Page 110 of Return to Us
Jack snorts. “Well, I wanted to forget.”
Guess that’s not going to happen.
“How about you come in, and we’ll get you a vitamin drink and a bed? Sleep might help you forget.”
“I want no bed!” he declares. “I want to forget the bed. The bed is bad.”
It’s clear there is a lot more to this, and I’m not going to get any of it with him drunk off his ass. “Okay, well, you can’t be out here, and if you wake Melia, I’ll kill you.”
His face falls and then he whispers. “She’s not insane.”
“Who?”
“Melia. She’s the best.”
“Yes, and she’s sleeping, so let’s get you inside and cleaned up.”
Jack nods, takes a step, and catches himself on the banister. “Oops. I’m falling again. I’m always falling and I never get up.”
“Come on, buddy,” I say as I wrap my arm around his chest, trying to steady him as we walk.
We get inside, and I take him straight to the guest room. I smile when I see Jess’s over-loved and oversized sweater in the corner from the last time she stayed the night. At night, she’s usually freezing and wraps herself up in it. I can’t bring myself to point out that the holes don’t help with warmth.
“You’re always happy,” Jack says as I get him to the bed.
“Yeah?”
“You have Jess. I want that. I thought . . . I thought it was possible one time.”
This wasn’t exactly the night I had planned, but I can’t remember the last time Jack was a mess like this. Not since . . . and then it hits me.
The date.
It’s the anniversary of his mother’s death.
I sit beside him on the bed. “You’re sure this isn’t about a fire or someone you lost?”
He shakes his head. “Not this time. It’s another girl and another time. Another loss.”
I can usually understand Jack’s ramblings, but he’s got me totally lost this time. I have no idea what girl and what loss he’s going on about.
“Talk to me, man. What the hell happened that caused you to drink a bottle of whiskey?”
His eyes drift open and closed and a low sigh comes from him. “She likes me still, and I don’t want to like her. I can’t like her. I can’t be who she wants.”
“Who isshe?”
Jack flops back on the bed, his legs still hanging over the side. Then I hear a loud snore come from his mouth. Great.
I move him around so he’s at least on the bed and shove some pillows under his head. I shake my head, looking at my best friend who is going to hate himself in the morning.
Once in my room, I grab my phone and video call Jess, needing to see her.
“Hey,” she answers with a sleepy smile.
“Did I wake you?”
“No, no.” Her voice is quiet, and it’s clear I did wake her. “How is Melia?”
