It doesn’t answer.
Stupid chair.
One of the Sabrinas hauls me to my feet and then holds my face to hers like it’s important that I pay attention to whatever she’s saying.
I can do that.
She’s talking.
Unlike the chair.
“Laney, sweetie, that was Aunt Lisa calling me. Aunt Brenda’s a little tipsy too, but unlike you, who is absolutely perfect when you’re tipsy, she’s throwing bar stools at the limited staff left here. The triplets have disappeared, so I need to go run interference. But I’ll be back, okay?”
“Fart at her,” I say.
Theo laughs.
He laughs.
Like a full-on, surprised but happy laugh.
“Iwillbe back,” Sabrina repeats.
“I’ll be back,” I echo back in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression.
“Emma won’t threaten you, but you damn well know I will,” Sabrina says.
Oh, god.
Oh god oh god oh god.
I’m a problem.
I’m a problembecause I’m not in control of myself and that means that I might make Theo take advantage of me and get in trouble with Emma.
I thought I was just having fun and stress relief, and instead,I’m a problem.
I burst into tears. “I didn’t drunk to get mean,” I sob. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I won’t be the problem.”
“Oh, Laney, honey, we know you didn’t mean to get drunk.” Sabrina gives me a quick hug. “And you are one hundred percent allowed to get as drunk as you want in safe places with your friends around you after having a bad day.You are not the problem. You are amazing and perfect and I love you. We all do. I was threatening to cut Theo’s balls off if he doesn’t take the utmost care of you while I’m gone.”
“He’s a nice guy,” I sob. “He does nice guy things.”
“He’s about to have to prove it. Go to bed soon, sweetie. Love you. You’re okay.You are not a problem. Having fun isnota problem. Ihaveto go. I’m so sorry.”
I blink, and she’s gone, and the chair has moved and is between me and the door to the kittens again, andI just want to hug a kitten.
Theo angles into view.
He’s blurry, but I’m pretty sure he’s a deer in the headlights. And god knows I’ve seen deer in headlights.
And now pigs in headlights.
“I cry when I’m too drunk,” I sob. “I’m okay. I’m fine. I’ll be okay when I sober up.Tomorrrrroooooooowwww.”
“You wanna hold a kitten?”
“Yeessssssss.”
