Page 109 of One More Kiss

Gen

I don’t remember muchafter climbing into the truck and making our way to the house. I just felt so tired, though I wasn’t asleep. I could feel Asher keep looking at me with his worried eyes, yet I couldn’t turn and look at him. It’s like I wasn’t even in my own body anymore and I don’t even really care.

“We’re here Gen,” Asher says. I try to move my mouth, to form a small “okay”, but nothing comes out so I continue staring out the windshield at the dark blue garage. You wouldn’t think the color would work with a reddish brick, but it seems to tie all the blue together that I didn’t know was even in the brick until the garage was painted.

Why does that matter? I think and the thought makes me want to slap myself, but I don’t even have the strength. I just want to sleep, sleep this all away.

“Gen?” Asher rubs my arm. Headlights shine in the side mirror as Mrs. Tiernan pulls beside Asher’s truck waiting for the garage door to open. Asher gets out of the truck as she pulls forward and he walks behind the car.

Opening her door, he bends to talk to her. I wish I could hear what they’re saying. They probably think I’m crazy. The girl who thought her mom was just an absent alcoholic parent. A laugh bubbles out of me just as my door opens.

“What are you laughing at sweetie?” Mrs. Tiernan asks with a sympathetic smile.

“I thought she was just an absent alcoholic parent,” I laugh again turning my head to look at her. My laugh slowly morphs into a whimper as a few tears escape my eyes.

“Oh, sweetie.” She says gently. Her hands move the long hair out of my face. “Everyone just needs a little help sometimes, even if they can’t see it. Everyone has their own problems. Some just have bigger ones and need a little bit of a push to see that they need help.”

“She wasn’t taking pills, I promise. I didn’t know she was doing drugs.” Mrs. Tiernan wipes my tears with her thumbs.

"We know. We know that. It’s not your fault, okay? Why don’t we come inside and sleep alright?” She asks gently. Asher unbuckles my seatbelt from the other side before hopping back out and rounding the truck again. I didn’t even realize he got back in the truck.

“Okay,” I nod slowly climbing out as she helps me down on shaky legs.

“Do you want a glass of water?” Asher asks as we come in off the garage.

“No, thank you. I just want to sleep.” I croak.

Mrs. Tiernan leads me all the way to the room I share with Margot only to open the door to the smell of alcohol swirling around the room. Margot lays sprawled out on her stomach across the bed, leaving me no room to lay as the drool puddles on her pillow – or rather mine.

“Margot Ray Tiernan!” Mrs. Tiernan yells. Margot barely stirs and I grab the blanket on the chair walking over, taking her shoes off and draping it across her.

“Don’t do that! She needs to wake up and move. There’s no sense in you sleeping on the couch after the night you’ve had.” She says sternly. As I open my mouth to argue Asher speaks instead,

“She can stay in mine.”

“No,” me and Mrs. Tiernan say in unison.

“Why not?” He asks leaning against the doorframe.

“She deserves to sleep in her own bed. Your sister can move,” Mrs. Tiernan says, eyeing him warily.

“She’s not going to wake up for a good twelve hours at least by the looks of her drunkenness, and you said it yourself, there is no sense in her sleeping on the couch after the night she’s had.” he repeats.

“Drunkenness?” She asks. “Really?”

“You get the point,” he mumbles rubbing his forehead.

“Yes, I did.” She sighs. “You’re right. That seems to be the best option right now, short of pulling your sister from the bed and making her sleep outside.” She practically growls and I shiver thinking about the lecture Margot will wake up too.

“Good, it’s settled. Get your things,” Asher tells me.

“Uhm, no.” I stammer out. “I am perfectly fine sleeping on the couch, or even the floor. Someone should stay close to Margot anyway, just in case.” I ramble.

“You’re not sleeping on the couch, I am. Get your stuff and come on,” he says walking out of the room. I look back toward Margot groaning when she snores softly.

“Son of a bitch!” Asher hisses, causing my eyes to open quickly after startling awake.

“What is it?” I ask sitting up trying to get my eyes to adjust to the dark room.

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