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‘Thanks. I’m sorry, Dad.’
‘Don’t tell me you’re sorry, kiddo. Tell your head in the morning.’
‘It’s going to hurt, isn’t it?’
‘Like a bitch.’
She starts crying again.
‘Do you want to tell me what all this is about?’
‘I got dumped. Spectacularly. In front of an entire room full of people. And that was after I caught him with his hand up some other girl’s skirt.’
‘Do you really want to be with a guy who can do that when he’s with a knockout like you?’
She part smiles. I’ll take it. ‘You’re my dad – you have to say things like that. And no, I don’t want to be with him but it can still hurt, right?’
‘Yeah, it can still hurt, baby. Were you supposed to be going home tonight?’
She shakes her head. ‘I was going to stay with Meghan.’
‘Then I won’t call your mom until tomorrow, but I’ll text her and tell her you decided to stay here instead.’
‘Thanks.’
‘As for that Meghan character, she left you on a bathroom floor in a very vulnerable state. You might want to rethink your close friendships.’
She blows her nose like an old man.
‘How are you feeling? Like you want to be sick again?’
‘Not just yet.’
‘Come on, then, let’s get you to bed.’ I stand and put paste on her toothbrush, then hold it out to her.
‘Do I really have to brush my teeth?’
‘Not if you would rather they fell out from all the acid you vomited over them.’
‘Point taken.’
I help her stand and hold her steady as she gives her mouth a half-hearted clean. Then I walk her to bed.
‘Do I need to help you get into pajamas?’
She gives me a drunken, tired laugh. ‘You should see the horror on your face right now.’
‘Get into bed; I’ll bring you some water.’
When I return to her room, she’s already tucked under the covers.
‘Here, drink up. You’ll thank me tomorrow.’
‘I don’t think I’ll do much of anything tomorrow.’
‘Nope, I have to agree with you on that one.’ She drinks a few mouthfuls of water, and then I set the glass down on her bedside table. ‘’Night, baby.’
‘’Night, Dad.’
