As I glance up, I realize the porcelain is the base of the toilet bowl. I slowly pull myself into a seated position and press my back against the wall. There’s mess everywhere. My clothes are half on me, half off. There’s something on the floor that I don’t even want to hazard a guess as to what it is, and the bathroom stinks. I fucking made a mess of myself, and this room is the proof of it.
My hand flops to my side, and a clink alerts me to something there, so I turn to see a giant glass of water and a bottle of painkillers beside me. Sighing, I rest my head against the wall, thinking about how stupid I was last night.
Popping out two pills, I swallow them with some water. The water feels heavy in my stomach, making me want to puke all over again, but somehow, I keep the pills down. I don’t know how, but I manage to stand and gather myself enough to head downstairs, even though I feel like I’m stumbling and my head is about to explode.
Danger and Lunar are in the kitchen making coffee, and they spot me as I make my way to them. Both turn and sigh, saying nothing.
Lunar stops me as I nod and attempt to walk past. “Did you take some painkillers?”
I exhale.I thought it might have been her who put them there.“I did, thank you.”
She simply nods, but Danger purses his lips. “Ryan, man, you gotta stop drinking. Likenow.”
Clenching my eyes, I rub my temples and nod. “I know. I’m just so damn depressed.” I open my eyes to see them looking at me and frowning.
“Well, maybe that’s because of Tillie?”
I huff. “I’m better off just seeing her at work and not being romantically involved.”
“Bullshit! You’re meant for each other. You’re being a fucking scared little boy.Grow the fuck up!” Lunar yells and storms off, pushing past me as she goes.
Okay, so that’s new.
I’ve never seen Lunar that angry with me before.
Danger sighs as I lean back against the refrigerator door.
“Do you think I’m scared?” I ask.
“Honestly? Yes, you’re scared of history repeating, and in the action of being scared of losing something great, youarelosing something great. You’re being a fool, Ryan. Wake up to yourself before it’s too late.” He walks off, leaving me reeling in the kitchen.
Shit!He’s fucking angry too.
Maybe I am being an idiot?
Maybe I’m not seeing this how it should be?
But I just don’t know if I could handle another loss in my life like Katie.
***
Even though I’m hungover as fuck and wanted to spend the day wallowing in self-pity in bed, Oliver called an emergency meeting. So Danger drove Lunar and me into the office so we could get this over and done with.
We make our way to the boardroom, even though I can barely walk, let alone function. I’m not looking forward to seeing Tillie today. She’ll know I’ve been out and not looking after myself, but more importantly, I hate the fact that she’ll be angry with me, and I’m not looking forward to the berating I will get from her. But as we approach the boardroom, my spine doesn’t tingle, and my hair doesn’t stand on end. I don’t get the feeling that Tillie is nearby, and as I walk in, that feeling is confirmed.
Sheisn’tin here.
I furrow my brows and take a seat while Oliver glances up from his computer. He takes one look at me and shakes his head. I wince and slump into my seat as Danger and Lunar sit down. Nate smirks while Matt doesn’t give a shit and continues to fuck around with his cell.
“Okay, let’s get right to the point. Tillie had to go into PR-crazy mode to cover some breaking story about Ryan hiring a hooker last night. He was seen leaving a bar in a cab with her.”
Opening my eyes wide, I gasp. “Whoa! Whoa! What? A hooker? I swear I went home alone. Tillie knows that, right?”
Oliver shakes his head. “She’s telling the world exactly that! But I don’t think she believes one word of what she’s having to release to the world, Ryan.”
I stand so fast that the seat falls out from under me. “Where is she?”
“Packing her things… she’s resigned. We’re interviewing new PR candidates today.”
