The bar manager, seeing what was going on, held open the kitchen door so we could move past. He stopped a group of people from following us.
“Shit. That’s going to be all over the Internet in about thirty minutes,” Alan muttered. “He’s going to be angry as hell.”
“Maybe he shouldn’t have gotten so drunk,” I remarked primly.
Alan laughed. “Fair point well made.”
The cab was waiting when we came out the back of the pub. Alan handed the cabbie a wad of cash. “Keep your mouth shut and drive us to The Meadows, Lache Lane.”
The cab driver scrambled out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door so Alan could all but shove Lucas inside. Alan turned to me before getting in. “I shouldn’t have to tell you it would be a dick move to tattle to the press do I?”
“Excuse me?” I drew myself up indignantly. “Why would I go to the press?”
“Lucas is something special. He’s a big deal around here, soon to be a big deal everywhere. He’s a good guy who makes some stupid mistakes once in a while. I hope you aren’t one of them.”
“Look, we’ve all been there. Plus I don’t really care who he is. Just make sure he doesn’t choke on his own vomit, okay?”
Alan grinned at me. “You’re good people, Morgan Carter. It seems like Lucas chose a good one to mess around with for once.”
“There was no messing around. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I huffed, mortified again.
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’m just disappointed I didn’t get to you first.” Alan winked. “Thanks again, love.”
And then they were gone. I heard giggling and murmurs of conversation. I turned and saw about a dozen people taking pictures of me as I stood there, watching the cab drive away.
“What are you staring at? Move along!” I shouted, giving them the finger.
One of the women gave me the finger back and called me a bitch.
I let out a sigh and went back into the pub.
Lucas
Ifelt as though I had been run over.
Or a cat shat in my mouth.
“Turn off the light,” I groaned, covering my eyes with my arm.
I heard laughter. “That’s the sun, Lucas. Now get up, your interview is in an hour and a half.”
I squinted at my sister who was opening the curtains letting in that god-awful sunlight.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“Slowly and painfully,” she answered with a grin. “Have fun last night?”
I rolled over, pulling the duvet over my head. “Why didn’t you go to Mum’s? Then you wouldn’t be here annoying the fuck out of me.”
“Now, don’t be cross. You always say such nasty things when you’re hungover.” The duvet was pulled back and Anna yanked on my leg hair.
I sat up, kicking at her hand. “Stop that! What are you, two?” Then my stomach rolled and I had to dash into the en suite before I vomited in my bed. Unfortunately there was nothing to come up but bile and stomach acid.
“Ugh,” I moaned when I was finished. I opened the medicine cabinet and found a packet of Alka Seltzer.
“You look like hell,” Anna commented. She leaned against the doorjamb watching me as I drank a glass of fizzy water. “Why would you go out and get wankered when you had this interview today? I thought you were stopping all that stupid stuff.” Anna looked disappointed, which only made me feel worse.
“I didn’t mean to get so pissed. It just happened.” I pushed past her back into my bedroom. I looked down, thankful that I had passed out with my clothes still on. Otherwise I would have traumatized my poor sister.
