Page 66 of Flying

River:

Mateo, cover some of Lee’s bets. He’s a middle school teacher

Mateo:

I makea mental note to check in with him tomorrow on that one as we head up and crash. A few hours later, I smell the faint waft of cigarettes and a pungent citrus and smoke aroma.Ugh, tequila drunk, and rolling over I can feel her cooled sweat on her back. I nudge Lily towards the glass of water on her nightstand and encourage her to drink it. Once I know she’s sleeping safely, I drift in and out of restless sleep. I really hate bachelor parties.Also, I still haven’t told her about the night of Grant’s bachelor party.The thought haunts my dreams all night long.

“Rise and shine, sweetheart,”I whisper as I hand an electrolyte drink, Advil, and prescription bottles to Lily. She groans, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and stares.

“I never drink like this, I didn’t feel it… why?”

“Side effects,” I shrug. She’s looking at me slack jawed, I think it’s just the hangover, but I press on, “Your medicine, it makes it harder to feel drunk, and it’ll make you feel a bit better this morning. Drink the full glass too, darling.” I give her a kiss and a wink. “I’m goin’ to handle the food. Come get something to eat soon, okay?”

Slowly, folks trickle into the open common spaces where we opened the adjoining doors to make it easy to go between the spaces. There’s coffee, mimosas, and a few random extras scattered on mycounter, while Delia has really outdone herself next door. Pancake trays, plural. Scrambled eggs with shredded cheese and other toppings lining the front of the sterno tray. There are crackling sounds, and the distinct scent of bacon and Taylor Ham waft through the air. Some sit ready to serve, on layers of paper towels, and even more wait for its turn on the electric skillet she's using.

How did these girls drink that much and still put out a full spread? There are berries and mint and yogurts too, all inside a tray of ice!

My eyes are bulging. I’m salivating when Delia says, “Boss, you act like you haven’t seen catering pre-work done before, what is going on with you?”

Taking a long, hearty sip from my mug, I scoff at Delia. “I think it’s called a hangover, Shane. You heard of it? But, seriously, nice prep work here. I’m thoroughly impressed.”

One look around the room and it’s clear: Nessa has mirrored the rainbow tits with rainbow sparkly dick items. There is even a large glittery banner reading ‘Same Penis Forever’ hanging up. On my second pass, I realize hangover wise we’re all in a similar boat, except for Nessa.I need to keep an eye out tonight. What is her deal?

Nessa lets out a clap and shriek that is way too loud and energetic for how we’re all looking, then hurries Lee and Stef into chairs facing back to back.

“Welcome to our first game of the weekend. I’ve handed our lovely couple each a pair of boxers and a piece of lingerie.” She gestures wildly towards them as if we can’t tell.

“I’ll ask a question like, who is better at school? Then they’d both raise up Stef’s panties, since we know it’s her. Since they are back to back, we can see how they answer but they can’t!” She lets out a laugh that teeters between evil and self-entertaining.

Affecting a gameshow host voice extra thick she wraps up with, “Now, let’s see if they’re truly on the same page. Our perfect couple, Stef and Lee.”

There are groans and half-hearted yay’s coming from around the room. Still, everyone fills plates and circles the couple.

Lily drops between my feet on the floor with her back against the firm base of the couch. She leans her head on my knee and downs her first cup of coffee then quickly starts on a second mug. Spearingsome strawberries and pancakes onto her fork, she eats the giant bite and turns towards me with a toothless grin before resting her head again.

“Okay, people, people,” our master of ceremonies commands.

Mateo enters, sees his sister holding a lace bodysuit, and groans into his coffee asking, “Isn’t this supposed to be done with, like, shoes or signs? Do I have to look at her holding that?”

At which point, Lee swings the tiny black leather thong Nessa handed him overhead like a lasso.

Mateo chokes on his coffee. “I’ll be right back,” he grumbles before returning with a coffee that I’m betting is way more Irish than coffee.

“I didn’t take you for one to care about your sister's relationships like this, Mateo. You know all those chicks you pick up in the city have their own big brothers, uncles, and dads who feel like that about you too,” Delia taunts him.

He just shakes his head again, swallows another swig of his whiskey coffee mix, and then tosses blueberries in the air before catching them with his mouth. “Whatever,” is all he replies back, softly and with a little less feeling than expected for the brother bear act he just had going.

“Alright! I’m going to keep this one simple to start. Who has the bigger family?” Emcee Nessa begins and both raise the lingerie, and Mateo raises his glass in cheers to Stef.

“That was too easy, okay, then who studied harder in school?”

Again, the lingerie is twirling in the air from both of them, before Lee interjects, “To be fair, more of my classes involved creating something than studying, so she was going to win. I think I worked a lot more. Painting on a time crunch is not easy.”

“Great advice for later, Lee. Back to our questions,” Nessa dismisses his caveats, and now she adds a suggestive tone to her voice, “Who is more adventurous?”

At this question, Mateo puts a hand on my shoulder and lets me know he’s going to power nap. I watch him roll the pancake into a tiny spiral and eat it in one giant bite before slinking back to our side and hearing the door click shut. Nessa is laughing as she looks at the couple who each selected the other for this one.

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