“That’s not funny.” Sienna folds her arms over her chest. Her long blonde hair is in a tight ponytail, so I know they’ve come over meaning business. She’s been riding my ass ever since I’ve intentionally put distance between us. She’s always been more reactive than the others, but now, apparently, I’m in trouble with all of them.
I roll my eyes, and a small part of me shifts as Borris, my long-haired terrier, jumps onto the bed. I grab a pillow to set him on so he doesn’t get wet, and I pet him, sitting in my own misery.
Lily tucks her wavy, caramel-colored hair behind her ears as she offers me painkillers and a glass of water, her expression one of sympathy.
“Well, at least one of you has mercy on me this morning,” I grumble.
Ara’s hand goes to her stomach as she looks down on me, the nurturing aura far from the glowering glare. “We’re here to help.”
I swallow the pills. “I don’t need to be babysat. Are you still annoyed because I left the party early?” I ask Lily as I throw the wet blanket off, wearing nothing but my oversized shirt that reads, “I’m not the problem.” I notice there’s a stain on it from fuck knows what.
“No, we’re annoyed because you left the party early and then ignored our calls and messages. We were worried.” Sienna tries to make the last bit sound less harsh, but I can hear the edge of irritation.
I stand with a sigh, and they make way for me, then follow me into the kitchen.
