Page 190 of Devil’s Disciples

And, it wasn’t going to be alright.

Without the interest income from my investment account, losing Cash would be the least of my worries. I cried until I was out of tears. Then, I cried some more. I cried until my stomach heaved, and continued crying until I made myself sick.

While I sat on the bathroom floor and dry-heaved into the toilet bowl, the doorbell rang. I knew it wouldn’t be Jennifer or Cash, because they both knocked on the door. I dismissed it, knowing there was no one on earth that I was interested in seeing.

While I tried to convince myself to stand, it rang again. Frustrated – and at wits end – I rose to my feet and stumbled toward the door, prepared to give whoever was invading my moment of sorrow a piece of my mind.

I yanked the door open.

The young woman standing on my porch looked familiar, but in my current state of mind, I couldn’t name her.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t--”

“Andy,” she said. “We met at Goose’s.”

I forced a crooked smile. “Oh. Hi.”

“Are you okay?” she asked, her face washed with worry.

I wiped my nose with the washcloth I was holding. “I’ve been better, thank you.”

She raised her hand to her mouth, and then coughed out a laugh. “I’m sorry, but you look like hell.” She pulled a bottle of wine from her purse and held it between us. “Can I come in?”

“I’ve been sick. I don’t think…” I stammered.

“You look like you could use someone to talk to,” she said. “How about a few minutes over a glass of wine?”

She was right, I did need someone to talk to, but not about what she was hoping to talk about. There was only one reason for her to be visiting, and I wasn’t prepared to talk about Cash. I did, however, plan on telling her about my financial woes, and a glass if wine sounded like a great idea.

I moved to the side. “Please. Come in.”

She stepped inside and looked around. “I love your home. It’s beautiful.”

I glanced in the living room. A mental sigh escaped me. My blanket and pillow remained on the couch, right where they’d been for the last month. I had yet to sleep in my bedroom since Cash left.

I couldn’t bring myself to.

I gestured toward the pile of bedding and turned toward the kitchen. “I had a slumber party last night.”

“Looks like a big group,” she said with a laugh.

She followed me into the kitchen and poured two glasses of wine. After joining me at the table, she looked me over.

“When was the last time you ate?” she asked.

I coughed a dry laugh. “What night was the barbeque?”

She gave me a side-eyed look. “Seriously?”

I shrugged. “I’ve eaten a little.”

“You don’t look like it. Do you want me to make you something?”

“I can’t eat. Not right now.”

“Want to talk?” she asked.

“As a matter of fact,” I said. “I do.”