“I’m sorry! You could’ve warned me. Damn, I’m only human. Look at those biceps.”
She and Marina both do, along with half the female occupants in the bar. I look over at Axel for support, but he’s busy taking a photo of the sunset for his story. I sigh, draining the rest of the cocktail in one gulp.
Dead mom, evil stepbrother, and headache-inducing inheritance terms sound like just about the best damn excuses to have a few too many drinks tonight.
I’m dancing on a table, six drinks in. I don’t even remember the last time I got drunk enough to curse people’s eyes with my horrendous dance moves on a tabletop, but now is as good of a time as ever. I don’t even live here, and I’m grieving. No one can judge me.
I belt out Taylor Swift lyrics like I’m starring in a concert. Savannah hands me another drink. I accept it gladly, trying to pull her up with me.
“No, you got this, babe! You look great.”
I laugh, shaking my head. The rum in my belly sloshes with each movement. I took my shirt off a while ago, wearing only a triangle bikini top and a flowy skirt. I haven’t seen Axel in ages, but he usually wanders off to talk to strangers when we go out. I like that he doesn’t hover.
I slurp down the mai tai. It’s so good, reminding me of childhood and the years I lived on the island with my mom. The only part I remember that I didn’t love was the evil stepbrother who tried to ruin my life and torture me. My movements slow. I press a hand to my head, swaying on my feet.
“It’s time to get down.” A male voice speaks from my left.
I turn to look at him. Amber eyes glare up at me. His mouth is in a firm, disapproving line.
“You’re not the boss of me,Dayton.” I say his name like it’s a curse.
I take a step back from him. I forget that I’m on a table, and there are plates and cups on it. I stumble, losing my footing. A warm hand grabs for mine, pulling me to the side. I try to resist,but either way, I’m going to fall. I choose to fall toward the muscle, assuming it will be a softer landing than the sand much farther down.
Dayton somehow guides me right into his strong arms. I yelp when he cages me in. The scent of him is distinctly similar to salt water.
“Did you go swimming?”
He grunts a response, carrying me through the crowd of onlookers. My world is spinning, and I can’t tell which direction he’s taking me.
He’s so warm. I thought he’d feel cold, like a vampire.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
He somehow gets me in front of a toilet before the alcohol comes rushing up to the surface, and I puke into the porcelain bowl. I’m too drunk to be mortified that he’s witnessing this. All I can do is retch out my guts and cry.
I’m usually a fun drunk. I hardly ever get this way, but when I’ve had too many drinks, I tend to dance, sing, and talk to strangers. Axel and Savannah always tell me that I’m the life of the party.
“I can’t believe she’s gone. I just can’t believe it.” I sob into the toilet.
This must be what rock bottom feels like.
He pulls a stray piece of hair hanging in front of my face back. He doesn’t speak. My filter is completely gone, shattered, along with my heart.
“You know she always told me I judged you too harshly. That I should be thankful to finally have a sibling. I told her I didn’t start this. It was you.Youstarted this between us. You decided we could never be friends.”
He still doesn’t answer. I cry harder and puke again. The sour smell of rum and coconut shrimp makes my stomach churn.
“I can’t do this, Dayton. I can’t do this life with no family at all. I hate everything, and I fucking hate how much you hate me.”
He gets on the ground beside me, crouching his big body down on the gross bar floor. He uses a wad of toilet paper to dry off my mouth. I stare at his perfect face, the cut jawline and the pink lips. He’s frowning, clearly disgusted by me.
“Why do you hate me, Dayton? Why?”
He finishes cleaning up around my mouth, tosses the toilet paper into the bowl, and flushes it down.
“You’re thinking too hard about it, Cupcake.” His voice doesn’t sound hateful at all. His eyes are soft and red-rimmed.
Is he finally going to cry?
