Page 59 of Five Minute Man
Liz’s voice quivered. She paused for a moment and took a breath. “Well, we know what happens when Eve doesn’t get what she wants. She spiked his drink or, at least, that’s what we think happened. One minute he was fine, the next, he was acting all loaded and out of control. I mean, don’t get me wrong; Nick was no saint and could let loose with the best of them, but he always knew when to stop.” She looked at Holly, who nodded mutely in understanding and encouragement.
“Anyway, one of his buddies saw what was happening and managed to get him into a bedroom to sleep it off. While Nick was passed out, Eve snuck in and texted Annie from his phone, pretending to be him. She said he’d drunk too much and needed a ride home. Annie was working second shift at the hospital that night. She was a nurse, which is why she wasn’t at the party. She texted back, telling him to stay there and be safe, that she would be there for him as soon as her shift ended at eleven. When Annie showed up, she found Nick and Eve naked together in bed.”
Holly’s gasp sounded loud in the otherwise quiet room.
“Annie was devastated. She was every bit in love with Nick as he was with her. They were so good together, Holly. Perfect. The kind of soul-deep love you write about in your books, you know?”
Liz shook her head. When she spoke again, her voice was completely flat, devoid of emotion. “Annie ran out of the house and got back into her car. She got into an accident and was killed. Nick didn’t find out until the next day when our dad tracked him back to Eve’s to tell him.”
“Oh, my God, Liz,” Holly said, horrified. “That’s awful!”
Liz had tears in her eyes, revealing and magnifying the soul-deep grief Holly had never glimpsed before. “Nick lost it. When he found out what happened, he snapped. He didn’t remember any of it. Something broke in him, Holly. He left town after Annie’s funeral and never looked back. He sends me cards, sometimes, but he refuses to talk to any of us. He says it brings back too many memories.”
“I am so sorry, Liz.” Holly reached down and pulled Liz into an embrace.
Liz accepted it for a few minutes, quietly sobbing against Holly’s shoulder. Then she pushed away.
“So ... that’s all I have to say,” Liz said, sniffling and swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “You know what Eve is capable of now, so you can decide what you want to do with that information.”
“Liz, I just don’t know ...”
Liz held up her hand to cut her off. “No. No more talking. I meant what I said, Holly. Now grab that remote. I have half a dozen unrated movies, all with hot guys, and every one of them has at least one scene with full frontal nudity.”
