Page 174 of Between Hate and Desire

Lennon, I’m so sorry. Come back to the bar so we can mend your wounds the right way.

Maddie

Yes! Please!

Lennon

I’d rather mend them with a bottle of wine and cry about my pathetic love life in bed.

Sophie

You really wanna be alone right now? Let us help you through this.

Maddie

I’ll even let you wear the Birthday Girl crown! C’mon!

I push back my tears and snort at Maddie’s last message.

Lennon

Okay. I want SHOTS, you hear? Lots and lots.

Anything to take this fucking pain away.

It’s after one when Sophie brings me home. She stopped drinking so she could take care of me. She’s such a great sister.

“Shh…the cops will call my neighbors,” I whisper-shout as I trip over my own feet.

“I think you mean the neighbors will call the cops.” Sophie chuckles. “And it’s you who’s being loud, not me.”

She gets my door unlocked, and I stumble my way inside behind her. “Pfft, Hunter isn’t home anyway. Shocker.” I groan loudly. “How many did you let me have?”

“Believe it or not, you only had three shots,” Sophie says, setting my keys and purse on the coffee table. “You’re a lightweight who hasn’t had alcohol in almost a year.”

“I’ll be fine after a cup of coffee,” I say, walking to the kitchen.

“No, ma’am. You need to go to bed.” She grabs my wrist and leads me to my room.

“Aww…I miss my baby,” I say as soon as I look at the empty crib. “Oh my God. I’m such a bad mom. How could I leave my baby? I didn’t even check on her. What’s wrong with me?”

Sophie carefully pushes me down onto the bed, then kneels to take off my shoes.

“Mrs. Locke has it under control, Lennon. It’s good for Allie to get comfortable with her now since she’ll be staying with her when you go back to work. It’s just one night,” she reminds me.

“I miss her so much!” I half-sob. “Like, it literally hurts my heart how much I miss her.”

“I know,” Sophie says with a grin. “Take off your clothes, and I’ll get you some water.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I mock, saluting her as she walks out of my bedroom. When she returns, I’m down to my undies and bra. She hands me a glass of water, and I take a long drink.

“I just texted Mrs. Locke, and she responded right away.” Sophie hands me my cell.

“Oh my God, is everything okay?” I rush to check the messages.

“Everything is fine!” Sophie quickly says. “She was feeding Allie and rocking her back to sleep. She said there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Oh,” I say with relief. “Good.”

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