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He nodded. “Sure thing.”
A few hours later, I was so shitfaced that my new buddy Stan cut off my alcohol supply. I tossed whatever bills I had left in my pocket on the bar and grumbled that I was going somewhere else before staggering out. But when I hit the street and attempted to walk, I wasn’t so sure I could keep upright without some assistance. So I held one hand against the brick on the outside of the bar and skooched along the street, leaning my weight one step at a time. It probably took me ten minutes to go all of four buildings and get to the corner, only to realize I was fucked because I wouldn’t have a building to lean against while I crossed. Rather than get run over by a cab, I thought maybe I should sit down for a few minutes, which is exactly what I did. I slid my back down the last building on the block and sat on the disgusting New York City street.
Just as I got comfortable, my phone buzzed in my pants pocket. But my inebriated state kept me from being coordinated enough to dig it out before I’d missed the call. Reading the name of the missed caller, the nausea I’d experienced earlier today came flooding back. Billie. I fucking hated what I’d dumped in her lap. Nevertheless, I didn’t want her to worry, so I hit the button to call her back.
“Hey.” She sighed. “How are you?”
“I’m gucking freight.” No, wait…that’s not right. “I mean I’m gucking freight.”
“Oh boy. You don’t sound like you’re doing too well. Or should I say not wooing dell.” She paused. “So…I guess it happened?”
“You mean, did I sell my soul to the devil?” I frowned. “Yeah, I did.”
Billie was quiet for a few moments. “It’s going to be okay, Colby.”
Her voice was so tender that tears streamed down my face. “It’s not going to be okay. You know why? Because you don’t deserve this shit.”
“Neither do you, Colby. Neither do you.” The line went silent again, until I heard her sniffle.
Fuck. “Please don’t cry. I can’t fucking take hurting you like this.”
“I’m sorry. I should be the least of your worries right now.”
“Can I see you?” I asked. “Saylor is staying at my parents’ house tonight.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Colby. Not tonight anyway. But maybe tomorrow? I just know I’d be even more emotional if I were to see you right now, and you need a good night’s sleep.”
Heaviness weighed inside my chest. “Okay.”
“Where are you?”
“Not far from the courthouse. I went straight to the nearest bar.”
“Will you do something for me?”
“Anything…”
“Will you go home now? Don’t drink anymore. Get in an Uber and get some sleep.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I can do that.”
“Thank you.” She paused. “I’m going to go now, but everything is going to be okay. We’ll get through this, Colby.”
I wasn’t sure how, but I knew she meant well. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
After I hung up, I did exactly what she asked. I pulled up the Uber app and ordered a ride home. At least I thought I did… Until a voice woke me sometime later.
“Colby?”
I blinked my eyes open. “Billie? You’re here…”
“Of course I’m here. Why wouldn’t I be at my apartment at three in the morning?”
Her apartment? I glanced around. I was lying on the floor in a hallway, so I pushed up onto one elbow. “How long have I been sleeping?”
“I don’t know. I was sleeping myself and had no idea you were out here. My neighbor works late. She called to ask if the man outside my door belonged to me or if I wanted her to call the cops.”
I raked a hand through my hair. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I thought I went home.” I shook my head and tried to remember how I got here, but everything was fuzzy. “I remember being in an Uber and shutting my eyes. But after that, I’m drawing a blank.”
She held out a hand to help me up. “Come on. Come inside.”
I took it and climbed up from the floor, following her in.
Billie shut the door behind us and started texting. “I just need to tell Amber everything is fine so she doesn’t actually call the cops.”
I nodded and waited until she set her cell on the counter. “What time did you call me earlier?” I asked.
“It was about nine o’clock, I guess.”
“Shit. I guess I was out there for a while. Sorry.” I thumbed toward the door. “Do you want me to go?”
Billie shook her head and held out her hand. “Why don’t you come to bed with me?”
I nodded and followed her into the bedroom. Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about undressing, at least down to my boxer briefs, but it felt wrong to do more than take off my shoes before getting under the covers. The room was dark, but there was a window open, and the streetlights illuminated enough for me to see once my eyes adjusted. I rolled onto my side, and Billie did the same.
