Page 52 of Vows of a Mobster

I winced and she realized the same moment at poor choice of words. Then we burst into laughter. Maybe the alcohol was helping.

“Okay, I’ll do him,” I chuckled, amazed that we can joke at the time like this.

“Brie, just continue being yourself,” Marissa recommended. “Do your thing. I know you won’t cling to him, but just be you. Okay? Don’t run from him so he won’t chase, but don’t run to him either.”

“Well, that is so clear,” I announced, rolling my eyes. “I love you girls so much. You are my ride or die, you know that. Right?”

“Hell, yeah,” both of them answered. “We are here for each other.”

I nodded, swallowing hard.

“By the way, I forgot one thing,” Marissa cleared her throat. “Mateo wanted you to get in touch with him tonight.”

“Tonight?” I shrieked. “And say what?”

“I don’t know,” she chewed on her lip.

“Well, it is not even seven in the evening,” I told them both. “It is tonight till about three a.m. We have some time.”

All three of us grinned smugly. “Anyone up for more wine?” I offered, although I knew the answer.

We drank all the wine that Marissa brought over by nine that evening. Luckily, she ordered more that got delivered to our door. DoorDash was Godsent. So we drank some more. At eleven, we could barely speak.

“I don’t think I can drink anymore,” I slurred my words. “I need some water.”

My hand wavered through the air, trying to grab the bottle of water. “Shit, it keeps moving,” I muttered.

“Do we have to go upstairs to sleep?” Daphne was shitfaced, her face planted on the kitchen table. I wasn’t much better but at least I was still sitting.

“I’ll sleep in the bathroom,” Marissa groaned. “Is the heat on?”

I finally succeeded in grabbing the bottle of water and was fumbling with the top. “No, I think A/C is on,” I mumbled. If she thought I’d go check, she was mental.

The top finally off, I gulped the water down. “Maybe it waters down alcohol,” I wasn’t sure if I spoke it or just thought it. Either way, I drank some more water.

“You have to call Mateo,” Marissa insisted.

“Huh?” I tried to remember why.

“The mobster boss,” she muttered.

“Mateo the mobster boss?” I asked, frowning. Shit, this was too much alcohol.

“I guess,” she agreed. “I’ll send you his number.”

I slowly stood up and grabbed my iPhone sitting on the table. Daphne was a goner, snoring on the kitchen table.

“You got it now,” Marissa slurred. “God, I don’t feel so good,” she added, looking a bit green.

“Go to the bathroom,” I told her and closed my eyes, hoping the spinning would slow down.

I heard her shuffle to the bathroom. While I debated whether I should go check on her, swaying on my feet, I heard my phone beep. I picked it up and squinted at the message. It was from Marissa.

In slow motion I swiped the message, and it opened a contact.

“Mateo The Cousin,” I slurred, and slowly headed for the stairs.

I pressed the call button, while eyeing the stairs. While it rang, I held on to the rail and pulled myself up.