Page 16 of You Were Invited
Hi, thanks for your concern. I’m okay. I’m getting off my phone now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow when I can think better. I’m sorry. (sent at 1:29 pm)
Her notification went off what felt like a second later.
where r u? i thought u had serious work to do, and u leave town? What gives? Babe, what’s wrong? (sent at 1:29 pm)
A growl escaped her throat. She hadn’t listened to his voicemails, but she assumed it was more of the same thing. The terror that was gushing forth on the screen of her phone pulled at her heartstrings, but she reminded herself again of one thing: he hadn’t looked for her until now.
The self-aware, present man she’d known had been replaced by a self-centered party boy. She’d asked him to keep the parties to a few a month, but since Christmas, he’d forgotten she’d ever made such a request. The parties were growing more drunken, sloppy, and expensive.
She composed a long, detailed text, but the rage welling up inside her prevented her from gathering her thoughts coherently enough to make her case.
She deleted it. Instead, she texted:
I’m taking time to think. The party the other night was too much. I hope you can get some sleep tonight. Talk tomorrow? (sent at 1:45 pm)
She doubted it was what he'd wanted from her, but she wasn't in the mood to argue. Chris had every right to be angry at her for leaving without notice after all. He left her on read for about fifteen minutes before she gave up and turned her phoneoff for the night. Hopefully a night's rest would help him to calm down.
Tears ran down her face.
Logically, she was as furious as Mom had been when she’d finally left Dad. The woman had handed over two decades of her life to someone who hadn't absolutely treasured her. But the abandonment only reminded Annie of the anger she herself had marinated in, when her mom had disappeared into the night, leaving behind a lonely, anxious teenage daughter like she was a piece of furniture.Mom could have gotten us both out while I was still a baby.But that was a whole can of worms on its own, and now wasn’t the time to unpack it. She shoved down the memories and let out a heavy sigh.
Finding the exit and walking through it was unavoidable. I might hate myself right now, but I can’t be with someone like Christopher, like the man he’s become.I can’t go back.
And I definitely should have known better sooner.
six
“Sit.”
Mom’s hands released Annie’s shoulders once she flopped down on the couch. The world spun before Annie mustered the energy to right herself. Why did her body feel so heavy? Like she was a sack of sand?
“Luke!” Mom’s voice reminded Annie of a Powerpuff Girl’s sonic scream. “Come here– it’s Annie!”
Dad appeared from the hallway, his footsteps heavy as he entered the living room. His hooded eyes turned to the cathode ray tube TV for several seconds before landing on Annie. He sipped on a green-tinted drink, chunky ice clattering in the tall glass.
“What’s up?”
“I found Annie wandering in the backyard, stumbling around like a zombie.”
Dad frowned. “She okay?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” Mom sighed heavily, turned to Annie, before putting her hands on her hips and facing her husband once more. “She’s acting… drunk.”
Dad narrowed his eyes and looked down his nose, studying Annie. “Hmm.”
“Luke. Why’s your daughter drunk?”
“I don’t know.Is she?”
Feeling lightheaded, Annie puckered her face. She raised a cool hand to her flushed cheeks as she sank deeper into the couch pillows. “Drunk?” Her mouth felt like she’d gotten a shot at the dentist. “Drunk,” she repeated more firmly.
An amused smile crossed Dad’s lips.
“Am I drunk? Like Daddy gets?”
Like a crack of lightning, the smile fell from his face.
“Well, Luke?”
