Page 56 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
Libby started slurping the contents of her glass with her tongue like a puppy. Phoebe tried to suck it up, and when it hit the back of her throat, she coughed.
“Amateurs,” Nina said, disgusted. She put her mouth over the glass and picked it up with her teeth, then drank it in one gulp.
Leah and Zoe did the same.
“You couldn’t have told us that trick first,” Libby groused.
“Not my fault the poor little rich kid didn’t get this kind of education in her youth,” Zoe replied.
Libby opened her mouth and clamped her teeth around the shot glass in front of her. She then straightened, and the contents ended up down her front.
She took the glass out of her mouth and slapped it back down on the bar. “Again, Red.”
It took her three attempts, but with coaching from Zoe and Nina, Libby eventually got it.
“Aww, I’m so proud,” Cill slurred.
A glass of something noxious and pink was handed to Leah, whose head was already reeling from the shots. She sniffed it, then gagged.
“It will put hairs on your chest!” Dee yelled.
“Something I’ve always aspired to have!” Leah yelled back because the music volume had increased.
“So. Have you seen Dan again?” Zoe asked Leah.
“No.”
“And?”
“And what? He’s a cop and your brother. I thought you would know that about him,” Leah said.
“Very funny,” Zoe said. “I don’t know exactly what happened between you two, but it wasn’t good. He wasn’t the same for months after you left.” Clearly the alcohol had loosened Zoe’s tongue even more.
Leah didn’t like that the thought of Dan upset made her feel bad. She had admitted to herself that maybe he’d had no choice in arresting her father, but still, he could have given her a heads-up about what had been about to go down. Yes, he’d been a new cop, but also her boyfriend. What happened had been traumatic for Cassie and Leah.
“I don’t want to talk about this, Zoe.” She went for honesty. “You are my friend but first and foremost Dan’s sister. I don’t want this between us.” It must be the alcohol that had her speaking that way.
Zoe frowned. “I was sure I’d get it out of you.”
“Nope.”
“Let’s dance,” Libby said when a song started playing she loved.
Leah checked her phone, but there was nothing about Hudson. Was he okay? She wondered how parents coped. Not knowing how he was doing was hell.
It felt good to be dancing again, Leah thought after two songs and a few more drinks, even if she was still worried about Hudson.
“Leah, look at this,” Birdie said, coming to her side an hour later. She was holding out her phone, and on it was a picture of Hudson fast asleep next to Ally, who was still wide-awake, reading. Bobby was on her nephew’s other side doing the same.
Hudson had blankets up to the chin, which was how he always slept, and beside him was his favorite bear. The one she’d given to him when he’d been born. The picture made her smile.
“Sawyer said he’s out, so you don’t have to worry any more,” Birdie added.
When Hudson fell asleep, nothing woke him, a fact she was grateful for now.
“So you can relax, and put your phone back in your pocket, and enjoy yourself like you used to,” Nina said.
Why that comment annoyed her way more than it should, Leah wasn’t sure, but it did. “My life is not like it was. I lost my sister and am now raising her son.”
