Page 83 of Goode to Be Bad

I thought I was done and tried to breathe. Got a breath, and then my stomach churned, twisted, and it started all over again in a gushing bitter stink.

After a few moments without any more vomiting, I heard a bottle cap twist and felt something pressed to my lips.

“Here. Water. Sip it, rinse and spit.” I knew him. Brain wouldn’t offer up a name, not even my own, but Iknewhim. Trusted him.

I tried to obey, but swishing was beyond my abilities, and it spurted out of my mouth. I heard a male chuckle. “Babe, you are stillsofucked up.” A towel touched my mouth, chin, throat. “There. Now try again.”

I did, and managed to rinse my mouth and spit it out. I took a sip, and then more, and then more. Then the bottle of water was pulled away. “Best take it slow until you see how it sits.”

“Uuuurrrgggghh, god, I feel awful.”

“Yeah, I bet you do, but you’ll be all right. I’m here.”

Somehow, hearing that soothed me. If he was here, I’d be all right. I wanted to cry, from everything, but I couldn’t. Staying awake impossible.

I woke again,and felt a little better, I felt less tired and my stomach was more settled.

“Gonna puke again?” I heard him say.

I shook my head. “Don’t…don’t think so.”

“Hey, you can actually talk. We’re gettin’ somewhere.”

“What happened? How much did I drink? Jesus.”

“I found two empty wine bottles, and my bottle of Johnnie Blue was significantly less full. So, a fuckin’ lot.”

“Shit. I don’t even remember the whiskey.”

I felt his hand on my head, affectionate, checking my temperature. “I was worried you were gonna have to see a doctor. You had alcohol poisoning, for sure. Thank god it wasn’t lethal, but it definitely did a number on you. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for days.”

“Oh my god. I can’t believe it. Where are we?”

“Don’t worry about that. When you can function normally, we can talk. I’m gonna give you some Tylenol and you’re gonna sleep again.”

I took two pills with more water, but this time the water had a flavor to it. “What was that?” I tried to open my eyes—the brilliant sunlight hurt like hell, so I closed them again.

“Water with electrolytes. I’m trying to rehydrate you.”

“Didn’t taste like Gatorade.”

“Fuck that. That shit’s sugar water. This is some shit Jupiter uses, no sugar, no junk, just straight electrolytes and natural flavoring.”

“Oh.”

Except for the sound of seagulls and crashing waves, silence enveloped me, and I was drifting off to sleep.

“Myles?”

His hand on my cheek. “Yeah, darlin’?”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“This?” My attempt at a rueful laugh ended in a pained moan. “For me. For everything I’ve put you through.”

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”