Page 34 of The Weight Of It All
Reed nodded. “Kinda. How did Anika pull up?”
“She still can’t get out of bed.”
Reed chuckled. “Must’ve been a good night.”
“The last thing she remembers is me standing on a table and singing ‘Drink With Me’ fromLes Mis.” Reed laughed, and I cleared my throat. “Though I’m sure she’s lying.”
He was grinning now. “Mmhmm.”
“‘Can You Hear The People Sing’ is by far a better a song to sing while standing on a table. I’m pretty sure I’d have sung that. And it’s so obvious that ‘Empty Chairs’ is only a song you sing at closing time.”
Reed threw his head back and laughed. “So obvious.”
“See? Everyone knows that.”
“You have no recollection of singing?”
“None.”
“Oh dear.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Then I better take it easy on you today.”
“Yes, please.”
I spent the next hour zoned out in some other mental space. Going through the motions of the treadmill, then the elliptical. I used the weights and pulley machine, upping my lift weight to fifteen kilos.
Reed was duly impressed. “You should be hung-over more often.”
“I’m dying, just so you know.”
He just grinned. “We still going gym clothes shopping? I need to get a new pair of jeans, and because I have no clue and you do, I thought we could do that while we’re there too.”
“Oh, sure. I’ll go home first, though. I need to shower because I’m sweaty and gross.” I was pretty sure my sweat smelled of schnapps. “You’re done here in an hour?”
“Yep.”
“When did you want me to bring you the citrus tart?”
His eyes lit up. “You made me one?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, Henry. Youarethe best.”
“I finally dragged myself out of bed at about four o’clock yesterday. I spent two hours trying to be upright and not dying in the shower, then when I could stand without dryheaving, I ordered Chinese food and made someone his new-favourite lemon dessert.”
He was grinning, then he tilted his head. “Chinese food for a hangover?”
“Wonton soup. The right mix of salty and sweet, liquid and food, all in the one dish.”
“I’m more of a burger and Coke kind of guy.”
“You? A burger and Coke? Does that not breach every dietary rule you have?”
“Only for hangovers. And let’s face it, the alcohol the night before has pretty much killed the diet. Saturated fat and sodium and a tonne of sugar are the only things that will fix me. Not that I drink that often. And when I do drink, I don’t inhale schnapps.”
