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Dots appear and disappear. The screen goes black, and I tap it. This goes on for minutes until there are no dots and no response. He saw my text. He thought about a reply, but he chose not to.

My chest aches, and the back of my eyes burn.

River is back. She nudges me with her elbow, and I drop the phone. “Oops. Sorry.” She picks it up before I can react. She gives me the phone, the screen facing up. “Hey, what’s with the texting? Tommy ghost you?”

Tears fill my eyes, and I suck in a deep breath. It hurts more than I imagined possible.

I. Will. Not. Cry.

River steps in front of me and bends to look me in the eye. “You’re upset. Sorry. It was a joke. What’s happened?”

And in this moment, I hate Professor Dick with all the fury I’ve harbored for years. It doesn’t matter that Tommy’s brother is not guilty of any of the things that happened to me. I blame him for all of it.

“This is all Professor Dick’s fault. He’s the reason Tommy’s not here. He’s the reason Tommy won’t respond to my texts. It’s all his fault!”

The people closest to us turn and stare, a few more move away and whisper to one another.

River’s brows shoot up, and she touches my arm. “Wow. Back up a bit. Start from the beginning.”

I pocket my phone and grab my cup from the ledge. Drink it. Then grab River’s beer and drink that too before she can stop me. I stare at the empty cup. It won’t be empty much longer. “I need something stronger.”

I walk to the kitchen with River at my heels. The same asshole is manning the keg. I veer around the douchebag and make my way to the hard liquor sitting behind him. Never mind beer. This day calls for something stronger. I grab the first thing my hand lands on and tilt it into my cup, filling it halfway before River grabs the bottle from me. I walk away, clutching the cup to my chest like a lifesaver. River shadows me.

I didn’t even see what the label on the bottle said, but the liquid in my cup is amber colored, like Professor Dick’s eyes. I take a gulp and welcome the unfamiliar taste. It burns going down. Hits the spot in seconds. Soothing. Numbing. I enjoy this … this welcoming nothingness.

“Dude, slow down. What’s going on?” River tries to take the cup away from me, but I pull back.

“I haven’t gotten drunk in two months. I’m celebrating!” I lift my arms in salute.

River’s shoulders drop. She presses her lips together.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not even drunk yet. Not completely.” I drain the cup. It burns going down.

I turn back to the kitchen, going for a refill on whatever that was.

River latches on to my arm. “I don’t think so. Give me your keys.”

I glare at her.

She says nothing, just puts her hand out. I fish into my pocket and give her my car keys. She pushes me toward a loveseat and gives the guy occupying it a killer smile. His face lights up at the attention. Poor sucker. He won’t get lucky tonight. Not with River anyway. She’s on a men-strike.

“Hi. Can you let my friend sit there for five minutes? I’ll be right back.”

The dude trips over himself, trying to make room for me.

Then she whisper-shouts, “Don’t let her leave, please?”

“Sure,” he answers with hearts in his eyes.

Dude stands there, watching over me like I’m a lost puppy, and he’s eager for the reward he’ll get when my owner comes back. River is back in less than five minutes.

“Can I get your number?” He leans in, tapping his phone.

She touches his arm and pouts. “Sorry, but I’m not really dating right now. Thank you so much for monitoring my friend, though. I have to take her home now.”

She kisses him on the cheek. He smiles, not even mad. Bet he’ll be jerking off to that innocent kiss for years to come.

Chapter Nine