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“Alright. Let’s get into it.”
Lilith and I are six hours into an intense writing session when Bianca’s name flashes across my screen. I glance at it and then back to Lilith, who’s smirking at me in challenge. That unspoken question lingers in her eyes. What am I going to do?
We’re in a good flow. The words are coming. The music is vibing. But I made Bianca a promise. If she calls, I’ll answer. At the same time, my head feels like it’s about to bounce off my shoulders, and I don’t know that I can have a straight conversation with her. I mutter a curse, torn between my loyalties.
“Just one sec,” I tell Lilith.
I don’t bother to get up and go outside as I answer the video call. Bianca is in bed, her face relieved when she sees me, and I feel like a dick for what I have to tell her.
“Hey,” she says.
“Hey.” I watch Lilith get up and walk to the fridge, grabbing herself a water and the bottle of vodka.
“What are you doing?” Bianca asks.
“I’m actually in the middle of a writing session,” I tell her.
“Oh.”
“You want one shot or two?” Lilith calls out from the kitchen, intentionally making herself known.
Bianca sits up, trying to see behind me. “Who are you with?”
Lilith snorts and offers a nonapologetic shrug on her way back to the sofa.
“Can I call you back tomorrow?” I ask Bianca. “I’m busy right now.”
Hurt flashes in her eyes, and she hesitates before answering. “Um, sure. I guess.”
“Don’t worry,” Lilith hollers. “I’ll take good care of him, princess.”
Before I can say anything else, Bianca hangs up, and I glare at Lilith. “Do you have to be such an asshole?”
“Just helping things move in the natural direction. You can thank me later.”
My jaw works as I stare at the half-written song on the table. “I think I’m done for the night.”
“Oh, stop,” she says. “I didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers. You’re just getting tired now that the shrooms are wearing off. What can I do to make you feel better?”
When I look up at her, I have a feeling she means anything is on the table.
“A massage?” She arches a brow. “A drink? What do you want?”
When I don’t respond, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small baggie, emptying something into her hand.
“How about this?” She slides the pill across the table, and I recognize it as an Oxy right away. The question on my mind is, how the fuck did she know?
I’m staring at the medicine I’ve been jonesing for since I left the hospital, lost in a tangled web of thoughts when she comes to sit beside me.
“You don’t have to live with the pain.” She picks it up and brings it to my lips. “Just let me help you. It will be our little secret.”
Before I can answer, my phone rings again, and she rolls her eyes. “You’re a popular guy tonight.”
I glance at the screen and see it’s Adam, and I answer because it gives me a second to think.
“It’s about goddamn time you answered your phone,” he slurs into the speaker. “What’s up, motherfucker?”
“Not much,” I reply, questioning my decision to pick up.
“It’s been too fucking long,” he blurts out in a drunken stupor. “When can I come see you?”
“I don’t know.” I stand and turn away from Lilith. “It’s not a good time. I’m leaving on tour soon.”
“On tour.” He chuckles. “Big man on campus, huh? What’s your address?”
“Why, Adam?” I ask, unable to hide my annoyance.
“What if I told you I’m in LA right now?”
“Are you really?”
“Just give me your address and find out,” he says.
“It’s not my place,” I tell him. “I’m crashing with a friend, and I can’t have guests here.”
“Why are you fucking dodging me all the time?” he demands. “What’s your deal?”
“Nothing,” I grit out, so fucking tempted to just spill everything right now.
“Listen, don’t be a prick,” he tells me. “I want to see you. I need to talk to you about the wedding.”
“What about the wedding?” I glance at Lilith to see she’s listening in with amusement.
“We’re moving it up. Bianca doesn’t want to wait.”
It feels like the floor drops out from under me as he goes on to rattle off more details. Things about her parents. A honeymoon. His intention to knock her up as soon as he can. My vision narrows to a pinpoint as he says something else I don’t hear.
“Are you even fucking listening?” he asks.
“What?”
“My best man,” he says. “I want you to be there. And I thought we could have a little pre-bachelor party while I’m here. What do you think? You, me, and a bunch of big ass titties in our face at the strip club.”
“I have to go, Adam,” I cut him off abruptly. “I’m sorry. I have a work thing.”
