Page 63 of Rumor Has It

“My heavens, if it’s not ‘The Boone Hatcher’!” she screams, running and crashing into me. She zeros in on me, puckered and slathered with bright red lipstick. I dodge her advances, but I get it on my neck.

“Hey, how are you?” I mutter, already feeling the effects of the alcohol and her.

She molds herself to my side, whispering into my ear, “I’m good, even better than I was in high school.”

“That’s great; although we never slept together, so I wouldn’t know.” I take another pull from my heart healer.

She presses her mouth to my ear. “They have a bathroom. You could come find out.”

“Hard pass, but thank you for offering.” I turn my head, trying to avoid her breath.

She leans away from me, waving at the door. “You’re never going to guess who I’ve found!” She whirls my chair around until I’m facing the crowd. “Boone Hatcher.”

“Please, you have got to stop saying my name like that.” I shove my finger in my ear, hoping to stop the ringing. “Were you this over the top in school?”

“We were!” We’re joined by her long time buddy, Michelle Toler. They look at me like they’ve just hit the lotto.

“Ladies, it was good to see you, but I need to head out.” I toast with them, downing my drink before I try to stand.

Michelle pushes me back down, licking her lips when she does. “Not until you buy me a drink.”

“I was hoping to have a little fun.” Marla runs her nails down my chest. I swallow hard when vomit rises in my throat, and I turn green.

Michelle nozzles me. “I heard you had a brutal run-in with Mackenzie. I hate that for you.”

“What the fuck do you know about it?” I growl at her. That shit hurts to even hear, let alone the visuals killing me. “Don’t talk about her.”

“Yes, don’t.” I whip my head around at the sound of his voice.

I blink, begging my big mouth to say something now. “You.”

“Yes, me.” He glares at me. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”

I tip my drink back to the cheers of my personal pep squad. “I have now.”

“You know, I told her never to come here; there’s nothing good to ever come out of going back,” Ridge snarls, glancing at his phone.

I jump up, crowding him. “Is that her?”

“Stop,” he growls at me. “Back the fuck up, man.”

I hiccup. “I only want to tell her how much I fucked up today and that I’m sorry.”

“Ha! Like that’ll fix the mess y’all made today.” He chuckles, typing on his phone.

I pull mine from my pocket, pulling the contacts up. Here’s the thing, once I saw Marla, I’ve played being drunk in hopes she’d leave me alone. I’m feeling no pain, but I’m not wasted.

I hold my phone out, peeking over the top of his. “Will you at least tell me if I have the right number. I want to apologize.”

“Why?” Marla lays against me, earning her the ire of Ridge. “She’s a whore. She fucked two guys the same day and hasn’t a clue who the baby daddy is.”

“Two? In a day?” Ridge’s eyes are wide. “Y’all make her look like an amateur.” Michelle’s mouth pops open. “No, thank you.”

“Look here, motherfucker!” Michelle’s words barely audible from her drunken state.

“Don’t push me.” Ridge stops her, taking my phone from me. “You need to get away from these two. Mack will flip shit if she hears about it,” he says, handing it back to me. “I didn’t do that, and I will plead the fifth.”

“Thank you,” I say, smiling. It’s then it dawns on him what I’m doing and the look he gives me is priceless.