CHAPTER 24
Lara slept until three p.m., and when she woke she felt extremely foolish for her behavior earlier. She stayed in bed, too embarrassed to face Luke or Mark, and as she lay there staring up at the ceiling tears welled in her eyes as depression settled over her like a thick, suffocating blanket. What on earth was she going to do? Where were all these strange feelings for Mark suddenly coming from? She was head over heels in love with Luke, and she couldn’t imagine hurting him by trying out her new feelings for his twin brother. The entire situation was just too absurd to cope with at the moment, which was why she desperately needed to go home and be alone for a while so she could sort her feelings out. She sighed and got out of bed, then quietly went into the bathroom and locked the door before stepping into the shower. She felt a little better after washing her hair and standing under the hot spray for several minutes, and as she soaped her body she once again wondered what on earth was going on with her. Luke had been nothing but kind to her, as well as a tender, caring, and superb lover, and by now she was almost certain that he was getting ready to ask her to marry him. Was that it? Was this merely a case of cold feet? Or was it something more? Was she wondering what else was out there, after Luke had so gently and carefully taken away her innocence? Oh God, did this mean she was a slut? She shook her head in an effort to clear it of her troubled thoughts, but they just wouldn’t go away as she turned the water off and wrapped herself in a soft, thick towel. She stepped over to the mirror and carefully wiped the steam away, then stared at her reflection as she wondered just who she’d become. How could she be so crazy in love with Luke, yet still have unresolved feelings for his twin brother? True, Luke was the calm, sedate one while Mark was the life of the party, but she’d never been much of a party animal.
However, Mark did make her laugh, and he’d proven to be a great guy. He’d helped her overcome one of her biggest fears, and he’d turned out to be a great friend. Maybe that was all it was. Just a simple case of infatuation or hero worship. She sighed and carefully brushed her teeth, then groaned when she saw blood in the sink. She definitely did not want a repeat visit to Mark’s office, and as she attempted to open her mouth wide enough to check out his handiwork in the mirror she gave a strangled cry of pain. Her mouth was still terribly sore, and there was an unpleasant tightness to her jaw and the back of her mouth where he’d placed the stitches. She sighed and closed her mouth, then rinsed with warm salt water and peroxide like he’d instructed her to do after her very first visit. That seemed like eons ago, and she sighed again as she threw the paper cup into the trash and brushed her still-wet hair. When she could no longer justify lingering in the bathroom she cautiously returned to the bedroom, then pulled a fresh change of clothes from Luke’s dresser drawer and returned to the bathroom to get dressed. She’d be horrified if Mark walked in on her while she was getting dressed, although she doubted he’d feel the same. He’d probably laugh and tease her endlessly about it, and she smiled as she imagined his reaction. She felt much better after she was dressed in clean clothes, and with a determined sigh she walked out of the bedroom and cautiously entered the living room. Luke and Mark were engrossed in a movie, but when they saw her they both smiled and began to speak simultaneously. Luke held up his hand to silence his brother, and in a gentle voice he said, “Hi, sweetheart. Feeling better?”
“Actually, yes.”
“Good. You had us worried there.”
“Sorry.”
“Hey, no need to apologize. I’m just glad you’re feeling better.” He got to his feet and embraced her in a gentle hug, and as he sat down on the sofa he patted the spot beside him and said, “Feel like watching a movie?”
“Sure.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Not really.”
“Let me know when you are.”
Lara nodded and tried to focus on the movie, but it was useless with Mark sitting right next to her. For the first time since she’d known him, she was suddenly noticing his cologne and the hardness of his thigh against hers, and as her eyes traveled downward she couldn’t help noticing his long, graceful fingers. She shuddered at the erotic images that suddenly popped into her head, but she swallowed hard and forced her eyes to return to the TV screen, where a madman was currently hacking up a young blonde female. “Oh my God, what are you two watching now?”
“I Dismember Mama,” Mark casually replied as he shifted positions and brushed his thigh against her leg. She felt like screaming as an electric current rippled through her, but she tried to ignore it as she remembered the pep talk she’d given herself in the bathroom. She shifted slightly so that she was pressed against Luke instead, then glanced at the tree in the corner and decided to make a mental list of all the Christmas gifts she had yet to buy. She wasn’t sure what she was going to get for Mark or Luke, or even Marissa for that matter. Christmas was a mere three weeks away, and she still had to buy a tree for her own apartment. She sighed in relief when the movie was over, then said, “Well, that was definitely disturbing.”
