I rolled slightly, and then my body was falling, slamming against the floor with a loud thud, and my eyes finally popped open, the sun blinding them. “Fuck.”
After Ally left last night, Danny quickly took her abandoned chair and leaned into me. “C’mon dude, let’s go beat that fucker’s ass.”
It sounded like a good idea, really it did. But I knew the outcome wouldn’t solve anything. Ally would probably get pissed, and the guy would probably sue me or have me thrown in jail. It really wasn’t worth it. Ally was my girl, whether that asshole knew that or not, I really didn’t care as long as I had her, even though I wasn’t exactly happy with her at the moment.
But then I had to watch every single girl fawn all over him, going crazy because there was an actual rock star at Clammy’s. So, I took a shot, and then another…and then another. By the time I was done, I could barely stand, and I think I recall Danny and Grant bringing me home, or maybe it was Riley. I really couldn’t remember shit.
I heard that insanely loud noise again, and finally realized it was my phone. Thank God I didn’t have to work until later tonight. I rolled over, crawling around the room, until I finally found my phone that had somehow ended up in a drawer underneath my TV.
Five missed calls and three new texts. I tapped on Ally’s name since it popped up first, but then quickly hit the end button. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to talk to her yet. Plus, I’m pretty sure I was still a little bit drunk, and I didn’t want to end up saying something I would regret later.
Ally and I would get through whatever messed up shit was going on with her ex-husband, but I didn’t have to like it. I was beyond pissed that she hadn’t told me what was going on in the first place, but I think I had gotten so worked up because my own guilt was eating away at me.
I scrolled through the rest of my missed calls and realized they were all from Kara. Great. My nerves instantly went into overdrive as I tapped on her name, worried that something had happened with the baby. I had a feeling last night would be my last time drinking for a long while.
“Nick,” she huffed, answering on the first ring. “Finally. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you forever.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, panic lacing my voice as I jumped to my feet and began ripping drawers open to find clothes. “Did something happen with the baby? Are you in labor? Isn’t it a little early for that?”
“Calm down, Nick. Jeez. Everything’s fine.” I dropped down to sit on my bed, breathing a sigh of relief.
“So, what’s up then, Kara?” And why in the hell did she feel it was necessary to call me a million times?
“Well, I have something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you think we could meet up this afternoon? Maybe meet for lunch or something?”
“Um...” I scrubbed a hand over my face, not up for doing anything, but I had a feeling that I needed to do this. I wasn’t sure I was going to like whatever Kara wanted to talk about, at all. “Yeah, I guess we can meet up. Text me and let me know what you want for lunch, and we’ll meet up there.”
“Okay, see you in a little bit then.”
I took a quick shower, and went in to the kitchen, taking an aspirin and drinking a whole bottle of water before I left to meet up with Kara. She had picked a small restaurant on the other side of town, and it made me a little more at ease because I knew I wouldn’t bump into Ally since she had texted me that she was out running errands. I hated not telling her the truth, but I just hadn’t figured out how to tell her. Yeah, Al by the way...you remember my ex? Yeah, the one who was a total bitch? Well, she’s kinda pregnant, and I’m going to be a daddy soon. Sounds like a lot of fun, right?
I’m sure she would think it’s a total fucking blast.
The waitress guided me towards a table in the back where Kara was already sitting, and I slid into the spot across from her. Her belly barely fit into the booth, and she really did look like she could pop at any time. The thought made me start sweating instantly. I so wasn’t ready for this yet.
“Hey, Nick,” she greeted me quietly as I opened the menu and then shut it without even looking. I definitely couldn’t eat anything. “You’re looking a little rough. Late night with your little girlfriend?”
I rolled my eyes. “Not really any of your concern, Kara. So let’s cut the shit, what’s going on?”
“Well, you see, it is my concern. Do you really think I want you raising our baby, when you’re out getting drunk, and screwing around with that trashy girlfriend of yours?”