Page 185 of Unleashed

I swallow but shrug as I stare at her exposed shoulder. “Sure seems like it. Fuck her.”

“Yeah. Fuck them.” Rhonda cringes and whispers, “I never say that word.”

I lean closer and whisper back, “I never fucking do, either.”

She smiles, and her rosy cheeks and lips catch my eye. “I think I’m almost drunk.”

“I think you sped past that exit.”

Rhonda tilts her head, assessing me. “You don’t have to pretend you’re okay.” She hiccups and covers her mouth with a mortified expression, but then giggles.

“I’m not pretending. I’m so fucking lit that I just don’t give a shit about anything.”

Rhonda perks up. “Let’s find more booze.”

“Sounds perfect.” But we sit, staring at each other. She reaches up and traces between my eyebrows. “You have an upside-down V right here when you’re serious. I never noticed it before.”

It’s so random that I grin. “It’s a dunce cap.”

“You’re smiling, so now it’s gone.” Rhonda snaps her fingers. Unfortunately, she uses the wrong fingers. She tries snapping again and looks at me in horror. “I think I forgot how to snap.” I’ve never seen Rhonda like this. I’m so here for the comedic relief. Because hell, I need any relief I can get.

“I think there’s a hotline for that.” Rhonda laughs and grips the edge of the couch cushion.

“I think the room tilts.”

I nod and run my fingertip down her nose, missing it the first time. “You have a cute button nose.”

“You know what I really want?”

With a gradual head shake, I maintain my stability and avoid falling. “Nope.”

“I fucking want more rum. And I want to say fuck more. Oh, and I’m dating Captain Morgan now. Fuck Archer.” She grabs my thigh and leans forward, laughing into the couch cushion between us. How much did we fucking drink?

“You are? Cool. Let’s find him.”

“I have to pee first.” I help her stand, and she staggers to the half bathroom near the stairs while I raid the bar for more alcohol. Anything will work. As long as I can hold on to this numbing buzz.

Footsteps on the stairs snag my attention, but I sway and grab onto the bar. The shock on Val and Amos’s faces makes me laugh. “Yo. We need more rum. Or anything.”

Amos sighs as he approaches. “I think you’ve probably had enough.”

“Don’t start with me, Vaughn. I had a rough day, as you and everybody else saw.” I glance at Val, and she drops her gaze to a barstool. I should feel ashamed of myself, but I suffered enough earlier, and I’ll suffer more tomorrow.

“Where’s Rhonda?” Vaughn asks, looking around the room.

“I stuffed your niece into a cabinet.” I hear giggling in the bathroom, and I snort. The door swings open, and Amos appears relieved, seeing Rhonda. Like I would stuff her into a cabinet. I may be drunk, but I’m not that stupid. Maybe.

Rhonda walks out of the bathroom and concentrates on her steps, almost like doing one of those field sobriety tests.

Val says, “I wanted to tell you goodbye, sweetheart.”

Rhonda looks up, and hair falls over her eyes. She blows them out of the way with a giggle, but then sobs. “I’ll miss you, Val.”

Val smiles with teary eyes and hugs Rhonda. Shit. With everything she told me and being drunk, I forgot she was leaving Richmond for good. My stomach sinks. I like Rhonda. She’s a solid friend. But I can visit her when I visit my parents.

Rhonda clings to Val, and I feel sadder for the life she’s had. I’m a dickhead for complaining about any part of mine. I’ll never be a shitty father like Rhonda’s or like...

Val hugs me and whispers, “Everything will be okay, Greg. It isn’t the right time for either of you. I believe you need to grow apart to grow together.”

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