Page 56 of Bourbon Truths
My taste buds were completely anesthetized from the alcohol, allowing the liquor to burn down my throat at an easier and faster rate.
“Shut up, Kace,” Goldie said. She wiggled in through the crack between the door and jamb, letting herself in.
From where I could see her, she was a blur of black cotton-covered legs and long golden hair.
“Holy shit,” she said. “What the hell did you do?”
“Let me in, Goldie,” Jett said from the other side of the door.
“Hold on. The dresser is blocking the mattress propped up against the door.”
In a fog, I watched Goldie struggle with moving the mattress to the side, trying to make room for the door to open. Her heels clicked on the floor, and she grunted as she worked.
Even if I’d wanted to fucking help her, I couldn’t. I could barely focus on what she was doing, let alone get up.
She must have made enough room for Jett to get in because from my perch on the ground, I saw two pairs of suit-covered legs walk into the room.
“Shit,” Jett mumbled as he entered and took in the devastation I’d created. Bending down to my level, Jett tried to grab the bottle from my hand, but I cradled it closer to my chest. “Kace, give me the bottle,” Jett warned in his domineering voice.
“Fuck you,” I spat, bringing the opening of the bottle to my lips.
The lid of the bottle clattered against my teeth before I was able to place my lips over the opening. In one smooth motion, I dipped my head back and waited for the liquid to burn down my throat, but I wasn’t awarded with the sweet smolder of whiskey. Instead, the bottle was ripped from my grasp, and I was pushed to the side.
My head fell forward, my neck muscles no longer working in accordance with my brain.
“Goddamn it,” Jett said. “Goldie, go get me some water and bread. I need to get something in him.”
“Don’t listen to him,” I replied, falling forward.
“Go, little one,” Jett said softly.
“Jett, I’m scared.” Goldie’s voice sounded weak. For the first time in my life, I could tell she was frightened.
“I got this, little one. Please go get some water and bread, okay?”
“Okay.” She sniffed and then left.
I felt relief at her departure. I welcomed my drunken state—I relished it, actually—but I hadn’t wanted Goldie to see me like this. I didn’t want her to see me wearing my demons like a fucking scarlet letter.
Jett pushed me back against my bed frame so my head was at eye level with his. My vision was blurry, but from what I could see, Jett wasn’t happy.
“What the fuck happened?” Jett asked, holding my head still so he could look at me straight.
“Aw, you look upset,” I taunted him.
“Of course I’m fucking upset. I haven’t seen you in a week and come to find you’re drinking your life away. What the fuck, Kace?”
I reached out to the cloudy vision of his head and made contact with his cheek. “Don’t cry, baby.”
“You’re a dick,” Jett said, grabbing hold of my arm.
“Whoa, fucking slow down,” I demanded when the room started to spin.
My world tilted on its end as Jett guided me to the bathroom, me stumbling the entire time. My stomach twisted, and I knew the quick movements were going to result in me purging every last drop of alcohol I’d stocked up on.
“Slow the fuck down,” I demanded again.
Jett didn’t listen and continued to drag me into the bathroom. “You smell like shit,” he said, pushing me toward the toilet.
