Chapter 2: After the Tequila

Coffee. The smell of coffeeas if I didnt feel bad enough, the overpowering smell of coffee was so thick in the air, it was as if I could actually feel it on my skin.

Blurry eyed, I peered around the room and realized I didnt know where in the ***** I was. It was a small room with a large desk andand…a sofa? Yes, I was on a sofa. Quickly, I scanned my bodyfully clothed. I offered a silent prayer of thanks for that.

Slowly the fog was lifting and I remembered. Last night. Tequila. Marina had come back with the shot glasses and the bottle of tequila. The friendly pool game had turned into a pool match had turned into a drinking match. I know better than to drink tequila. What was I thinking?

A sudden realization jolted me fully awake: Im still at the Planet. This is Marinas office at the Planet. Where is Marina? Oh, God, what time is it? Sitting up and glancing at my watch I see that it is 7:00 am. What time does the Planet open? Are they open now? Jeeze, of course they are open; it is 7 oclock. Thats the coffee I smell. With my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands, the sounds of the caf slowly penetrated my brain. Not only are they open, they sound busy. Lovely. Well, suck it up Freddie. Its time for the walk of shame.

As I was pulling myself up off the sofa, the door opened and there stood Marina. Even with the rumpled hair and still sleepy face, the sight of her took my breath away. How could one person be so damn beautiful? She was still wearing the leather pants and silk top from last night. Apparently, she didnt make it home either. A small smile flitted across my face; okay, at least Im not the only looser here.

You are alive. Here, I brought you some coffee. She offered me a steaming mug and a smile, or was it a smirk? I couldnt tell, and I didnt have time to try and figure it out; I could feel the bile rising in my throat.

No. I waved it away and bolted out of the room throwing an I gotta go over my shoulder on my way .

********************

Thankfully, it was a slow day at the Attic. I had been able to nurse my throbbing head in peace most of the day. Late in the afternoon, I saw a familiar face come in; it was the heart breaker from last night, Shane. Id never seen her in the store before and had a hard time believing it was a coincidence.

Hey, how you feeling this morning? She looked at me with her head cocked a bit and a wicked grin on her face. I was a little worried about you last night. When we saw Marina heading back to the pool table with that bottle of tequila, we all thought you were toast. But, when I checked in on you at closing, you were still going strong; still standing and still kicking Marinas butt in pool too. Man, Ive never seen anyone that could keep up with Marina when it comes to tequila.

I looked down at the counter and shook my head. Tell-tale signs of my ill spent youth. I offered with a small laugh.

Shane laughed and nodded her head as if she had been there and knew all about it.

Well, Im glad you are okay. She said as she backed away from the counter and tossed something my way. I thought you might like these.

I grabbed the flying, jangling blur out of the air. My keys. Where did you find these? I thought Id lost them last night. I said wide eyed and smiling.

Nah, I took them from your jacket before I left last night. Didnt want you driving home like that. She looked almost sheepish as she said it. Then without meeting my eye, she turned and strolled out of the store.