Point of Retreat(40)

Chapter Eight


Eddie’s pregnant. Gavin’s scared. I let Lake go. That’s all I remember about last night.

The sun is brighter than it’s ever been. I throw the covers off and head to the bathroom. When I make it across the hall, I try to open the door but it’s locked. Why the hell is my bathroom door locked? I knock, which feels extremely odd-knocking on my own bathroom door when I should be the only person in my house.

“Just a sec!” I hear someone yell. It’s a guy. It’s not Gavin. What the hell is going on? I walk to the living room and see a blanket and pillow on the couch. There are shoes by the front door, next to a suitcase. I’m scratching my head when the bathroom door opens, so I turn around.

“Reece?”



“Mornin',” he says.

“What are you doing here?” I ask him.

He shoots me a confused look as he walks to the couch and sits down. “Are you kidding?” he asks.

Why would I be kidding? What would I be kidding about? I haven’t seen him in over a year.

“No. What are you doing here? When did you get here?”



He shakes his head with the same bewildered expression across his face. “Will, do you not remember anything from last night?”



I sit down and try to remember. Eddie’s pregnant. Gavin’s scared. I let Lake go. That’s all I remember. He can see from the struggle in my face that I need a refresher.

“I got back last Friday. My mom kicked me out? I needed a place to stay last night and you told me I could stay here. You really don’t remember?”



I shake my head. “I’m sorry, Reece. I don’t.”



He laughs. “Dude, how much did you have to drink last night?”



I think back on the tequila, then remember the medicine Sherry gave me. “I don’t think it was just the alcohol.”



He stands up and looks awkwardly around the room. “Well, if you want me to leave…”



“No. No, I don’t mind you staying here, you know that. I just don’t remember. I’ve never blacked out before.”



“You weren’t making much sense when I got here, that’s for sure. You kept saying something about a star…and a lake. I thought you were cracked out. You’re not cracked out…are you?”



I laugh. “No, I’m not cracked out. I’m just having a really shitty weekend. The worst. And no, I don’t feel like talking about it.”



“Well, since you don’t remember anything about last night…you kind of told me I could live here? For a month or two? Does that ring a bell?” Reece raises his eyebrows and waits for my reaction.

Now I know why I never drink. I always end up agreeing to things that I normally wouldn’t agree to when I’m sober. I can’t really think of a reason not to let him stay here. We do have an extra bedroom. He practically lived here when we were growing up. Although I haven’t seen him since his last break from deployment, I still consider him my best friend.

“Stay as long as you need to,” I say. “Just don't expect me to be much fun. I'm not having a very good week.”



“Obviously.” He grabs his bags and shoes and takes them down the hallway to the spare bedroom. I walk to the window and look across the street at Lake’s house. Her car is gone. Where would she be? She doesn’t really go anywhere on Sunday’s. They’re her movies and junk food days. I’m still watching out the window when Reece walks back into the living room.

“You don’t have shit to eat,” he says. “I’m hungry. You want me to grab you anything at the store?”



I shake my head. “I don’t feel like eating,” I say. “Just get whatever. I’ll probably go later this afternoon, anyway. I need a few things before Caulder gets back tomorrow.”



“Oh yeah, where is that little twerp?”



“Detroit.”



Reece slips his shoes and his jacket on and slips out the front door. I walk to the kitchen to make coffee, but there’s already a full pot. Nice.

***

As soon as I step out of the shower, I hear the front door open. I don’t know if it’s Reece or Lake, so I rush to pull my pants on to see if it’s Lake. When I emerge from the hallway, she’s holding the vase in her hands, making her way to the front door. When she sees me, she speeds up.