Page 59 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

I tossed the phone aside and started the process of piecing together the previous night. Judging by the way I felt, I had to make sure I hadn’t done anything asinine. I didn’t think I’d ever gotten so drunk before without getting sick, which probably explained why I had the worst hangover of my life.

The entire time at the Brewhouse was pretty clear. Nothing foggy there. I’d thrown back too many too fast, but all that seemed to spur on was lots of hysterical laughter. I’d had a fantastic time dancing with Kate and then… Stephen. That was when it started getting bizarro. He’d offered to drive me home and Kate had encouraged it. Something about putting my mind at ease come Monday. It’d seemed like a good idea at the time, and his friend had been a good buffer. But after he’d been dropped off, it was just Stephen and me, and then… and then what?

An apology, I remembered that.Crazy. Then something about calling a truce. He took my phone and… and…Holy crap, seriously?

I grabbed my phone and tabbed on the text. I received porny messages from random numbers often enough. There were too many creepsters out there hoping to get a response. Of course, I’d think this one was just another to add to the slush pit.

Once I had the conversation up, I was able to see the original message he’d sent to himself from my phone:

Knock knock.

Okay, that made me laugh. Ow, ow, ow. I bit my tongue hard soI’d stop, then massaged my temples. Laughing was off-limits until my head was repaired.

I replied,Who’s there?

I put the phone down, not expecting a response for a while. It was probably not even a minute before it dinged.

As soon as you remember the answer, I’ll let you know. It’s pretty damn funny, though.

I smiled. Hopefully, I wouldn’t remember it anytime soon because it really was freaking hilarious.

Ding.

You never told me how you’re feeling.

Is that your version of a joke?

That bad, huh? And here I thought you were getting better when I dropped you off.

I was until I started drinking again with Christa. Big mistake.

At least you were at home.

Hopefully. Like the rest of me, my memory hasn’t fully recovered yet.

He didn’t respond, so I assumed he was done and I’d see him on Monday. I rested my eyes and started going through the parts of my night after we’d called our truce. Coming home, Christa yelling and beating up the furniture, accusing Dre of—

Ding.I’d like to call you if you’re up for it.

Call me? Texting was one thing, but calling? I wasn’t sure if I was up for it, but I told him okay anyway. Then the flutters began.

My phone rang and the flutters turned into quakes. I saw this guy all the time now. Why should a little phone call make me nervous?

“Hello.”

“Were you serious about not remembering?”

“I’d never tease about a knock-knock joke.”

“Perry, you know that’s not what I meant.”

I didn’t see what the problem was. Except for the sound of hisvoice making me feel a lot better. I could definitely see that as a problem. But only if I let it.

“Things are still a little blurry, that’s all. I’m sure you’ve had many nights like that before.”

“I’m going to be honest here. It worries me that you’re not even sure if you were home or not.”

“Well, I woke up in my own bed, so that’s a good sign.”

---