Page 56 of The P Arrangement

Apparently, Preston wasn’t sleeping.

But I didn’t want the two of them to get in a fight, so I cut her off before she could say another word. “I’ll see you this evening.” I hit End and set my phone down.

Preston was quiet again, and his breathing was deep.

“Pres?”

“Hmm?” It came out more like a grunt.

“What do you remember about last night?”

He rolled away and onto his back, and I turned to face him.

“We went to that bar and had too much to drink.” He frowned and then laughed. “You almost biffed it outside.”

I remembered that too. “But you caught me.”

“More like you fell into my arms.”

“I’m a graceful drunk. What can I say?”

He smiled.

“Do you remember anything else? My brain is kind of foggy after that, but I had this dream this morning…” Part of it had felt so real, but yet I couldn’t form a complete memory of it. I lifted my left hand, but it was just as bare as it had been the day before. Maybe the alcohol had made my dream more vivid.

“I remember being outside, and then suddenly, we were back here at the hotel.” Preston’s brow furrowed. “I don’t even remember how we got to our room.”

At least he had that.

“It’s worse for me. I don’t even remember coming back to the hotel. All of a sudden, I remember taking my clothes off, but nothing before that.”

“So, you remember us having sex?”

“Which time?”

He laughed again. “I’m glad you didn’t forget that.”

I shook my head, not finding any humor in the situation. “I’m embarrassed that I let myself get so carried away. I’m almost forty. I’m a mother. We were so irresponsible.”

Preston cupped my cheek. “Hey. We didn’t have that many drinks. They were just really strong. And just because we’re almost forty doesn’t mean we don’t get to have fun anymore. Also, Delaney, you are more than a mother. Please don’t beat yourself up.”

“You’re right.”

“If it helps, I’m pretty sure we walked home. It must have cleared some of the alcohol out of us, and that’s why we remember being back here.”

“It does help.”

“Can we go back to sleep now?”

“No.”

“What? That was a joke, right?”

I showed him the time on my watch. “We have to get ready for the farewell speech.”

Preston groaned and rolled over. “This is bullshit.”

“Would it help if I brought you some pain meds?” I was assuming he had a headache, just like me.

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