Mark laughed as he got up to refresh his drink, and for the first time Lara noticed the deep, pleasant richness of his laugh. She frowned and shook her head in annoyance at all of the strange thoughts she was having, which prompted Luke to inquire, “You OK, Lara?”
“Yes, I’m fine. What are we watching next?”
“Nothing. I’m going to start dinner. What would you like?”
“My choices are limited, remember?”
“Would you like some soup?”
“Sure.” She got up and followed Luke into the kitchen, then sat down at the table and glanced warily at Mark. He was sitting across from her drinking a soda, and when he noticed her troubled expression he inquired, “Feeling better?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“Good.” He finished his soda and glanced at Luke, then said, “Need help with dinner?”
“No, I’ve got everything under control.”
Mark nodded and glanced at Lara again, then inquired, “Mouth still sore?”
“A little, yeah.”
“It’ll get better. Rinse with warm salt water and peroxide.”
“I already did that.”
“Good.” He cocked his head to the side and studied her, then said, “Are you sure you’re feeling OK?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Such as?”
“Such as the fact that Christmas is three weeks away and I don’t even have a tree yet.”
Mark laughed and replied, “Is that all? We can remedy that in no time.”
“Can you now.”
“Yep. I think another tree hunting excursion is in order. Don’t you, Luke?”
“Huh?” Luke absently replied as he stirred spaghetti into a pot of boiling water. Mark laughed and repeated, “I said, I think we need to go on another tree hunting excursion for Lara.”
“Oh. We can do that this weekend.”
“Great.” He glanced at Lara and added, “Well? What do you think?”
“I think it sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday morning. But you aren’t allowed to come Christmas shopping with me.”
He pretended to pout as he teased, “Aw, why not?”
Lara laughed at his expression and simply shook her head, then glanced down at the bowl of tomato soup Luke set in front of her and made a face. Mark laughed and said, “It can’t be that bad.”
“Wanna bet?”
“And just think--tomorrow you get to try a different flavor.”
“Yum. I can hardly wait.” She surprised herself by eating all of the soup, and when she was finished she pushed the bowl away and gingerly wiped the corners of her mouth. Luke and Mark finished their dinner and cleaned the kitchen, and when they were finished Lara cleared her throat and said, “If you don’t mind, Luke, I’d really like to go home for a while.”
“OK. Let me get my jacket.”
She nodded and watched as he shrugged into his leather jacket and grabbed his keys, and moments later they were sitting in Luke’s car. He turned to her and said, “OK. I want the truth. Are you really feeling OK?”
“Yes, Luke. I just need to go home for a little while.”
He nodded and started the car, and as he drove he said, “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me or Mark.”
“I won’t, Luke, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“What was up with you earlier?”
Lara simply shrugged and glanced out the window, and Luke frowned as he studied her profile. Something was definitely bothering her, but he’d pried enough. He figured she’d talk when she was ready, and with a resigned sigh he turned the radio on and found a seventies rock station. Lara remained silent for the remainder of the ride, and when Luke parked in front of her apartment he escorted her inside and pulled her close for a hug and kiss. He kissed her gently on the lips so as not to disturb her stitches, and when he released her he said, “I know something is bothering you, and I really wish you’d talk to me.”
“I told you earlier--I just have a lot on my mind. Christmas is coming up, and I start school next month. Remember?”
“Are you definitely quitting your job?”
“I think so, yes.”
“I know Marissa will be crushed.”
“I hope not.”
“Well, I’m going to go back home and do some laundry. I have an early day tomorrow.”
Lara simply nodded and gave him a hug goodbye, and when he was gone she locked the door behind him and sagged against it as she tried to deal with her conflicting emotions. Even though it was only seven p.m. and she’d gotten an enormous amount of sleep over the weekend, she went into her bedroom and climbed into bed, then simply lay there for a long time staring up at the ceiling until sleep finally overtook her.
Lara returned to work on Wednesday, and Marissa frowned when she noticed how pale and withdrawn her friend looked. Her concern deepened when she refused lunch, claiming she had to catch up on her work, and as she sat in the hospital cafeteria alone she wished Mark or Luke would show up. As if they’d read her mind, they suddenly appeared and sat down across from her and said, “Hi. Where’s Lara?”
