Page 14 of Burn for You

I close my eyes and have to focus to say, “Goodnight Heathy.”

chapter six

MAY

The sun burnsmy eyes as I walk along Main.

Ruby Cove is starting to get busier again. After the peak of summer it died down a bit, but now that it’s coming up to the holiday season there are a few more sets of feet walking the streets.

I’ve got my sunglasses on and my hoodie up over my head, but the sun is still finding its way to my eyeballs. I groan as I push open the door to The Sugared Plum.

“Ah, look what the cat dragged in,” Vanessa says from behind the counter.

“You did this, you know.” I point at her.

“No, I didn’t.”

“If you hadn't told her she can’t hold her drink,” I nod my head to where Marina and Isla are sitting at a table in the corner. “We would not be in this situation.”

“You could’ve bowed out at any point, honey, but we all know that wasn’t going to happen now, was it? Not with your opponent.” She gives me a knowing look.

I roll my eyes, and it hurts. “Ow.” I press a hand to the bridge of my nose. The headache is building right behind my eyes.

“Sit down and I’ll get you a drink.”

“Grazie,”I say, and shuffle over to the table. Little bits of Italian have filtered their way into my vocabulary. Most of the people that live here speak a mix of both, so why can’t I?

I plonk my ass down on one of the soft seats and groan as the room spins.

“I thought I was bad,” Marina says.

I flip her the bird, and she just laughs before pressing her hand to her head, making me giggle before I do the same, groaning at the pain right behind my eyes. No noise comes from Isla’s corner of the table. I squint my eyes open to look at her. “And what about you, sunshine?”

“I’m fine,” Isla shrugs. She looks like she went to bed at eight p.m. and had the best night's sleep in the universe. She’s all dolled up with her makeup on and wearing a little sundress like any other day. Meanwhile, I’m sitting here looking like the town's newest hobo.

Isla’s always been like that, though. Even when she drinks way too much, she’s never hungover the next day, not like I am anyway. She usually just needs a good breakfast and she’s fine. Me, however, I need an entire loaf of bread and ten gallons of water before I start feeling normal again.

“Here you go,ragazze.” Vanessa sets three black coffees down in front of us. I can’t say I’m thrilled at the look of them, but at least it’ll give me the kick that I’ll need to get up off this chair when we leave. I take a sip and have to school my expression. It’s so fucking bitter.

“Grazie ma,” Marina says. She nods before shuffling back to the counter.

“So,” Isla starts. “Did Heath get you home alright last night?”

“He was an angel before he told me off.”

“Too right.”

I give her the side eye.

“When was the last time you had ten shots in a row?” Isla asks. I take a minute to think. “Exactly, never.” I scoff.

“Don’t you scoff at me. You need to look after yourself.”

I know she’s coming from a place of love, but the look on her face resembles a parent disciplining their teenager. “I know, but I’m fine. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“With a failing liver, maybe.” She raises her brows to her hairline.

“We’ll never know.”

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