Page 12 of Labor of Love

No longer in the mood to do anything, I wander back inside, heading for the bar. I’ve every intention of doing something nice by closing out Layla's tab and mine.

“Hey, Rodney. Add Layla’s tab to mine, please.” I pull out my card.

“She’s paid up.” He pauses, wiping the bar top with a chuckle. “Layla covered your drinks, too, saying it was a thank you for last night.”

Oh, she’s good. Knows right where to hit without laying a finger on me.

“Stetson!” a buddy calls out. “Parker got us all a round of shots to start with.”

Well, one more drink with old friends won’t hurt.

5

LAYLA

Did I leave my vibrator on?

Nope. Definitely my cell phone.

Squinting through the darkness, my phone screen lights up with Karli’s photo. I lean over to grab it from my nightstand.

“Kar?” My scratchy voice breaks the silence as I answer.

“Good, you’re up.”

Confused, I glance at the time.

“Are you okay? It’s almost two in the morning.” It’s loud in the background, bringing me fully out of my dreamy state.

“I’m fine. I’ve got a good buzz.” She giggles. “Parker and I want some alone time because I’m leaving for another trip very soon.”

“Congrats?” Can I go to sleep again? “That all?”

“It’s Stetson…Can he stay at your place?”

“What?” I sit straight up, heart already racing. “No! Why?”

“You live closest, and he’s really drunk,” she nearly pleads.

“Why is his drunkenness my problem?” The late-night memories I should have never heard begin to flood in. Countless nights my mother dealt with my father’s indiscretions. “I’m not responsible for him.”

“He’s been asking for you.” She sounds sad. “Something about a souvenir?” Her confusion eats at my guilt. “Can you please talk with him?”

“I don’t do drunken conversations, Karli. You know that.”

But Stetson isn’t my father.

“Okay. We can bring him back to Parker’s. I don’t want to wake my parents.” There’s defeat in her voice. She wouldn’t call me this late if it wasn’t important.

“Okay, bring him here.” If he can make it up the stairs, my couch will welcome him.

“Thank you! Just gotta pay off his tab––with an inconvenience tax.” Her voice brightens. “See you in ten.” Hanging up, I dump out my bathroom trash can, because if he drank a lot, who knows how unpredictable his digestive system will be.

The weekend market downtown is tomorrow morning, but who needs sleep when you can nurse a drunk man back to sobriety? Sleeping in only panties, I toss on a sleep set and pace my apartment waiting. The three of them are quiet as they make it to my door. Stetson has his arm around Parker’s neck for balance. He’s not a loud, overbearing drunk. There's longing in his gaze as he stares at me, and I blink away, unable to stare at those puppy eyes.

“The couch is all his,” I tell them.

Parker wanders in, and Karli grabs my hands.