“She’s upstairs working. I really wish one of you would talk to her or something. She isn’t looking well at all.”
“Oh?” Luke inquired as he unwrapped his cheeseburger and sipped his soda.
Marissa nodded and said, “You mean you haven’t seen her at all this week?”
“No, neither one of us has. Why?”
“She’s lost some weight, and she just looks really pale. She isn’t saying much, either.”
“Has she said anything about being in pain?” Mark inquired as he took a bite of his cheeseburger.
Marissa shook her head and said, “No, she hasn’t said much of anything. And that just isn’t like her.”
“I guess a surprise visit is in order,” Luke said as he smeared ketchup on his cheeseburger wrapper and dipped a French fry into it.
Marissa laughed at her cousin and said, “Jeez, Luke, sometimes you act like a little kid.”
“What?” he innocently inquired as he popped the French fry into his mouth and took a sip of his soda.
Marissa simply shook her head and glanced at Mark, then said, “So what are you doing here?”
He sighed and said, “I had to do some reconstructive surgery on a patient this morning.”
“Ugh. Sounds positively horrible.”
He simply laughed and finished his cheeseburger, then said, “Tell Lara that I need to see her in my office Friday so I can check her stitches. OK?”
“I’ll tell her, but I don’t know if she’ll show up. She seems to be in her own little world these days.”
“How do you mean?” Luke inquired as he popped the last bite of his cheeseburger into his mouth.
Marissa shrugged and said, “Like I said, she just isn’t talking very much, and she acts like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders.”
“Maybe it has something to do with her parents. You can relate to that, can’t you, Marissa?”
Marissa sighed and nodded. “Yes, I can.”
“Mark and I will find out what’s bugging her. We’re supposed to go tree hunting again Saturday.”
“Good luck.”
“Hey, Lara, it’s quitting time. Aren’t you going home?” Marissa inquired as she stood up and donned her jacket.
Lara sighed and said, “I guess so.”
“I saw Luke and Mark today at lunch. Mark said to tell you that he needs to see you in his office Friday so he can check your stitches.”
Lara nodded but said nothing as she wearily stood and shrugged into her jacket. The last thing she wanted was to be alone with Mark, but she kept her thoughts to herself as she gathered her purse and removed her car keys. She’d been doing a lot of soul searching these past few days, and so far she’d come up with no viable solution to the problem of her sudden attraction to Luke’s twin brother. The entire situation had her completely unnerved, and to make matters worse the anniversary of her parents’ deaths was fast approaching. The day before Christmas Eve, as a matter of fact. The mere thought was enough to bring tears to her eyes, and Marissa frowned when Lara went even paler and suddenly gripped the edge of her desk for support. She took a step forward and gently placed her hand on Lara’s shoulder, then said, “Lara, honey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.” She stood there staring at her friend in concern as her co-workers left the office, and when Mrs. Johnson walked by she said, “The office is closing in a few minutes, ladies. Surely you don’t want to be locked in here all night, now, do you?”
Marissa smiled at her supervisor and replied, “We’re leaving shortly, Mrs. Johnson.” She turned her attention back to Lara and said, “Now what’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I can’t--”
“You can’t what, honey?”
“I can’t talk about it.”
“Is it your parents?”
Lara nodded. “That’s part of it.”
“Then what’s the other part?”
“I can’t talk about it.”
“You can talk to me about it.”
“No, I can’t.”
“When’s the last time you ate?”
“I don’t know. Sunday?”
“Lara! You haven’t eaten in three days?”
“I guess not.”
“Why?”
“Just haven’t been hungry.”
“That’s no excuse. If Luke knew he’d be extremely upset.”
“Then don’t tell him.”
“I can’t lie to him, Lara. If he asks, I’ll have to tell him.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s family, and I’m no liar. He and Mark are deeply concerned about you, don’t you know that?”
“There’s no reason to be. I can take care of myself.”
“Doesn’t seem like you’re doing such a good job lately.”
“Gee, thanks, Marissa. You really know how to make me feel better.” She angrily pushed away from her friend and stormed out of the office, but when she reached the parking lot she stopped short when she saw Luke and Mark leaning against her car. She groaned inwardly as she wondered what they wanted, and she didn’t even attempt a smile as she approached them and said, “Hi. What do you want?”
