Page 46 of Bad & Bossy

I blinked, and I was in the liquor store.

I blinked, and a bottle of Lagavulin was in my left hand as I stood three people back in line for the checkout.

I blinked, and it was bagged up.

My heart thundered in my chest as I stepped out the chiming door of the store. Little droplets of rain hit my forehead, just a drizzle. I stared at the brown bag in my hand, knowing that the freedom from what ached in my throat was just inside.

What the fuck had I done? How had I taken such a drastic turn from how solid I was hours ago at dinner with Dana?

Teeth chattering and hands beginning to shake violently, I fished my phone from my pocket, pulling up my contacts as quickly as I could. I didn’t know who to call; I’d already exhausted my opportunity with Em, Bobby was out doing god knows what, and Grayson had his daughter tonight. Lottie and Hunter were out at an event and outside of those options, there was only one decent one left.

My thumb hesitated over Dana’s name. If I called her, if I asked her for help, the facade would break. She’d know. Not to mention she had a four-month-old at home and was likely strapped for sleep to begin with.

But I was almost eight months sober. I was so close. And I… I was fucking proud of that. But I wasn’t strong enough on my own to deal with it and I was slipping, my mind was fogging, and I knew there was a chance I’d lose time again and wouldn’t come to until the morning, hungover, broken, and damaged.

I tapped on her name.

It only rang once.

“Cole?”

“I need help,” I said, the words breaking as my fingers spasmed, the bag slipping from my grip. The glass shattered as it slammed against the concrete, little shards of glass spraying out the top and the scent of slaved-over whiskey filling the air. “Please. I’m sorry.”

I heard shuffling over the phone before she spoke again. “Where are you?” Keys jingled, and a few words were spoken to someone else, something that sounded like, watch Drew, I need to go. I breathed in shakily as I realized that she was coming. “Cole?”

“Flagstaff Spirits,” I trembled. I wasn’t far from her home. I could just go to her?—

“I’m on my way.”

Chapter 16

Dana

Panic. Pure, raw panic coursed through me as I clutched my phone in my hand. Down the line, the sound of shattering glass made me jump from the bed.

Please. I’m sorry.

I’d never heard him sound so broken. “Where are you?” I demanded, plucking Drew from his crib as he cooed playfully at me before pushing my way out the bedroom door.

Cole sniffled down the line, his breathing shaky. I stepped into the living room and placed Drew in his bassinet, nudging my sister to wake her up from where she slept on the couch.

“Vee,” I whispered, angling the phone away from my mouth. Her eyes flickered open, widening the moment she saw the fear on my face. “Watch Drew. I need to go.”

“O-okay,” Vee said, scrambling until she was sitting up.

“Cole?” I pushed. Grabbing my keys from the hook beside the door, I yanked the front door open and raced down the front steps toward my Camry.

“Flagstaff Spirits,” he had answered, his voice shaking violently.

My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. He’d lied to me. It was a problem.

But at that moment I didn’t care.

“I’m on my way,” I said. I ended the call and slid into the driver’s seat, backing down my driveway far too fast. Flagstaff wasn’t far from me at all, a five-minute drive at most.

————

The rain pelted me as I slammed my car door. Cole sat on the curb, his feet stretched out in front of him. His arms were wrapped around his middle, his jacket and jeans soaked. Behind him, near the front door of the liquor store, was a damp, brown paper bag with glass shards protruding from it.

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