Page 37 of Notes About Vodka (Happily Ever After Hangover #1)

Deciding to watch Mean Girls , soon we're all laughing.

A little later, Rhea comes home, her arms loaded with pizza boxes and a bag of hot wings. “I brought reinforcements!” she announces, kicking the door shut behind her. “Oh, my God, ya’ll. Seriously! We have a patio for this. Ya’ll, it reeks in here.”

“Rhea, you’re a lifesaver,” I say, jumping up to help her with the food. “And don’t be mad, I had a rough evening. But if you’re going to be mad, be mad at Skipper, he’s the one who made the joint extra large. We can’t help it if you don’t like to smoke. ”

“Uh huh,” she gives me a knowing look when she sees Val. “Hi, Val. Nice to see you again.”

“Hey, Rhea,” Val replies, giving her a charming smile, his eyes are dark and glassy. “I’ll help air the place out.”

“Please, make sure you do. Not all of us like getting high.” She replies with snark.

We dive into the food, the combination of pizza and hot wings perfectly complementing our munchies.

Between bites and laughter, I notice Val is surprisingly comfortable around my roommates.

Skipper continues to crack jokes, his humor as light and airy as the smoke continues to trail around him, while Rhea fits right into the conversation, her sharp wit keeping us all entertained.

As the movie ends, Val stretches and checks his watch. “I should probably head home,” he says, though there’s a hint of reluctance in his voice.

“Why don’t you stay?” I suggest, feeling a pang of regret at the thought of him leaving. “You can crash on the couch if you want.”

Val looks at me, then at the couch. “Alright, if you’re sure.”

Rhea and Skipper exchange a look but say nothing, just giving me supportive smiles as they head off to their rooms. I grab a spare blanket and pillow for Val, but before he can settle on the couch, I find myself standing awkwardly nearby.

“Actually, do you want to come to my room?” I ask, feeling a little bold. “We can cuddle. I mean, if you want to.”

Val chuckles softly. “I’m not much of a cuddler, Laura.”

Then he winks. Fucker.

“I’ve heard that before,” I say, recalling our previous night together. “But maybe tonight you could make an exception?”

He looks at me for a long moment, then nods. “Alright, just for tonight.”

We head to my room, and I pull him into bed. We lie there in the dim light, our bodies fitting together perfectly. Val wraps an arm around me, and I feel his warmth seep into me, comforting and steady.

As I drift off to sleep, I can’t help but think about how different things are with Val. There’s a sense of peace, of safety, that I’ve never felt before. And even though he says he’s not a cuddler, he holds me close all night long, as if neither of us wants to let go.

The next morning, moonlight filters through the curtains, casting a blue glow on the room.

My phone glows with an incoming voice message.

Val is still asleep, his arm draped over me in a way that feels both protective and intimate. I gently slip out of bed, careful not to wake him, and tiptoe to the living room.

Listening to the message, my heart sinks.

Oh, mama…

I move to the kitchen where Skipper is already up, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in hand.

"Morning," he says with a grin. "How was your night?"

I blush slightly. "It was good. Thanks for letting Val stay." Nothing happened, we just made out and talked, like normal.

"Anytime. You know I love having guests," he replies, winking. "What's on the agenda for today? Besides, you texted from work yesterday saying your mom was being crazy but then you didn’t say anything last night. So, what’s going on?"

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of what I need to say.

"I need to borrow your car," I admit, my voice more serious. "I found out my mom checked herself into the hospital's mental health ward in New Haven. I got a voicemail from the medical just now. It’s about a two-hour drive from here with the current traffic. I was going to go anyways on the scooter, but it looks like it may rain later today. So, may I borrow your car? I’d ask for Val’s, but I can’t drive a 5-speed… "

Skipper's smile fades, replaced by concern as he places his finger on my lips, silencing my rambling. "Of course, Laura. Take the keys. Do you need me to go with you? I can get Philip to cover my shift at the airport today. Is everything okay?"

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Not really, and no, I want to go on my own. I chose to move up here to be closer to her so I need to do this. She's lost a lot of weight, and the doctor says she needs 24-hour supervision for a moment. Apparently, my stepfather isn’t providing the care she needs. I don’t know how to get Nick to even want to help Mama. "

Skipper hands me the keys without hesitation.

"You know, you had to leave your dad, that trailer park was not a good place for you.

I just hate it that you left one alcoholic parent for a mental parent while dragging that piece of crap with you.

But, do what you need to do. If you need anything, just call. "

"Thanks, Skip," I say, giving him a quick hug. “I’m going to get rid of Sam, it’s just taking forever. And I know, it sucks, but when mom moved to Connecticut with Nick, I knew I would eventually have to take care of her. He’s a flake and has always been more of an enabler than an advocate.”

“Sounds like your current stepmom,” Skipper mumbles.

“Hey, drop it, okay? I don’t fuss at you about not coming out to your parents or about your sister’s own set of crazy, okay.”

“Okay,” he replies before hugging me again. He holds on for a moment longer than usual, his grip firm and reassuring. “Just know you’re not alone, alright? You’ve got me, Rhea, and even Val in your corner.”

He pulls back and gestures toward the fridge with a small, hopeful smile. "Want me to make breakfast before you go? I can whip up some eggs and toast."

I shake my head quickly, forcing a small laugh. "No, thanks. I need to keep my hands busy. Cooking right now will just make me overthink. Maybe I’ll fold laundry or organize the pantry before I leave."

Skipper chuckles, leaning against the counter again. "You’re always doing something. Alright, but make sure you actually eat something before you hit the road. I’ll text Rhea and let her know what’s up. She’ll probably want to check in with you later."

I nod, grateful for his thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Skip. And when Val wakes up, can you let him know I’ll call him later? I don’t want him worrying if he doesn’t see me around."

Skipper gives me a mock salute, his grin returning. "Consider it done. Anything else you need? A travel playlist? Snacks for the drive? Another pep talk?"

I can’t help but smile at his attempt to lighten the mood. "Just keep being you, Skipperooni. That’s all I need. I’ll text when I get there."