Page 109 of Stronger Than Fate

“He’s drunk as a skunk,” Niky said.

“Henry, we need to leave. You’re putting on a pathetic show in front of Dalina,” Waylon repeated.

He looked at him again and burst into another laugh.

“I alllllready to-ld youuuu...” he began speaking with a slurred tongue, and I couldn’t take it anymore, so I stood in front of him.

“Henry Woollardy, get up from that couch right now and do what they’re asking you to do.”

Henry looked at me and lost his smile. Then he stretched out his hand and touched my arm. I crouched down to be at eye level with his face, and almost got dizzy from the smell of alcohol emanating from his body. It was obvious that what he had spilled on himself wasn’t vomit but an entire bottle of some strong liquor.

“Your sister and your friend are worried. You need to get up and leave this place. Come on! Up!”

Henry looked at me, brought his hand to my face and caressed it, closed his eyes, and collapsed on the couch, unconscious.

“Did he pass out or die from shock?” Niky asked, quickly approaching.

“He passed out. It’s probably better this way. I’ll carry him and we’ll go,” Waylon said, immediately grabbing him and putting him over his shoulders to get him out of there.

Waylon was a tall, strong guy like Henry, but carrying him in that state was quite a feat, though he didn’t complain. Henry, drunk and unconscious, didn’t move at all.

We reached Henry’s car and laid him down in the back seat. Niky, with her hands on her hips, looked at him, and I couldn’t tell if it was with worry, disappointment, or pity.

“Waylon, take your car. You’ve done enough. I’ll take care of driving him home in his car, and Dalina can take mine.”

“No way. How are you going to get him out of there?” he said, pointing at Henry.

“If it were up to me, I’d let him sleep in the car all night,” Niky said.

“I can help her,” I offered. After all, Henry wouldn’t even notice, and I wasn’t going to leave Niky alone with this.

“Let’s do this,” Waylon suggested. “I’ll follow you, help you get him out, and then I’ll leave.”

“I’ll go in your car, drop it off at your house, and then leave too,” I said.

“I can drive you home,” Waylon immediately offered.

“You want to be a dead man,” Niky said with a smile, and Waylon laughed.

The three of us got into the cars and headed to Niky’s house. She was in front with Henry sleeping off his drunkenness in the back seat, I followed in her car, and behind us came Waylon in his.

We arrived at the house, and getting him out of the car required all our strength. To go up the stairs, Waylon carried him on his shoulders again and took him to what had been his room and the one I had occupied when I stayed at that house. After he was laid, or rather, dumped on the bed, the three of us stood looking at him.

“Do you need anything else?” Waylon asked.

“Da-li-na,” Henry mumbled, and they both looked at me.

“I think I should go,” I said.

“Waylon, I know I’m taking advantage of your generosity, but can I ask for one more small favor?”

“Of course, tell me what you need.”

“Could you take off his clothes so I can put them in the wash? Because this man has made the house stink.”

“I don’t think I can do it alone. I can hold him up, but I need someone to undress him,” Waylon stated.

“I’m not going to see my brother naked,” Niky said, and again they both looked at me.