Page 26 of Sweet Escape

I stay in bed until almost noon on Sunday, even though I wake up at seven.

Fucking hangovers are the worst.

I love a bottle of wine as much as the next girl, but what Idon’tlove is incessant phone calls from my ex. Which is what I dealt with last night after my tête-à-tête with Memphis at the restaurant bar. After the third call in thirty minutes, I decided that maybe waiting around for Murphy wasn’t in the cards. I instead took a little trip to the liquor store and bought a bottle of tequila.

I didn’t drink the whole thing—I mean, I’m still alive obviously—but Ididplay a foolish drinking game with myself that I would take a shot every time Theo called or texted.

A mistake, if ever one has been made.

After I finally stumble my way through putting clothes on and tucking my hair into a messy bun, I down a handful of ibuprofen, put on the biggest pair of sunglasses I own, and brave the outdoors. Thankfully, the worst of the summer weather seems to be in the rearview, and I’m greeted by a slightly overcast day, meaning I don’t feel the need to shrink into the shadows like a vampire with every step.

Eventually, I make it to Rosewood Roasters. I order a flat white and take a seat on one of the big, comfy couches. I need to write today. My deadline is slowly creeping toward me. But when I take a seat, all I can manage is to close my eyes, hoping to will away my headache.

The sound of my phone beeping with an incoming text actually startles me, and I peek at it, hoping it’s not another text from Theo. I’m not sure my liver can handle it.

I breathe out a sigh of relief when I see my screen.

Murphy:Hey, I have to head into SF with Wes tonight and prob won’t be back for a few days. Some stuff’s going on with his mom. You gonna be cool without me?

My brow furrows. I don’t know a lot about Wes’s mom, but from the few things Murphy has shared, it seems like she has some substance abuse issues that have caused drama at least a few times.

Me:No prob. I’ll be totally fine. Hope everything’s okay.

Murphy:She’s ... a lot. We’ll see. Sorry I’ve been so busy since you got here!

Me:Not a big deal. I promise. And I basically showed up uninvited lol. Not expecting you to be available every minute.

Murphy:I know. But I’ve missed you and I don’t want you to think I’m too busy to spend time with you.

I grin. Murphy’s one of those sentimental types. The one who always wants you to know how important you are and who waxes poetic about your friendship.

I’ve never had a friend like her before. Most of the people I grew up with and socialize with in the industry are fairly vapid and self-absorbed.

Her energy is refreshing, even if our time together here has been limited.

Me:You’re good. You love me. I love you. That’ll still be true when you get back from SF.

Murphy:

I set my phone down and close my eyes again. I hold my warm coffee cup between my hands in my lap. I sip it occasionally and let the lulling sounds of a coffee shop blur out the edges of my exhausted mind.

When another text comes through and I take a look, I grip my phone in frustration.

Theo:If I don’t hear from you soon, I’m going to call your parents.

I push out of my seat and head outside, shoving my sunglasses back on my face and dialing Theo’s number.

The idea that he’s going to talk to my parents doesn’t actually bother me. Our relationship has always been cold and fake, with both of them keeping me at arm’s length, more interested in themselves than in their only daughter. So if Theo were to call them to say I disappeared, I’m sure their response would be neutral at best.

I’m more concerned that he doesn’t seem to accept I don’t want to talk to him. Ever.

He answers almost immediately.

“Well, if I’d known that was all it would take to get you to call me back, I would have threatened to call your family days ago.”

“I don’t care if you talk to my parents, Theo. I barely talk to them myself, so have at it. I’m done with these ridiculous text messages and incessant phone calls, so I’m letting you know that it’s time to leave me alone.”

“Come on, Vi. You’re being ridiculous.”

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