Page 52 of My Life with the Walter Boys
The truck hit another hole, making my stomach jump.
“You good?” Cole asked.
No. My happy feeling was without doubt gone. “Nuh-uh,” I said, as my insides turned. “I think I might throw up.”
A few choice words hissed out of Cole’s mouth, but he pulled over to the side of the road. I heard the car door slam and then Cole was helping me out. As I emptied my stomach into the bushes, he held back my hair.
“Is that it?” he asked when I stood up and wiped my mouth. “There is a strict no-puking policy in the truck.”
“All better,” I told him, before trying to stumble back to the truck.
“Well,” Cole said, “your stomach might be empty, but you’re definitely not sober.”
After I got back inside and lay down on the backseat, we were quiet for a long time.
Finally Cole spoke. “We are so grounded,” he said as he pulled off the road and into the driveway.
“I’ve never been grounded before,” I told him with a yawn. I should have felt a sense of panic, but my head was too empty and exhaustion was starting to take over.
“You’re in for a treat,” he said, as he parked the truck. It took a moment for him to climb out and shut his door quietly, but finally mine clicked open and he helped me as I pushed myself up into a sitting position. “I need you to be quiet when we sneak in, okay?”
“Shhh!” I said, putting my finger to my lips, which were tugging up in a sleepy grin.
“Exactly,” Cole said. “Now how about I help you outta there?” He put his hands around my waist, and as he lifted me from the truck, his finger brushed underneath the jersey on my bare skin.
“My legs feel funny,” I said when he set me down. My knees buckled as I tried to take a step.
“Whoa there,” he said, and suddenly my world tilted as Cole scooped me up in his arms. I let my eyes flutter shut as he carried me up the front path, his strong arms supporting me easily. It was a bit tricky for Cole to open the door while I was in his arms, but finally he managed to jiggle the handle enough for it to turn.
The hall light flipped on. “Care to explain what’s going on?”
“Ah hell,” Cole mumbled, and I opened my eyes.
“‘Ah hell’ is right,” Katherine said. She was standing at the bottom of the staircase in her robe. It looked as if she had been waiting for us.
“Hi, Katherine,” I said, lifting my head so I could smile and wave.
“Is she…?” Mrs. Walter said, trailing off in disbelief.
“Drunk?” Cole finished for her. “Yeah.”
Katherine just stared at the two of us, mouth hanging open.
“Mom? What’s going on?” Alex asked, appearing at the top of the stairs. Katherine closed her eyes and put a hand to her forehead in frustration. “Hello?” Alex asked again when nobody answered.
“Alex, help Jackie to her room, and then go back to sleep. Okay?” Katherine said in a non-negotiable voice.
He nodded and took me from Cole. I closed my eyes and snuggled closer to Alex, taking in the smell of his body wash.
“You stay where you are,” I heard Katherine say. Cole must have tried to follow Alex up the stairs.
“Aww, come on,” I heard him complain. “I was the responsible designated driver.”
Alex turned the corner and headed toward my room, cutting off Katherine’s response. He pushed my bedroom door open with his foot and then rubbed his back up against the wall for the light switch. Once it was on, he gently laid me on my bed and reached over to take off my shoes.
“You’re only in your boxers,” I said, giggling at him.
“What? Oh yeah,” he said, looking down at himself as if he’d just noticed the lack of clothes. He blushed but continued to untie my laces. “Do you need a glass of water, Jackie?”
