Page 144 of Love Sick

“Jesus, Julian.” Tori slaps my shoulder. “You’re worse than I remember.”

“Can wepleaseget some water?” Maxwell asks the sexy waitress.

“Sure thing, handsome.”

The cover band returns onstage, striking up a Carrie Underwood song. Cat and Ariel go wild and head for the dance floor. Maxwell shoves a glass of water in my hand. “Drink it all.”

I chug it and wipe my mouth. “Now what?”

Tori slides next to me. “You feel better yet?”

A hollow laugh bursts from me. “How do you come back from dead, Vicky?”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic, Julian.”

“Stop.” I meet her gaze, voice razor-edged. “I know you mean well, bringing me here and taking my phone and trying to distract me, but you’ve never been where I am. There’s no amount of alcohol that can make this better.”

She sighs. “Then I don’t know what to do for you.”

My voice drops. “I’m submerged, Tori, and there’s no air anywhere. I’m a grown man. Just let me be.”

After a long moment, she nods, eyes shimmering, and kisses my temple. “Do what you have to, BB.”

She hands me my phone, which she confiscated at the beginning of the night.

“I’m not going to text her,” I say.

“Well, now the choice is yours.”

* * *

The next morning, my eyes open to a brain-shearing light, and pain explodes through my entire nervous system, but for the first time in weeks, a lightness settles about me. Maybe Iwillsurvive this.

The feeling persists until I look at my phone to find an unopened text from Grace. Apparently, Ididtext her last night.

Me:I miss you grace

Grace:I miss you too Julian.

APRIL, YEAR 2

By mid-April, I’m accustomed to life without Grace—sort of. Not happy, but surviving. Tori stays until she’s convinced I’m on the mend, and I breathe a sigh of relief at her departure.

I love my sister, but for the last seventeen days, my every move has been scrutinized and likely reported to my entire family. I’m not exactly sad to see her go.

Crashing onto my sofa, I can’t find the energy to reach for the remote. Instead, I stare at the ceiling. Patterns emerge from the popcorn texture—a mountain range beside a river, a lobster with eight legs, and…a perfectly shaped uterus?

How have I never noticed that before?

My phone buzzes on my chest.

Kai:Did you hear?

Me:Hear what?

Kai:Alesha ELOPED

I stare at my screen. That has to be a typo. Alesha isn’t dating. I hit the call button.

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