Page 64 of Bombshell (Whiskey Dolls 1)

“Go away,” I called out pathetically. “I’m extremely contagious. You could all die if you come in here.”

“Yeah?” Another voice called back. “What do you have?”

“Tuberculosis.” I deadpanned, then made a half-hearted attempt to cough.

“That’s it,” I heard Tali grumble. “I’m going in. This is ridiculous.”

A second later, I heard her key scrape in the lock and silently cursed myself for giving her a spare in case of emergencies.

At Layla’s, “Oh God. It’s even worse than I thought,” I tipped my head back, looking at my sister and the girls from the club as they moved, upside down, into my apartment.

“Hey guys. What’s up?”

Alma curled her nose up in offense and pointed. “Is that boxed wine?”

“It was buy one get two free,” I answered just as Eddie starteddo do doingthrough the speaker. “Hey!” I lifted my head just high enough to glare at Tali when she hit the power button and cut the speaker off. “That was my favorite part.”

“Sorry, babe. But I’m not gonna let you ruin Pearl Jam’s “Black” for me.” The room filled with silence as she headed over to me. “What the hell is going on, Mar? I’ve never seen you like this before. Did you really buy a dozen muffins?”

I briefly glanced at the one bakery box I had left. It was a foot from my head and now only held six maple bacon muffins “Yes. And before you get any ideas, I’ve already licked the ones that are left, so hands off or you’ll get my cooties.”

Sloane bent to pick up one of the wine boxes and gave it a little shake. “Oh, hell. How many of these have you polished off already?”

“Just that one,” I replied in a monotone voice. “And maybe half of another, but that’s been over the past two days.”

Layla looked at me with big, bewildered eyes. “How did the lining of your stomach not burn off after that?”

“The muffins soaked everything up.” That wasn’t quite true. I was feeling a little indigestion-y, but I wasn’t about to admit the boxed wine was a huge mistake.

Tali’s hand appeared in front of my face, her fingers wiggling as she ordered, “Come on, get off the floor already.”

I let her help me up, letting out a dramatic groan as I moved into sitting position for the first time in at least six hours.Man, I was pathetic.

“Now tell me what’s going on,” my sister insisted. “You’re a disaster.” She took in my stained sweats and ratty hair. “When’s the last time you washed your hair?”

I had to give that some thought. “What’s today?”

“Oh God,” Mac whispered.

“That’s it. Start talking,” Tali clipped. “You’re freaking me out.”

“There’s nothing to be freaked out about,” I muttered as I looked down at my ratty t-shirt, picking at a mysterious stain with my fingernail. “I’m fine.”

“You’re absolutely not,” Layla chimed in. “And for your sake, I hope like hell that stain is chocolate.”

“Is it cancer?” Alma asked, earning an elbow to the ribs, courtesy of Sloane. “Ow! Jeez! What was that for?”

Sloane gave her a hard look. “Cancer? Really?”

Alma shrugged. “Hey, it was a legitimate question. I mean, look at her.” She waved her hand at me like the state I was in said it all.

“I don’t have cancer,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “I’m just . . . sad.”

“If you went out in public this morning dressed like that, I’d say your more than just sad,” Mac insisted.

Tali plopped down on the floor beside me and placed her hand over mine, staring at me with concern. “Did something happen between you and Pierce?”

I leaned forward and snatched a muffin from the box, biting off a huge chunk and spitting crumbs everywhere as I replied sarcastically, “You mean other than him basically telling me he doesn’t love me and never will? Nope, nothing comes to mind.”

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