Jess confirmed that the driver’s name was Josh.
I hugged her and told her in a way too loud drunk voice to go get laid.
I climbed into the backseat of the car.
Josh introduced himself and started to drive.
I stared at my phone.
Never mind that text. Wrong person.
That was probably worse than the first text.
So I sent another one.
Forget that one too. Forget me.
I cringed after I sent it.
There was a small part of my mind that was sane and sober, begging the rest of my mind to just stop.
Then came a reply.
I gasped when I saw the message pop up.
Are you drunk, honey?
I didn’t reply.
I put the phone next to me.
My phone vibrated again.
Then again.
I glanced down at it.
I gasped again.
It was an address.
I was drunk… and I was going to punch Reed in the face again.
He lived outside of the main part of the city.
That surprised me.
He also didn’t live in some fancy, gated community either.
That also surprised me.
There was a fence and trees and stuff blocking the view of his house.
A metal gate was partially swung open.
It didn’t fit the vibe that I got out of the city, but whatever.
Josh stopped the car and whistled.
“Nice place,” he said.
“It’s not mine,” I said. “You might be coming back here later to get me.”
“Oh. It’s one of those?”
“I’m not a whore, douchebag,” I said.
I got out of the car and slammed the door.
Josh took off.
Another man running from me, huh?
I stumbled forward and saw the glow of a cigarette at the gates.
As I closed in, I realized it wasn’t a cigarette at all.
I waved my hands and pretended to cough.
“Seriously?” I called out.
“Did you come over here to talk about the song, honey?” Reed asked.
“I came here to punch you in the face again,” I said. “Just like you deserve.”
“Yeah? Jealous that I was with someone else? Someone that doesn’t wear a bra?”
“Fuck you, Reed,” I said. I got closer to him. “You’re such a cliché.”
“Whatever, Abby,” he said. “This cliché was playing with those braless tits all afternoon.”
I made a fist and showed it to him.
Reed nodded. He flicked his smelly joint to the ground and stepped on it.
“Go ahead, honey,” he said. “Take your swing again. But when you’re done with your part of this, I get my turn.”
“Are you going to hit me?” I asked.
“Never. But I’m going to tell the truth.”
“The truth? Oh, fuck yourself and the truth, Reed. You’re just…”
I let out a hiccup.
It was dark outside.
But there were two lights on the gate.
Just enough that Reed and I could see each other.
We both said the same thing at the same time.
Fuck.
I put my hand to my mouth.
“If you’re going to hit me, do it,” he said. “You’re going to throw up in a few seconds, honey. I see that your ride took off too.”
“Shut up,” I said.
I shut my eyes.
You didn’t come here to throw up. You are not going to throw up. Not in front of Reed. Not on his feet. No way, Abby…
I opened my eyes and moved my hand.
“There,” I said. “Nothing to worry about.” I showed him my fist again. “Now you’re going to feel-”
My stomach heaved.
I turned my head to the right and that was it for me.
I shut my eyes and bent forward, listening to the splatter of my vomit hit Reed’s driveway.
“Oh, fuck,” Reed said.
I grabbed for my hair and kept going.
There was no stopping this.
I wobbled and thought I was going to fall over too.
That only made me dizzier.
“Watch out, honey,” Reed said.
He touched my hand and moved it out of my hair.
He twisted my hair around a few times and held it tight. He then put his other hand to my back and made me bend forward.
I put my hands to my knees.
It wouldn’t stop coming…
Reed slowly moved his hand up and down my back.
I wiggled and wanted him away from me.
“Don’t touch me,” I managed to say in between heaves.
Reed took his hand off my back and he let go of my hair.
I grabbed for my hair and stepped to the side.
My right foot ended up in my own vomit.
I slipped and down I went.
I crashed to the pavement and looked up at Reed.
He stared down at me, shaking his head.
“Wow, honey, you know how to make an entrance,” he said.
He bent his knees and reached for me.
I slapped at his hands. “I’ll call for a ride.”
“You can’t see straight. And something tells me you’re not done yet.”
“Then leave me here.”
“I’m not leaving you to die in my driveway.”
“Die? I’m not going to die. Am I going to die?”
Reed shook his head. “I don’t know, Abby. Shit. Give me your phone. I’ll call for someone. Just give me a name.”
I closed my eyes and put my head back.
I slowly felt myself inching closer to the ground.
In seconds I was falling asleep right there on the driveway.
My lips moved but there were no words coming out.
“Great,” Reed said. “Nothing like a woman who gets too drunk. What a fucking waste of a night.”
Fuck you, Reed. I didn’t come here for anything but to punch you.
Reed touched my neck.
And my legs.
He started to lift me off the ground.
I begged my body to hit him.
I didn’t want him to touch me.
But I… I needed him.
At least in that moment.
I needed him.
Reed carried me up the driveway.
I opened my eyes a few times.
I saw stars. His face. Stars. His face.
Then I shut my eyes.
“Hey, honey, do me a favor,” Reed said.
“Huh?” I managed to groan.
“Turn your head the other way,” he said. “Your breath is rancid.”
Oh, I thought women who stunk of vomit was your thing? I’m surprised your dick isn’t hard.
I began to wonder if his dick was hard.
Don’t think about his dick!
But it was too late.
I was thinking about Reed’s dick.
My left hand dangled and swung back and forth like the quiet pendulum of a clock.
Then my brain came up with a really good idea.
Touch his dick. Find out if he’s hard.
I swung my left hand and tried to grab between his legs.
Reed froze.
“Abby, don’t fuck around right now,” he growled.
“You said… angry sex…”
What am I doing?
“Angry sex, right,” he said. “How about being coherent first?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Sure you are, honey,” he said.
I felt us walking up some steps.