“Breakfast,” Mandy gives a thumbs up. Something must be in her eye because she has one closed with a weird look on her face. “Call and tell me all about it in the morning. I haven’t had breakfast either and I love sausage.”
She giggles the whole time as Daniel hustles her into the cab and I feel the world tilt. Andy steadies me. Then Daniel calls out, “Are you sure you’re going to be alright, Cate?”
I want to nod but I’m starting to feel nauseous. “You’re leaving me in good hands. He’s a doctor, you know.”
Daniel has lost his clones and gives me a curt nod before getting in the cab next to Mandy. When they drive off, I wonder why I feel bad about what I said. I’ve only been honest. But that thought leaves as another wave of seasickness fills me.
“My car is this way.”
“They have cars on oceans now? I think I need some Dramamine. I don’t feel so good.”
We stop and Andy faces me. “How much did you drink tonight?”
I try to shrug, but my shoulders feel like lead weights.
“Did you eat anything tonight?”
Fries enter my mind first. An unpleasant gurgle in my stomach forces the images of food to back off. I shake my head and speak through pressed lips. “I can’t talk about it.”
“Okay, fine, let’s get you home.”
Andy steers me along and my feet start to ache. I stop and attempt to take off my heels, but Andy’s hands stop me.
“Cate, sweetheart, it’s too cold for you to walk barefoot.”
“My feet hurt,” I complain, but he has me standing upright again.
“It’s not far, I promise.”
“I don’t think I can make it. Save yourself. I’ll just stay here to die.” I brush off his hands while trying to let gravity pull me to the ground.
Andy chuckles, then he sweeps me off my feet.
“Whoa there, cowboy. You’ve turned the world upside down.”
He speaks so faintly, I’m not sure I actually heard him say it. “You’ve turned my world upside down.”
In a normal voice, I’m so sure I dreamed those other words, he says, “We’re almost there.”
He makes me feel like Cinderella and I’m waiting for the magic to wear off. He shouldn’t be so nice to me.
“Why are you always trying to take care of me?”
He stares at me. And when he stops moving, his words are out of sync with the opening and closing of his mouth. “Because I—” Whatever direction he was going with that thought changes. “We aren’t going to talk about the past, right?”
I don’t answer because somewhere through the cloud of inebriation, I know that’s the plan. I try to focus on making it to his car without puking on him. When we arrive at the public garage, the only thing I will remember later about his car is that it’s sleek and shiny. He helps me sink into the buttery leather seat and I close my eyes, grateful I didn’t vomit the whole way here.
When my lashes flutter open, I realize I’m home. It’s dark and I have no memory of how I got here. What I do notice is that I’m still fully dressed and my clothes reek of alcohol. The stench makes me gag, yet I manage to stand. The fact that I sway on my feet tells me that alcohol still courses through my veins. I must not have been home very long. I have to steady myself on the wall after taking a few steps. The zing of pain in my feet alerts me that I still have my heels on. I kick them off before I walk out the room in search of the bathroom. I don’t bother to turn on any lights for fear of causing a blinding headache. The first door I open turns out to be a closet. I shake my head and turn in circles as my world continues to revolve around me. I walk down the halls until finally I make into my bath.
Fumbling with my sweater, I remember the thin belt at my waist. I have a doozy of a time getting it undone along with pulling the sweater over my head. That task done, I move next to undo my skirt. I end up chasing the back zipper like a dog does its tail. Finally, I give up and yank it off. My thong is a breeze but the bra gives me hell. When I’m finally naked, I grope for the shower knob and wait for the warm water. I pull open the door and pause because something’s not right. Then I remember the night with Andy and Daniel. I blink but step in the shower, hoping to clear out the confusion with the steam.
Standing there for a second, I recall Daniel’s deflated look. I wonder how I’ll face him at work on Monday and how I’ll survive Mandy’s wrath. She did warn me.