“Well, hello to you, too, Ms. Sunshine,” Mark teased as he pushed away from the car and folded his arms across his chest. “Rough day?”
“You could say that, yeah.”
“Where’s Marissa?”
“I’m sure she’s on her way.”
“We figured we’d take you two out tonight and get you all liquored up.”
“Really.”
“Uh huh.”
“Sounds like fun, but count me out. I’m pretty tired.”
Lara turned at the sound of Marissa’s voice, and when her friend stopped beside her she was effectively unable to get into her car. She sighed in frustration as she leaned against her car and silently hoped Marissa would keep her mouth shut regarding the conversation they’d just had, but no such luck. Marissa smiled at her cousins and said, “Hi, guys. What’s up?”
“We just wanted to take you and Lara out for a bite to eat and maybe some drinks, but she said no. So I guess it’s just the three of us.”
“Make it four. You definitely need to get some food into her.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Shut up, Marissa,” Lara said in a low voice as she shot her friend a warning look.
Marissa ignored her and replied, “Because she hasn’t eaten since Sunday.”
“What?” Luke and Mark said simultaneously as they turned to glance at Lara in concern. Luke frowned and said, “Why not, Lara?”
Lara shrugged and kept her eyes downcast as she desperately wished for the pavement to suddenly open up and swallow her. “Just haven’t been hungry.”
“Any particular reason why?”
“I don’t know, Luke. Will you please move so I can get into my car and go home?”
“No.”
“Luke--”
“You’re coming with us.”
Anger flared in her eyes as she pulled away from him, and in a tremulous voice she said, “No, I’m not. I want to go home and go to bed. I told you I’m pretty tired.”
“You’re pretty anytime, but that’s beside the point. What you need is to have a little fun.”
“Luke, I’m serious. Not tonight. Maybe some other time, OK?”
“No. Tonight.”
“Why are you acting this way?”
“I could ask you the same thing. Now are you coming with us, or do we have to drag you?”
Lara swallowed hard at his challenge, then decided it wasn’t worth the fight. She sighed and shrugged, then said, “No, you don’t have to drag me. Just don’t keep me out late.”
“Yes, granny,” Mark teased as he and Marissa fell into step behind Luke and Lara. Moments later they all climbed into Luke’s car, and Lara stared out the window as Marissa and Mark exchanged jokes in the back seat. A few minutes later they arrived at Charlie’s, and as they all got out of the car Luke put his arm around Lara’s shoulders and gently inquired, “I really wish you’d talk to me. I’m going nuts wondering what’s bothering you.”
“I’ll be fine, Luke.”
“Is it your parents?”
Lara bit her lip as tears sprung to her eyes, and with a tired sigh she said, “That’s part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
“I can’t talk about it.”
“Not even to me?”
“Not even to you.”
“It can’t be that bad, Lara.”
“Yes, it can, and it is. Now are we going inside or what?”
“Sure.” He led her inside and slid into the booth across from Mark and Marissa, then attempted to cheer Lara up with funny stories about his work. Lara simply sat there staring down at the table, and after they’d been there for about half an hour she got up and said, “Excuse me, but I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“I’ll come with you,” Marissa said as she got up and fell into step beside her. Luke and Mark watched them walk away, and in a concerned voice Mark said, “So? What’s bugging her?”
“She said the anniversary of her parents’ deaths is coming up. That’s part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me. Said she couldn’t tell me.”
“I’m worried about her.”
“Yeah, so am I, especially since she hasn’t eaten in three days.”
“Yeah, that isn’t good.”
“See if you can get her to talk Friday when she comes to see you.”
“If she comes, you mean.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He smiled at Lara and Marissa as they returned, then shot a worried glance in Lara’s direction. She was more subdued than she’d been all evening, and it suddenly dawned on him what the problem was. Lara was aware of his scrutiny, and she swallowed hard and slumped down in the booth in an effort to make herself invisible to him. Luke glanced at her and said, “Lara? Why are you sitting like that?”
“No particular reason.” She forced herself into an upright position and chanced a look at Mark, who was looking back at her in obvious concern. She forced a smile and said, “Do I have something hanging out of my nose?”
“No.”
“Then why are you staring?”
He shrugged and replied, “Because you’re pretty. Is that a crime?”
“I guess not.”
