Lucky Number Four (23 page)

I swear, that will be the last time I ever
drink. Alcohol will never touch these lips again. My head feels
like it’s ready to explode, and my mouth feels like it’s full of
cotton, wool, or enough sand to fill the Sahara Desert. I’m so
thirsty, but no water for me. That’s not what I need. I spy a hand
holding a glass with red liquid in it, and I know it’s Jeff’s
special “you drank too much wine last night” drink concoction.

“Here, Ms. Lush.”

I take the glass, giving him my evil, stink
eye.

“How come you can drink as much as I do, but
then you’re fine the next day?”

“Good genes,” The jackass says. Wait, that’s
not his name. It’s already taken by the other jackass, my ex.

“I feel awful. I’m so glad I don’t have to
work today.” I gulp down about half of the mysterious creation, and
to be honest, it doesn’t taste half as bad as it looks.

“Yep, but we are expected at your parents
today, remember? It’s Sunday.”

“Did you have to remind me? Call them and
tell them I’m sick.” I end my sentence with a moan and put my
pillow over my head.

“Nope. I’ll tell your mom the truth. That her
sweet little daughter has a vino hangover.”

“You’re so evil sometimes, Jeff, you know
that? Oh, and what was with that stunt you pulled last night?
Bringing everyone to Papa’s?”

I feel him sit on the bed. “Well, it’s like
this: I like your roommates. And in my opinion, either Drew or
Colin would be good enough for you.”

He’s smiling, I can hear it in his voice.

“So you set me up on a date just to sabotage
it. Great, that makes sense.” I open one eye and glare at him. Yep,
he’s smiling.

“No, Ron was an experiment. Yes, he’s nice
looking, but boring, and you need excitement in your life. Shake it
up a little.”

Now would be the time to tell him he’s right,
but I’m not going to give him the satisfaction. No, not going to
happen.

“Now, it’s time for little Dora to get up and
get ready. We have a fun day ahead of us.”

“Where did you ever get the impression I need
more excitement? Spending time with my fam is plenty.” I groan as I
sit up, putting my feet in the plush carpet.

“See, that wasn’t so hard. Now march your
cute little butt into the shower, and I’ll get some decent clothes
for our outing.”

I carefully close the bathroom door. I want
to slam it, but I don’t think my head could take the agony it will
produce. Lukewarm water streams over my head and down my body,
making me feel a little better. Minutes later, with my body wrapped
up in a towel, I open the door and see Jeff lounging on the bed he
apparently just made. Next to him are the clothes he picked out for
me. Frankly, I could care less if they match. In fact, the bed
looks so inviting I’m tempted to push him off and steal under the
covers. But the determined look on my torturer’s face makes me
reach for my clothes and start to get dress.

“For the holy socks of mother earth, please
turn down that screeching.” The pounding music from Jeff’s
elaborate speaker setup in his car doesn’t make me feel any
better.

“Hey, you like this group. Don’t be a grouch.
You know I like listening to music when I drive.”

Sliding down into the plush leather seat, I
pull my sunglasses out of my purse to shield my eyes from the
unforgiving onslaught from the sun, and try to relax.

What feels like only seconds later, I hear
Jeff’s joyful voice say, “We’re here,” and it pulls me out of my
semi-sleep state.

“Just leave me in the car and—”

Before I can finish, he’s out of the car,
pulling open my door, and I’m standing on my parents’ driveway. He
tucks my hand in the crook of his arm, and I’m half walking, half
being pulled to the front door.

Jeff opens the door and yells, “We’re here,”
which shoots pain through my head like an electric shock.
Seriously, no more wine for me, ever.

“Sweetie, you don’t look too well,” my mom
says, always being the observant one. “You should have called and
told us.”

Yeah, and if I had, she would have driven
into the city. She’d probably run over several people doing so and
get a ticket for some reason just to see what was plaguing her baby
girl.

“I’m fine, Mom, really.” I wait for it, and
yes, she puts her hand to my forehead and frowns.

“Not really warm, but maybe I should have
your dad get the thermometer.”

“Really, Mom, I’m fine.”

“She’s hung over,” my awesome grandma says
from behind her daughter.

“What? Are you?” My mom looks at me like I’m
two and not twenty-two.

“Okay, so we went to Papa’s last night and I
may have had a glass too much,” I admit, because I know I’m busted
and it’s time to own up.

“See, I knew I was right,” Grandma says
smugly, her arms crossed. I hate when she’s right.

“When was anybody going to let me know Dora
and Jeff arrived?” The regal voice of Grandmother makes me want to
crawl into my bed in my old room. I will get the regal glare when
she finds out about my night of drunkenness, and receive the
lecture that if I had attended finishing school, this wouldn’t have
happened.

Yeah, right.

“Aha.”

They just arrived, Mother,” my dad speaks up,
and I realize I didn’t even know he was here.

“I should have been informed. Hello, Dora and
Jeffrey,” she says, reaching over and giving us air kisses on our
cheeks.

“Time to eat.” My mom breaks up the awkward
moment and we file like good little boys and girls into the dining
room.

Minutes later, we’re joined by Taylor and
Bridget, the latter looking disappointed by the absence of certain
trio.

“Sorry, Bridg, the guys aren’t coming.”

“Oh nuts,” she quips as she plops down in her
seat.

Thank goodness dinner is a quiet affair, as
everyone seems preoccupied. I eat a little, but mainly just end up
pushing my food around the plate since I still feel a little
nauseous. Jeff’s thigh nudges mine every once in a while, and I
completely ignore him. Yep, I’m still annoyed.

“We need a head count for Christmas Day,” Mom
announces after she serves up a chocolate mousse pie for desert,
which is my favorite, but not right now. No worries, though. I know
I’ll be going home with a doggie bag.

“Can I be excused?” Bridget and Taylor
chorus.

My mom nods her head, and they scramble to
leave the room to escape the adults. Damn, I feel so old. I want to
scramble off too.

“For Christmas it should be the eight of us,
and Jeffrey, will you be joining us this year?” Grandmother asks in
her proper tone.

“I would love to, if it’s okay. My dad and
mom are off to visit my sister in New Zealand to see the new baby.”
Jeffrey’s family is spread out all over the world, but he rarely
travels. He is always welcome at our family functions.

“Well, that makes nine so far then.” My mom
looks at me. “How about your roommates, Dora?”

“I don’t think they’ll be here for the
holidays.”

“It would be nice if you would ask them,” my
Grandmother states.

“Okay. Julie and Kevin will be here for most
of the day, so I guess that makes eleven.”

“Good, then we’ll open gifts during the day.”
My mom is the greatest gift giver. She always buys stuff no one
would re-gift, hide in a closet, or re-sell online. Each gift is
thoughtfully bought and something we need or want.

I so want to leave now. My head is pounding
again, and I’ve lost track of the conversation. I wonder what Colin
is doing? He’s probably spending the afternoon with some hot,
long-legged beauty who completely complements him. I need to put
him out of my mind.

“I don’t think that’s acceptable for a
Christmas table.” My Grandmother’s stern voice penetrates my
musings.

“There’s that stick again. You need to
lighten up and enjoy life.”