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His eyes widened, and he said, ‘Rough.’ He bounced his head along to the rhythm of the music. ‘I’ll let you two talk about that. I think the wine is calling me.’
‘I’ll be out in a minute, Vic,’ Deb said.
‘Oui,’he said and pouted his lips.
‘Oui, oui, oui,’Deb said back as her head fell back with laughter.
It was obvious Victor was after a good time and wasn’t going to offer Deb any emotional support. I barely knew him, but even I could tell that wasn’t his style.
Victor walked away dancing.
‘So, what do you want to do, Deb?’ I asked as concern filled my voice.
She rested her head back on my shoulder. ‘Well, eventually, I’ll look for a job, but right now, drinking and numbing it all feels great. I might just keep pestering Mum for money and drinking until I feel ready to work again.’
‘I don’t think it’s right to ask your parents to pay foryourdrinking addiction while you’re sad. Have you thought about getting counselling? Carlos got counselling, and I’m going to call Mum later and see how it went.’
‘Counselling?’ She screwed her nose at the suggestion. ‘What are you trying to say, Naomi? That I’ve got issues I can’t sort myself?’
I shook my head and looked at my wardrobe door for inspiration on what to say next. ‘No. What I’m trying to say is, if you’re having trouble sorting out your issues yourself, maybe you should seek professional help, as drinking is just a quick fix and not a long-term one.’
‘I hate that you’re so right about everything. Maybe you should be a counsellor yourself.’
I thought about Sebastian and Scott and sighed. ‘I can assure you, I’m not right about everything.’
‘Anyways.’ Deb sat up and ran her hands through her sleek, auburn hair. ‘I was thinking about maybe staying at Versace on the Gold Coast for my birthday. It’s just a suggestion. Nothing is set in stone or anything. I just need fresh scenery. A few nights away in luxury away from this shithole.’
I thought about my new roster, which was probably being created as we spoke. ‘What day does your birthday fall on?’
‘On a Friday.’
Could I ask for time off so soon?‘Well, my shifts are the same as at Mon Amour, so I only have Mondays and Tuesdays off.’
She stuck out her bottom lip. ‘But it’s my birthday on the Friday, and I need my best girl there.’
‘Deb, this is my first full-time job, ever, and you know this. I have always been casual. I’m a dedicated worker and don’t want to make a bad impression. I don’t think I should ask for days off so soon, but I’ll make it up to you. I’ll take you to dinner somewhere.’Please don’t let us start fighting again.
‘So, you’re saying that I have to celebrate my birthday on a Monday or a Tuesday because you can’t make it on that day?’ she asked with a raised voice.
‘No, not at all. What I’m saying is we can do something together on the Monday and celebrate just us two.’ I smiled and hoped that would make her happy.
She shook her head. ‘No, you either come to my birthday on the Friday or don’t bother coming at all.’
My God. Even the simplest things in life seem to turn into one complicated calamity. ‘Look, I’ll ask Patrick if I can swap a shift. Will that make you happy?’
She turned to me with a pleased-with-oneself smile. ‘Yes, there’s my girl. I want you to drink lots of booze with me.’ She clapped her hands with excitement and bounced on the bed.
‘How will we get to Gold Coast?’
‘Drive, silly.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘So, you’re going to drive to the Gold Coast?’ I arched my eyebrow.
‘No. Of course not. Why would I drive there on myownbirthday?’ She shot a defensive stare.
‘I don’t know. It’s your idea, so fill me in.’ I shrugged and felt like I needed to hold my tongue so I wouldn’t say anything else wrong.
‘Well, if we go, I was hoping you could drive. It’s only just over two and a half hours to get there.’ She smiled and gave me an innocent look.
