Jesus. When had Rip become a little gossiper on the level of the town greats like Poppy?
“I can hear youuu…” I yodeled at top volume.
I winced as the loud noise hurt my head. And my top lip got stuck on my teeth. Damn. When was the last time I drank any water? Or brushed my teeth?
“So, how are we playing this? Do I need to go get my moonshine stash or are we trying to sober him up?”
I smiled at that. My buddy Charlie was here. He was a good guy. Not a hard-ass at all. He shared his moonshine and that shit would put hair on your chest.
“I think it’s time to slap some sense into him. He can’t lose his liver over a woman. Even if it is Amelia.”
Great. Somebody left killjoy Rip in charge.
My door burst open and I cringed at the noise. Hands lifted me off my bed. I started swinging but only caught air.
“Guys, come on. Da numbs are gone,” I whined, eyes still closed. I was afraid if the numbness was gone, that meant the room would start spinning.
“Use your legs, you Neanderthal.”
Bain was a meanie. I stuck my lower lip out. “Don’t wanna.”
Jayden slapped me on the back and I lurched forward, forced to use my legs just to avoid face planting. “Time for a men-only bonfire.”
That sounded good. I straightened my knees and attempted to walk with one eye cracked open. Thankfully, someone let me lean on them the whole way out to Rip’s truck. They could have been more gentle when they threw me in the passenger side, but then Bain handed me a flask and I was willing to overlook it.
Rip got behind the wheel and started driving out to the cliff we went to that the ladies didn’t like. There were no sea caves in that area and the hike down to the ocean was a bit treacherous, making it the perfect spot for us guys when we needed some testosterone-only time. I uncapped the flask and tipped my head back for a big swig.
And sprayed the liquid all over the inside of Rip’s windshield.
“What the fuck, man?” Rip looked over at me in disgust, brown liquid dripping off his arm.
“It’s coffee!” I complained.
“Yeah. It’s what non-alcoholics drink.”
I sneered at him. “I don’t ’ppreciate your sar-ca-sisms.”
Rip snorted and tried to ignore me the rest of the way even as I sang him all his favorite songs. Just the choruses, though. Those I knew the words to. Mostly.
“A blue Tacoma, California,” I sang. “Sing it with me, Rip! If heaven is anywhere…”
“Jesus.” Rip cut the engine and climbed out, slamming his door and ending my song.
“Rude!” I yelled to the empty cab.
I wrinkled my nose at the flask and then drank down all the coffee anyway. Maybe that would wet my whistle enough to keep singing at the bonfire. Maybe Rip brought his guitar. That would be rad.
The door I was resting my elbow on swung open suddenly. I toppled right and would have bit the dust if it hadn’t been for strong arms holding me up.
“Nice shoes, Bain.”
I meant the compliment. His boots looked shiny new.
“You called us just in time, Rip.” Bain didn’t sound like he heard my nice compliment. Maybe I should say it louder. Or sing it! Everyone loved a compliment set to music, amiright?
I blinked and we were all seated around a roaring fire as the wind from the ocean hit the side of my face. My eyes felt like they had sand crusted in them.
“How’d we get here?”
All four heads whipped over to look at me. Rip looked like he was struggling to hold in laughter.
“We took turns fireman’s-carrying you down here. You ever think about losing some weight?” Jayden gave me a dirty look.
I rubbed my flat belly, not sorry at all, but a little concerned I’d lost time. “It’s all muscle, boys.”
What do you know? The numbness was gone, but nothing was spinning either. I may have sobered up with that little nap.
“My bulletproof coffee worked, I see.” Charlie winked at me.
“Ah shit, did I just drink essential oils or herb grass or some shit?” I chuckled before I remembered I wasn’t in the mood to laugh. Maybe ever again.
The guys all looked relieved I wasn’t crying in my coffee or drunker than a skunk. Admittedly, I’d been a bit of a mess for over a week now. Ever since Amelia blew up everything standing on the very foundation I’d toiled over just for her. I was willing to give up everything for her, but she was willing to let us go over an innocent conversation with a woman who meant nothing to me.
“Feel like telling us about it?” Bain asked, staring into the fire.
No, I didn’t feel like talking about it, thinking about it, or especially feeling about it, but I knew that wasn’t healthy. Drinking my weight in whiskey was a surefire way of ending up just like my older brother. As much as I knew I’d live a miserable life without Amelia, there was still some part of me buried deep that knew I couldn’t accept living like this.
I let out the breath I’d been holding in and told them all about that day at the jobsite. Being the awesome friends they were, they all listened without interrupting until I was done, my energy drained and my heart sitting in the sand by my feet.
“Man, I don’t get it. You dated Jazzie for like two days. What’s with the overreaction?” Rip was the first to dive into things, having heard bits and pieces of my tale over the last week.
Bain sat back in his chair. “Nah, this has nothing to do with Jazzie.”
“What do you mean?” Charlie asked.
Bain looked at his brother, Jayden, who nodded his agreement, before explaining. “Listen, women don’t explode over a simple conversation. There was something bigger and scarier going on in her head before she ever
