Page 37 of Forever Mine
I worry my top lip.
Me: I need to tell you something. When will you be home?
ForeverYours: Around 10.
He’s staying at David’s until ten? I won’t get any time with him tonight.
Me: See you then.
Chapter Ten
JULIEN
It’safter nine when I slam the front door open and stumble backward to close it. It may have taken me about three tries with the key to unlock it. I’m slightly inebriated. Other than that one beer I had at the team cookout a few weeks ago, I don’t drink anymore. Because of Jay, we have a no-alcohol rule in the house. Tonight, I may have consumed a little too much, if one beer and three shots can be considered too much. After a long dry spell of eight months, the answer is a definite yes. My body isn’t used to it anymore. I forgot how much it sucks.
When Liz saw it was karaoke night at Belly’s, her face lit up like Christmas. We played pool, she sang, she forced me on stage to do a duet with her. That was embarrassing. But fun. She wanted a beer, so I used my fake ID—thank you, Fallon. We sat in the back of the bar because it was quiet and didn’t attract the attention of waitresses. We drank. Liz outdrank me, which is shockingly surprising because Liz was a complete teetotaler in high school. By the time we did our third shot of tequila, my head was swimming, and I called it quits. Liz wasfine. No effects. Which should’ve been impossible. She’s half my size. Does having amnesia make you immune to the effects of alcohol?
“Jules, is that you?” Ryder calls from his open bedroom door.
“Yuup!” I weave a path into the living room and face-plant onto the couch.
Footsteps come down the hall, and I wince when a light comes on.
“Fuck, man. Turn it off.”
He pokes me in the back of the head. “Are you drunk?”
Not too drunk to give him the middle finger. Ryder’s booming laughter makes my head throb.
“Buzzed, not drunk. And please be quiet.” I turn my head before I suffocate myself. “Is Elijah back?”
“I haven’t seen him since this morning.”
Groaning like a man in the throes of death, I roll over. “I need to sober up before he gets here.”
Ryder walks off. Lifting my hips, I make several grabs for my phone in my back pocket.
Me: Never drinking again.
Liz: Poor baby. Insert mwah-ha-ha evil laugh here.
Me: Not funny.
Liz: A little funny.
Me: Glad I can amuse you.
Liz: You’re a fun drunk.
Me: I’m NOT drunk. I’m just not used to tequila. That shit hits fast.
Liz: Thanks for today. I had fun. Get some sleep, pretty boy.
Me: I’m waiting for Elijah to come home.
Liz: If you want me to be there with you when you tell him, I’ll come over right now. I can try to explain.
Me: Thanks, but I need to do it.
