by Kelly Risser
"Oh my God, please shoot me now,” Katie mumbled from beneath her pillow. Jen moaned next to her.
“I warned you,” I said. Katie lifted her pillow long enough to shoot daggers at me. Then she winced and dropped it back on her face again.
“Where’s the aspirin?” I asked. “I’ll get some for you.”
“Bathroom medicine cabinet. Across the hall. Disposable cups on the sink.”
I chuckled to myself, pleased that I had shown restraint last night. I did not want to be feeling what they were right now. When I opened Katie’s door, the bathroom door opened at the same time. Evan wore his pajama bottoms, but his chest was bare, a towel slung over his shoulder. I raised my eyes to his, and he grinned.
“Mornin’.” He crossed the hall, wrapped his arms around my waist, and gave me a hug. He whispered in my ear, “You look good.”
I hugged him back. Unwelcomed, David’s voice whispered in my head. I mentally pushed him away, and then stepped out of Evan’s arms. His smile faltered.
“What if your parents come upstairs?” I didn’t want him to think I was rejecting him.
“I’m just giving you a hug.”
“They wouldn’t know that.”
“Fine.” He huffed out a breath. I’d won that argument. “What are you doing anyway? Did you need the bathroom?”
“I’m getting them some aspirin. Katie said it’s in here?” I motioned to the bathroom.
“Yeah, I’ll get it for you.” He went back in and pulled a bottle from the medicine cabinet. “I’ll let you fill the water cups.”
“Thanks.”
“Give my sister my best. I’m sure she’s in a sorry state.” Evan squeezed my waist as he passed me, which made me jump. He turned and winked at me before closing his bedroom door. I filled the cups halfway with water, knowing that I’d spill them otherwise.
Why did David visit here last night? What did he want? Why, after seventeen years, was he making an appearance in my life?
“Meara? Meara!”
I shook myself from my reverie. Katie screeched like nails on a chalkboard—so much for her pounding head. I walked in the room, handing her one of the Dixie cups and two pills. She swallowed them eagerly.
“What took you so long?” she whined.
“Sorry. I thought you fell back asleep.”
“Ha! Like I could sleep through this misery.”
“Some of us are trying to!” Jen snapped from under the covers. Apparently, she didn’t appreciate Katie’s volume in the morning.
“Sorry.” Katie apologized in a quieter voice. She scooted back against her headboard. “So, Brian asked me out.”
“That’s great!” I liked Brian and Joe. I wasn’t so sure about Peter.
“Peter asked Jen out, but she turned him down.” Katie patted the covers where Jen’s head would be. “Broke his heart.”
“Did not!” Jen’s voice rose from beneath the blanket again. Katie and I giggled. “You two are so annoying when I’m hungover,” Jen added. She sighed and threw back the covers. “Meara, you have some of those magic pills for me?”
“I don’t know how magic they are, but they should help.” I handed her the other cup and pills. She thanked me and tossed them back. I settled back onto the floor where I’d slept, or attempted to sleep. It hadn’t been too uncomfortable.
There was a knock at the door, and then Evan called, “Is everyone decent?”
Katie rolled her eyes before answering, “Yes, come in.”
“Good morning.” Evan carried a tray of muffins and doughnuts. In his other hand, he held a carafe of orange juice.
“A man who brings you breakfast?” Jen looked wistful. “Do you have a twin?”
“Thankfully, no,” Katie said as she rose from the bed and took the orange juice. She did kiss him on the cheek and thank him. He set the tray down at the end of the bed, and then sat on the floor next to me, crossing his long legs at the ankles.
“I wasn’t sure what you would want to eat, but grease is always good with a hangover.”
“And nothing beats sugar,” Katie added before she took a huge bite of a chocolate doughnut.