ASPEN

Everything about tonight is going perfect, and I never want this euphoric feeling to end. Well, minus the part where Shane and his pride showed up. But not even he can ruin my good mood.

I haven’t stopped smiling since Morgan kissed me. My body shivers every time I think about him, which has basically been all night long.

The evening comes to an end, and I scan around the exhibits looking for him, but I can’t find him anywhere. My stomach somersaults at the thought of not seeing him again tonight.

“Hey, Ms. Jones!” I smile as I find her drinking in the corner with Christine. “This was fantastic!” I give her a hug and she enthusiastically returns the gesture. I can tell she’s had a bit too much champagne.

Not that I blame her. She ordered the high priced stuff so she should enjoy it too.

“It really was! I can’t thank you enough for being here. Oh, Aspen, you’re my favorite.” She leans her head on my shoulder and sighs.

“With that, I’m going to head out,” Christine says, offering me a friendly smile and quick hug as she walks by.

I burst out in laughter, amused at Ms. Jones theatrics. I call Kendall over and tell her to help me get her to a chair. “Where’s Morgan? I’ll tell him to take you home.”

“He left awhile ago.”

Wait, what? Why would he leave without saying something to me?

“Oh, he did? Why?” I ask, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

“Natalia called and said she needed him home. Or something.” Her eyes close, and I begin to panic. My heart speeds up at the mention of him having someone at home waiting for him.

Who the hell is Natalia?

Ms. Jones is out before I get the chance to holler at Kendall for help. I’ve never seen her like this before, but I’m pretty sure she had taken anxiety meds before the event started, and I know you shouldn’t mix those with alcohol.

Kendall helps me get her into the back of the car. She drives as I search for Ms. Jones’ phone. “I’ll call Morgan. Someone will need to check up on you,” I say to her although I’m not sure she can really understand me.

“I’ll be fine,” she slurs. “He’s with Natalia.”

She says her name again and it’s like nails on a chalkboard. “And who’s Natalia?” She passes out again before I even finish my question.

“Shit.” I look through her phone for his number, but when I call, he doesn’t answer. I decide to leave a voicemail, so when he’s done entertaining, he’ll know what’s going on.

“Well, that was interesting.” Kendall sighs after we get Ms. Jones inside her house and in bed.

“I doubt she’ll remember any of that.” We both get back in the car and buckle up.

“God, I hope not. However, it could finally get me on her favorites list.” She smiles as she turns the car on.

I snort. “Don’t count on it.”

“So I hardly saw you tonight. Everything okay?”

“Me?” I quickly glance over at her. “Yeah, fine. Just tired,” I lie.

“Yeah, me too. Ooh…let’s stay up, eat junk food and watch movies until we pass out.”

Her serious tone has me cracking up laughing. “I didn’t realize we were fourteen again.”

“Hey, don’t be a Debbie Downer.”

I reach for her hand and hold it in mine. “You’re a really good friend, Kendall.”

“I think maybe you misunderstood when I suggested we stay up and watch movies together…” she quips. She flashes a witty smile at me, and I lean my head on her shoulder, laughing and squeezing her hand.

“I can be a much better friend if I had some booze.”

“Well, you’re in luck. I just happen to know a place.”

Kendall and I stop at the bar Zoe works at, and since we didn’t change clothes, people stare at us like we have the plague. But we don’t let that stop us. I don’t tell them why I’m angry-drinking, but they don’t seem to notice anyway.

“All right, ladies. Blowjobs on me!” Zoe yells over the noise.

“Now we’re talking!”

She hands us each a shot with whip cream on top. “No using your hands!”

We both smile and accept the challenge, taking the shot glass in our mouths and swallowing it down. “Oh my God!” I laugh, wiping the cream off my face. I look at Kendall and laugh at how much cream is on her nose. “I think you missed your entire mouth.”

“Trust me…that’s the whole point.” She winks, licking the cream off her lips.

“I’d rather have it on my face than in my mouth,” Zoe blurts out with, making us all burst into a fit of giggles. Clearly, the alcohol has taken over.

I’m not a clingy girl by any means, but when a guy kisses me, gets me all hot and bothered, and then leaves with no explanation, I’m allowed to get pissed. So therefore, I drink.

And drinking usually leads to bringing a guy home with me.

“Dude, that guy has been staring at your ass from the moment you sat down.” Zoe directs my attention to a guy standing behind me.

“Well, I’m in a very sexy red gown…I’d be worried if guys weren’t staring.”

“You’re so humble,” Zoe mocks. “You two better be getting a cab. Give me the keys,” she orders.

“Yes, boss lady,” I say in a condescending voice as Kendall hands them to her. “But maybe I can get lucky and find a different ride home.” I wink and finish off the drink Zoe made for me earlier and very ungracefully slide off the stool.

“Call me later so I know you’re safe!” Kendall hollers, but I adjust my cleavage and walk away, letting the alcohol take over all my pain.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MORGAN

I slam the shot glass onto the table as the alcohol burns its way down my throat. I should really just go to bed, but with the way things ended tonight, it’s more than necessary.

Natalia is staying over at my parent’s house, so I’m left with just my thoughts and a bottle of whiskey, which is really never a good combination.

Jennifer. Aspen. Jennifer. Aspen.

How the hell did the evening go from kissing Aspen to walking away from Jen?

I have no fucking clue…hence the whiskey.

I want to call her, explain everything, but I know with the condition I’m currently in, that’s not really a smart idea. This whole situation has my head in such a mess. I don’t even want to think about it anymore.

But I can’t stop the thoughts from swarming in. Thoughts of Jen bring me to thoughts of Ryan and all the pain they both caused me. The guilt from never forgiving him or even talking it out hurts me the most. Jen shattered my heart, but Ryan was my brother. I should’ve at least mended things with him.

I pour another shot and throw my head back. I should’ve called him. I should’ve come back to visit. I shouldn’t have left. I shouldn’t have let the bitterness and anger consume me so much that I neglected my family for five years and waited until it was too late. He died before I could tell him I still loved him and that we could move on from this. But I was a coward.

The only closure I need is that he died a hero. I don’t deserve anything more than that.

I wake up sometime between the sun rising and the front door slamming shut. I’m not quite sure if I’m asleep or waking up from a bad dream.

Within seconds, I hear Natalia and my mother screaming at each other and then I know…

I’m in a real life nightmare.

Memories of the night before surface quickly as the alcohol left in my system spins the entire room around. I curse, feeling the effects of last night. My head pounds and my body aches.

I dress quickly and head out to the living room to see what all the fuss is about. Natalia runs to her room the moment she sees me.

“What the hell is going on?” I follow my mom to the kitchen. She immediately begins rummaging through my cupboards.

She grabs the bottle of bourbon and a glass. “I’d like to know that, too.”

“Mother, it’s not even noon. What are you doing?” I jerk my head toward the glass. She always drinks casually, but since Ryan’s death, she’s been in overdrive.