He cheered when his favorite song began to play on the jukebox, and Luke and Marissa groaned when he began to sing along. Lara simply sat there, thrilled with her secret and thoroughly enjoying the effects of what she’d done in the bathroom. She’d been relying heavily on the pain pills Mark had prescribed for her, and when mixed with alcohol they produced a pleasant, fuzzy feeling in her head that made it easier to deal with her problems. Luke frowned when he noticed the tremor in her hand as she picked up her drink, and in a quiet voice he inquired, “Are you OK, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine, Luke. I really wish everyone would stop asking me that.”
“You need to eat something.”
“I’m fine. I’ll eat later, at home. I can’t exactly ask the waiter to puree my cheeseburger, now, can I?”
“I guess not.”
“Then stop bugging me about it.”
He sighed and glanced at his brother, then shrugged and turned his attention to Marissa. They shared some idle chitchat until the waiter arrived to take their order, and when he was gone Marissa said, “Why didn’t you order anything, Lara?”
“Because I don’t think I can handle soup.”
“Oh. That’s a good reason, I guess.”
“Yeah.” She drained her glass and glanced at the waiter, who came over a few moments later and offered her a refill. She nodded and watched as he expertly mixed her drink and set it in front of her, then thanked him and took a sip of the cold, smooth concoction. The second drink seemed to loosen her up a bit, but Luke was still deeply concerned by her refusal to eat. She’d barely spoken to Mark all evening, which was definitely not like her, and when she drained her second glass of Kahlua and Cream she unsteadily got to her feet and said, “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
Mark watched her walk towards the ladies room, and in an urgent voice he said, “Marissa, let me get up. I have to do something.”
“God, Mark, keep your bathroom habits to yourself.”
“Very funny. Come on, I’m serious.”
“Oh, alright.” She got up so he could slide out of the booth, then watched him walk away and said, “What’s up with him?”
“He’s worried about Lara.”
“Aren’t we all?”
Mark cautiously pushed open the door to the ladies room, then peered inside and said, “Lara?”
Lara was washing her hands, and when she saw Mark she exclaimed, “What are you doing in here? This is the ladies room!”
“I know that. I came in here to check on you.”
“I’m fine, Mark. Why is everyone so worried?”
“Because we all care about you. Now what’s up with you?”
“Nothing.”
“I beg to differ.”
“You really should get out of here before the manager makes us all leave.”
“I doubt that’s going to happen.” He gently framed her face with his hands and said, “Please talk to me, Lara. I know something is wrong, and I really wish you’d tell me what it is.”
“I’m fine, Mark.”
“You keep saying that, but no one believes you, honey.”
Lara swallowed hard as she met his kind blue gaze, but she just couldn’t bring herself to tell him her feelings for him. Mark sighed and bluntly inquired, “Are you mixing pain pills with alcohol?”
Her eyes widened in surprise at his accuracy, and the look on her face was his answer. He shook his head and said, “You have to stop that, Lara. That is extremely dangerous.”
“It takes the pain away.”
“Physical or emotional?”
“Both.”
She began to cry then, and as Mark gently drew her against his chest he murmured, “It’s OK, sweetheart…Just please tell me what’s wrong.”
“You don’t understand,” she wailed as she effectively soaked the front of his shirt.
Mark gently tipped her chin up and said, “I don’t understand what?”
“I can’t go on like this,” she sobbed as she leaned heavily against his chest and clung to him as if she was drowning.
Mark frowned and gently inquired, “You can’t go on like what?”
“I just…I can’t…”
“Lara, sweetheart, talk to me. Whatever you have to tell me can’t be that bad.”
“I can’t, Mark. I can’t tell anyone. Not you, not Luke, not Marissa, no one.”
“Have you broken the law?”
“No.”
“Then it can’t be that bad. Now what is it?”
“Everyone will hate me…”
“I doubt that, Lara. You aren’t the type of person many people can hate.”
She sniffled and eased away from him, then said, “I’m having these strange feelings towards you, and I don’t know what to do about them.”
Mark raised an eyebrow in surprise, laughed and said, “Is that it?”
Lara nodded miserably, to which Mark said, “I don’t know about the rest of them, but I’m positively thrilled.”
“I’m serious, Mark. It’s driving me crazy. I love your brother. I’m not supposed to feel that way about you.”
“Hey, you’re human, aren’t you?”
“Sometimes I wonder.”
He laughed again and said, “You’re allowed to have private thoughts and feelings, Lara. The problem arises when you act upon them.”
