Page 59 of Pride & Precedents

Henry

Henry:You really just walked out? No discussion, no nothing?

Henry:I wasn't saying our thing isn't special. I'm just not ready to go public yet. Not with everything that's going on.

Henry:Shit. I don't mean I want to keep you a secret. I'm not ashamed to be seen with you or anything like that.

Henry:This isn't coming out right over text. Let's talk about this like adults.

Henry:Please

He called a few times too, but I never answered. I was too hurt. Naomi may have kissed him first, but he kissed her back.She'sthe one he'll tell the partners about, not me. Guys like him always end up with women like Naomi. I was fooling myself to think otherwise.

A plate of hot, golden fries magically appears in front of me and I muster up a smile for my sister.

"You're the best, Rory. I don't think this is going to save me from the world's worst hangover, though."

I take a fry and munch it, letting the salty goodness numb my feelings a little further.How many more plates of these will it take to forget Henry completely?

Gabe nudges me in the ribs from his seat beside me.

"What gives, Mila? I know you're drunk, but Rory and I can both tell there's something else going on."

"There's nothing," I lie. "I'm just worn out from school and studying." I pull them both into a drunken hug, wobbling a bit on my feet. "Thank you both for making my graduation week so awesome."

Gabe chucks me under the chin and helps lower me back to the barstool. He grabs a handful of fries as payment.

"Compared to everything you've done for us, this is nothing," he says. Rory squeezes my arm. Her usual sarcastic expression is now serious.

"I second that and then some. Thanks to you, we're all successful adults." She jerks her head in Gabe's direction. "Well,mostof us." Gabe flips her off with a smile.

"But seriously, a thousand fancy dinners and flowers wouldn't be enough to make up for all you've done for us since Mom died. Now that we're all grown and done with school, you can become the kick-ass lawyer you were always meant to be."

Gabe wipes at his eyes and raises his glass.

"Here here!"

The surrounding bar patrons raise their drinks in solidarity.

I am dead. Clearly, ten shots and countless cocktails led to acute alcohol poisoning, and now I am in hell. There is no other explanation for the horrific symphony of blades and car horns in my head, and the vile taste of roadkill in my mouth.Yuck. I gingerly lift my head to see the time on my bedside clock and the symphony intensifies.

"Oh, ow!" I moan, before falling back onto my pillow. That hurt too. A hand with three brown pills appears above my face.

"Here," Rory demands, giving her hand a little shake. "Take this ibuprofen. You'll need it if you're going to function today."

I groan in protest, but manage to prop myself up to take the pills. Luckily, Rory's also got a full glass of water. I gulp it down like I've been wandering the Sahara for weeks.

"Mmm. Thank you, sis." I put the empty glass down and carefully scoot myself up until I'm all the way against the headboard. "Now, why do I have to function today?"

My sister looks at me like I'm crazy and waves her arm around my apartment.

"First, we're going to clean up this pigsty. I mean,damn, sis. I have never seen your place look this bad."

I smile sheepishly and fiddle with the edge of my comforter.

"And then?"

"And then," she continues, lowering her voice when I flinch in pain, "you're going to tell me what really has you moping around here like the Phantom of the Opera."

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