Page 52 of One Pucking Destiny

I need sleep.

My body feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. My heavy eyelids inch open. My room comes into focus through squinty eyes. My head pounds, and I close my eyes again, preferring the darkness.

“How are you feeling, champ?” Her angelic voicecuts through the chainsaw currently attacking my brain.

“Like death.” My throat hurts.

“Has anyone ever told you that you shouldn’t chug whiskey? It’s meant for sipping.”

“It might’ve been mentioned.”

I roll onto my back and throw my arm over my eyes. “What time is it?”

“It’s eleven o’clock… tomorrow.”

“I slept through the whole day and night?”

I can hear the smile in her voice. “Yeah, you sure did.”

“Hmm. I guess that was a strong drink.”

“You mean bottle.”

“Same difference.”

She chuckles. “Apparently, to you, it is. Can you sit up?”

I scoot to a seated position, fighting through the pure agony in my head. Ari stands beside my bed, fresh-faced and beautiful. She hands me a couple of pills and a glass of water.

“Take these.”

I swallow the pills and down the water.

“I’m making you the perfect hangover cure. But you need to get into the shower first. Maybe brush your teeth.” She grins. “It will make you feel human again.”

“What’s the hangover cure?”

“It’s one of Marcela’s recipes. They’re special pancakes guaranteed to make you feel better. Marcela always made them for Mom, and Mom always made them for me. They’re magical. I ran to the store this morning to get the ingredients.”

“You did that for me?”

“Of course. Can’t have you feeling like shit on our last full day here, can we? Come on.” She extends a hand.

I place my hand in hers and stand from the bed, noticing I’m wearing a pair of boxer shorts that I wasn’t wearing yesterday. “Ari, why am I in different clothes?”

Her gaze narrows. “What do you remember from yesterday?”

“Last thing I remember, I was sitting on the ledge in the pool, listening to the guys and the strippers laughing.”

“And that’s all you remember?”

“That’s all.”

“Well, I had to help you shower because you puked all over yourself.” She scrunches up her nose.

“What? I puked…you showered me?”

“I had to. You were smelly.”

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