Page 44 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘ArealityTV show,William! Do you not see how this whole thing has changed your “reality”? The world does not see the sweet man I once knew. They see Prince Willy. The rich, drunk “prince” along with his beautiful, talented princess, Danika, and his kingdom of pretentious dicks. Why are you even worried about me anymore? I don’t fit anywhere into your new life.’

Now I’m mad. Or maybe frustrated. ‘We’re really going to do this, right here on the sidewalk?’

‘If not now,when? I’m tired of worrying about you. I’m sick of being afraid I’ll run into you. I’m completely over Cole calling and begging me to come talk you down out of a drunken stupor, and I want no part in any of what this show has become.Zero.’

‘Colecallsyou?Still?’ I thought that stopped a long time ago.

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘Oh, I dunno, maybe because he’s afraid you’re going to drown in your pool with a bottle of Jack in your hand. The whole world is concerned; do you never read the tabloids?’

‘I read one recently,’ I snap back. ‘Youwere the headline.’

‘Ugh, please. I makeonetabloid and suddenly there’s a problem? I run a bookstore and have to walk past a magazine rack with your stupid face on every one, all day long. The paparazzi talks about you like you’re a drunk idiot and you’ve literally become exactly that.’

‘Now you think my face is stupid?’

‘I thinkyouare stupid for ruining my life.’

‘You seem to be blissfully happy with Alex, so how did I ruin your life?’

She shakes her head, frustration on her face. ‘Areyouhappy, Will? I want to know. Nearly two years into this, are you still happy with your choice to do this and now commit to two more years? You better answer honestly because in case you forgot, I know you as well as I know myself and I’llknowif you’re lying.’

I rub my forehead, dragging my hand down my face. ‘I’m an absolute fucking mess, Berx. I’m living with people I hate. I drink too much because I don’t know how else to deal with my constant bad decisions. I’ve got people around me all fucking day, and yet I’ve got no one to turn to that won’t manipulate me when I need to talk. I don’t even know who I am anymore.’

‘There’s only one person you can blame for that.’

A heavy sigh emerges. ‘You’re right,’ I say. ‘My misery is my own fault. And the only way I can deal with it is to forget. So, on that note. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m pissed I hurt myself and I can’t handle one more second so I wish you luck with Alex. I hope he makes all your dreams come true and I’m now going to disappear and forget all this ever happened.’ I back away from her, knowing nothing I can say will fix what I’ve done. It’s over between Berkley and me and she’s right, I did that myself.

‘Yeah, go drink some more, that’ll help!’ she calls after me angrily, and even though I’m refusing to turn around, I can tell she’s in tears. ‘Why don’t you figure out what the hell you really want in life and what makesyouhappy. I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re constantly asking your good friend Jack Daniel’s. Maybe ask yoursoberself instead?’

I storm past Jonah, who’s just exited the bar, likely looking for me.

‘Hello?’ he calls. ‘Where ya going?’

‘Out,’ I bark. ‘Don’tfollow me!’

17

WILL

‘William Adler!’ An officer yells my name as he approaches the cell I’m in, unlocking it and pulling open the door. ‘You’re free to go.’

I sit up from the hard metal bench I was sleeping on and realize my back and my head are killing me. Jesus. How much did I drink last night, because this is the worst hangover yet. I barely remember why I’m sitting in a jail cell this morning. A vague recollection is slowly coming back to me of fighting with Berkley, then getting into a fight with a guy who called me Prince Willy the Pathetic, then I decided to go home, get my Jeep and drive to a bar across town where no one knew me. I made it just fine; it was the drive home when all hell broke loose.

The officer was not even a little bit impressed with ‘who I was’ (but my drunk self actually asked him the question). After I failed the DUI test miserably, I was hauled into jail, my Jeep was towed, and I don’t even remember who I called with my one phone call. I can’t imagine who I’m about to walk out to, and if it’s Berkley – FUCK.

Dragging a hand through my probably disastrous hair, I stand from the bench and follow the officer directing me, his hand on my bicep like I’m a hardened criminal too risky to let walk on his own. Jesus, I used to just be a danger to myself and now I’m walking out of a jail cell as I endangered everyone on the road too.

He shoves open the door to the area where arrests are processed, walking me through to the main lobby. He hands me a plastic bag of my belongings and without a word shoves me out then walks away. I stop in my tracks, completely ashamed of who’s staring back at me. She being Berkley’s mom, Laura. Shit.

‘Well, well, well,’ she says in a motherly tone I’m not familiar with. ‘You have no idea how shocked I was to get a call requesting I come bail you out of jail after being arrested for drunk driving.’ She looks me over. ‘You’re hurt too?’ She touches my eye, which stings as she does. I reach up, feeling a lump.

I shrug. ‘I probably deserved it. Is it bad?’

‘It’s a bruised eye; it’ll heal. I’m more worried about how bad it is in here.’ She presses a finger to my chest, just over my head.

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