Page 4 of All Night Long

Leaning back in his chair, Henry closed his eyes as Birch muttered, “He did what?”

“I know.” He opened his eyes and glanced between Birch, Dusty, and Kofi. “I should have made sure, but…fuck. I’ve been to the clinic already, so I should know soon.”

“Then you have to wait for the more serious results to come in.” Kofi’s dark eyes stared into Henry’s own green ones. “It isn’t like you to not notice the lack of a condom.”

“I know. Maybe I was more drunk than I thought.” Henry ran his hands over his face. “I have a few tense days of waiting before I know for sure. The rapid test came back negative, but I want to make sure.”

“Shit, Henry.”

“I know. Shame, cause the guy can fuck.” Henry rubbed his stomach when it rolled. Maybe he shouldn’t have had that extra bottle last night. “Hungry?”

“I could eat.” Kofi picked up the menu even though they all knew it by heart. They ate at the cafe every week, but he liked to check in case anything new had been added. “Full English for me.” The same thing he always ordered and what Henry usually ordered as well, but today his stomach rolled at the thought of eating all that food.

Birch took their orders, arching an eyebrow when Henry asked for egg on toast, then went up to the counter to order. It was his turn to pay this week, and Henry sat back in his chair, waiting for his stomach to settle. Yeah, he’d had too many beers, and he was now feeling it.

Kofi saw him rubbing his stomach. “You good?”

“Too many beers?” He shook his head when the other three laughed at him. You’d think he’d know what his limit was now that he’d hit thirty but no, he hadn’t.

“Told you last night to stop, but would you listen?” Dusty chuckled. “Now your stomach hates you.”

“It’ll settle once I’ve eaten.” Henry was certain his stomach would. It always had before, but even as he thought that, his stomach grumbled.

“Not sure it agrees.” Birch sat next to him and stared. “Sure an alien isn’t about to burst free?”

“Fuck off.” They all laughed and once their food was delivered, Henry tucked in, but almost immediately struggled to eat it. His stomach was definitely protesting, but he ignored it. He needed food to soak up all the beer from the night before.

He ate his food, but it was a struggle. Copious amounts of coffee helped, but after he’d finished eating, Henry sat rubbing his stomach, grimacing as it cramped in pain. Maybe he should have stuck with the coffee instead and not had the food. Too late now, and Henry was hoping it didn’t make a return visit.

They talked about their week and Birch suddenly spoke up. “I’m doing it.”

All three of them turned to look at Birch. “You’re going to ask her?” Kofi asked. “You’ve got the ring?”

“I have. Something simple. You know she doesn’t like those rings with huge rocks, so it’s a platinum band with a single diamond.” Henry was genuinely happy for Birch. He’d been with his partner, Isla, since high school, and he’d never once been tempted to leave her.

“Do you have it all planned out?” Kofi grinned as he moved out of Birch’s way. “Come on. We all know you have this night planned. Ring? Restaurant? Do you have something romantic for later? Hotel?”

Birch glared at Kofi and muttered, “All of it.”

They all laughed and talked some more before they all left. Henry went back to his apartment and immediately went to bed. His churning stomach had him in bed, curled up on his side. Maybe a couple of hours' sleep would settle his stomach.

After an hour of trying to sleep, Henry gave up and just lay in the bed curled up and cradling his stomach. A cold sweat broke out, and he groaned as his stomach rolled. He was never drinking again. He was done. He was going sober and would be a teetotaller from now on. Never again would a drop of alcohol pass his lips.

His phone beeped, and he reached over to pick it up, moaning as a fresh wave of pain hit him. Seeing it was from Birch, Henry read it.

How you feeling lol

Like death.

Awww poor baby. Feel better soon.

Thanks. Going back to sleep.

Henry dropped the phone on the floor and pulled the covers up to his ears, shivering. “Shit,” he mumbled. He felt like absolute crap and couldn’t wait to sleep it off, but sleep was off being elusive and Henry was tempted to take a sleeping pill hehad in the bathroom. He’d been prescribed them a while ago when he’d had a bout of insomnia, and he still had a handful left. The thought of getting up to go to the bathroom though… yeah, he wasn’t looking forward to that.

Shoving the covers down, Henry sat up and wrapped an arm over his stomach as it protested him moving. He was so not going out again until he felt better. Fuck, he hoped the guy from the night before hadn’t given him anything. Bastard, not wearing a condom. At least his test had come back negative, but shit. Who did that today, knowing what could be transmitted?

Henry stood and staggered to the bathroom. He did what he had to do, then checked the bathroom cabinet and found the pills he needed. Taking one, Henry went back to bed. Hopefully tomorrow he would feel better.

---