“But it’s getting difficult to be around you because of my thoughts and feelings.”
“Well, avoiding you is definitely out of the question, because I happen to care about you quite a bit.”
“So what do you suggest?”
Mark shrugged and replied, “Let me think about it, OK?”
Lara suddenly looked stricken as she said, “Oh God, you aren’t going to tell Luke, are you?”
“Of course not. He’d probably kill me.”
“I doubt that.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him, especially where you’re concerned.”
His statement made her cry all over again, and in a gentle voice he said, “Lara, honey, don’t cry.”
“I feel like a slut.”
Mark threw back his head and laughed so hard that tears streamed down his cheeks, and when he’d calmed down a bit he said, “Lara, honey, that was absolutely priceless.”
“What’s so funny? I think this whole situation is pretty serious.”
“You can’t be a slut, Lara.”
“That’s what I feel like.”
“Well, at the moment it’s impossible. You’ve slept with only one man.”
“How would you know?”
“Men just know these kinds of things. Now come on. I’m sure Luke and Marissa are wondering what’s going on.”
Lara nodded and walked out of the ladies’ room first, and Mark used the men’s room before returning to their booth. Luke shot him an inquisitive glance but said nothing as Mark took his seat beside Marissa, and in a nonchalant voice he said, “Where’s our food?”
“I don’t know. I think they had to go kill the cow,” Marissa said as she impatiently tapped her fingers on the table.
Luke laughed and said, “What the hell. Have another drink.”
“I think I might just do that.” She signaled for the waiter, who walked over and said, “I apologize for the delay. Your food will be here shortly.”
“Yeah, OK, but in the meantime, I’d like a refill.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Hey, what do I look like, your grandmother? Don’t call me ma’am. I’m probably younger than you are.”
Even Lara laughed at her friend’s comment, and Luke seemed relieved at the improvement in her attitude. He leaned down and gently nuzzled the side of her neck, then quietly inquired, “Feeling better?”
“As a matter of fact, I am. Damn!”
“What’s the matter?”
“I forgot to tell the waiter to bring me another drink.”
She’d taken another pain pill in the bathroom, and she was feeling pretty good when the waiter returned with everyone’s food. She requested another refill, then ignored Mark’s concerned look as she sipped her third mixed drink. He cleared his throat and said, “Don’t you have to drive home, Lara?”
Luke frowned at his brother and said, “No, she doesn’t, because she’s coming home with us.”
“Oh.”
Lara smiled at Mark and said, “Yeah, silly, I’m coming home with you guys.”
“That’s definitely a good thing, considering how many of those drinks you’ve had.”
“Hey, it was your idea to get us all liquored up, as you put it.”
“Yes, it was, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. So stop bugging me and let me get all liquored up in peace.”
Luke laughed and stuck his tongue out at his brother, but his smile faded when he noticed Mark’s worried expression. He frowned at his brother and said, “OK, what’s the matter now?”
“I need to use the men’s room. Wanna come with me?”
Luke shrugged and slid out of the booth. “Sure.”
Marissa laughed and said, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Mark gave his cousin a strained smile and said, “What? You think women are the only ones who go to the bathroom together?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Think again.”
Marissa laughed as she watched them walk away, then turned her attention to Lara and inquired, “Now aren’t you glad you decided to tag along?”
“I guess so.”
“Feeling better?”
“A little.”
“Good.”
While Lacy was absorbed by her food, Mark was discreetly and urgently whispering to Luke, “She’s mixing pain pills with alcohol. See if you can get her to ease up on the drinks.”
“She’s what?”
“You heard me. That’s extremely dangerous, Luke. You might end up taking her to the ER later tonight if she continues drinking at this rate.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“She didn’t have to. I asked her, and the look on her face said it all.”
Luke sighed and said, “OK. I’ll see what I can do.”
“You’d better, for her sake.”
After dinner everyone decided to call it a night, and Luke had to hold Lara close against him so she wouldn’t fall as she stumbled out to his car. She’d ended up consuming five more drinks as everyone ate, and that coupled with the two pain pills she’d taken earlier had her positively reeling as Luke opened the car door for her and settled her in the passenger seat. She laughed slightly as she said to Mark, “Well, your plan worked. I am definitely all liquored up.”
“I’ll say.”
She smiled and leaned back in the seat, then promptly passed out.