Page 1 of Trashed to Treasured
1
BRODY
I stared at a photo of me and Geo, trying really hard to force myself into the final stage of grief.
Acceptance.
Clearing my throat, I squared my shoulders before speaking to the snapshot. “This is gonna be good for me. We weren’t meant to be together. We’ll both be happier on our own.”
See, I could be mature and reasonable and…past the worst of my pain and sulking.
The bottle of vodka I’d been nursing since last night was calling out to me, so I grabbed it and took a swig. The last swig, apparently. With a bit of a slur, I shook my head and said, “Geo, you’re a complete douche, and I can’t believe you did this to me again.” My voice got progressively louder with each word. “I’m so stupid for falling for your dumb face and great body and sexy hair. I hate you!”
Ripping the photo in half, I tossed the side with me into a box and shredded Geo’s face into confetti before reaching for the bottle again. “Dammit, it’s empty. Just like my heart, Geo. This is what you’ve done to me. Again!”
Okay, maybe I wasn’t quite ready for acceptance. I could spend a little bit longer in the anger stage before moving on. Who needed growth and forgiveness anyway?
I stared up at the ceiling for a while, wondering if that crack had always been there. And why wasn’t the fan on? I usually kept it going all the time. If the chain were just a little bit longer, I could turn it on.
Or maybe…
I squinted my eyes, trying to turn it on with my mind. I’d seen a girl do it on one of my favorite shows, and I was pretty sure I could too…if I concentrated hard enough.
I probably would have gotten it to work if my phone hadn’t interrupted my experiment with telekinesis.
“Dammit.” I considered ignoring the call…but I needed more vodka. So, I threw myself across the floor of my bedroom and hit the answer button. “I’m alive.”
“Are you?” Jesse had been calling for two days, and I couldn’t avoid him any longer. “Because you haven’t been to work all week. What’s going on?”
My head was spinning, but I didn’t have any more tears to shed, especially not for an asshole like Geo. “The short story is…Geo is gone. We broke up. And, as my girl Taylor would say, we are never, ever, ever, getting back together.”
“I’m sorry.” Jesse sounded as deflated as I felt. Which, oddly, made me feel both better and worse. He had never liked or trusted Geo, so I braced myself for his I-told-you-so. Fortunately, it never came. “I know you were hoping things would turn out differently this time…and I wish they did.”
I sighed and the lump I’d been swallowing for days was back in my throat. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine. I just needed a few days to cry it out, and I’ll be good as new. I promise.”
Jesse didn’t seem convinced. “Well, I’m guessing you haven’t eaten yet, so I’m picking up burritos and heading over.”
“No.” I flopped dramatically on my side and caught sight of my discarded bottle. The empty bottle. “Well, I guess I could eat. But can you bring a bottle of vodka or two? I’ve got another 36 hours of mourning before I need to sober up.”
“Shit.” Jesse sounded like he was rushing now. “Have you just been drinking this whole time?”
I’d dozed off but quickly came to. “Hmm?”
“Make sure the front door is unlocked if you’re gonna pass out or puke. I don’t wanna have to break a window to get in.”
“Key’s under the mat.” I hit the end button on the phone and closed my eyes for just a second. My head was starting to hurt, and without more vodka to numb…everything, I was starting to feel nauseous again.
“Wakey, wakey!” I heard Jesse speaking, but my eyelids didn’t work. Fortunately, he helped me out by prying them open with his thumb and forefinger. “Do I need to call an ambulance?”
I groaned and swatted his hand away. “Wait, where’s my water?”
“Good idea. I’ll get you some.”
My eyes drifted shut again once he walked away.
Just a split second later, or at least it felt like a split second, he was back and shoving a cool glass into my hand. “Here, drink this.”
“Bless you.” I held the glass to my forehead for a moment before I took a swig, excited for the burn that would ease the pain in my chest. But there wasn’t any burn.
