Chapter Fourteen

Darby

For the first time in weeks, my body didn’t fight me with every step, and I didn’t feel like at any moment I would throw up whatever happened to be in my stomach at the time. My energy was back, and so was my appetite.

The feeling that an alien had taken over my body was beginning to go away. That, of course, brought on new worries, so I was glad Health Services could push through my assistance and I could make an appointment with Dr. Park right about the time I was beginning to stress about Bean.

I sat in the waiting room, watching updates about the fire scroll across the bottom of the television screen. I’d filled out a dozen forms, stepped on a scale, and peed in a cup, now all there was to do was wait. Not a first-timer at the gynecologist’s office, I was used to seeing the mix of very pregnant women, either miserable or obnoxiously happy—there was no in-between—a few toddlers playing with or fighting over toys on the floor, a chatty grandmother, and a small handful of women like me, there for an annual, infertility, or just not showing yet. Most of the husbands looked uncomfortable, but there was always the super-supportive one. And, of course, the one mom-and-daughter duo, trying not to speak to one another while they wait for the teen’s first gyno appointment, both very nervous.

A nurse in lilac scrubs stepped out. “Darby,” she said. Her full cheeks rounded when she smiled. I stood, looking very much unpregnant and single, surrounded by women with skin barely fitting over their perfectly round middles, their noses and ankles puffy, their husbands’ hands on the babies they’d helped create.

“Hi, I’m Shannon,” the nurse said, closing the door behind us. Her sun-kissed spirals hovered just above her shoulders, her curves filling out her scrubs. She had silver rings on all eight of her fingers, a tiny diamond in the crease of her nose, and a tan that boasted any spare time was spent in the summer Colorado sun. “You’ll be in room two, second door on your left.”

I stepped into the room, deciding in the moment where to sit. The wax paper pulled over the table for sanitary reasons made a sound that was worse than nails on a chalkboard to me. So I skipped the table and sat in the chair.

“Hi, Darby. It’s nice to meet you,” Shannon said, standing next to a tablet on a stand. She tapped it a few times and then smiled at me. “The lab confirms it. You’re pregnant. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you remember the first day of your last period?”

“Uh…May sixth.”

She tapped the screen a few more times. “Okay, looks like you’re due February first.”

I grinned and nodded, not knowing what else to say.

“Any questions or concerns?” she asked, slipping a small clip on my finger and a blood pressure cuff over my arm.

“I’ve been feeling a lot better. The nausea, dizziness, and vomiting let up finally. I just want to make sure everything’s all right.”

“Was the morning sickness pretty intense?” she asked.

“It wasn’t fun.”

“I’m so sorry. If you have any issues again, don’t hesitate to call. Even if we can’t get you in right away, the doctor can prescribe something to help. We got you in today because of cancelations for the holiday…yesterday being the Fourth and all that.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Did you do anything fun despite the firework ban?”

“Spent the evening with a friend.”

“That sounds fun! Everything okay at home? Do you feel unsafe? Stressed? Are you eating properly? I see no drugs or alcohol. You don’t smoke…”

She was going down the list of things I’d answered in the paperwork, sometimes talking to herself, sometimes asking me questions. I wasn’t sure if she’d peppered in the tough questions with the easy ones to trip me up or if it was typical.

“I feel safe. I’m a little stressed. I just moved here, but I work at the Colorado Springs Hotel, and I live there, too. My boss is great, but he doesn’t know I’m pregnant. I’d like to keep it that way for a while. Just trying to get my prenatal care started and figuring out how to pay for everything is a little stressful. I don’t have a car, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Shannon blinked. “You moved here alone?”

I nodded.

“From where? Do I hear a Texas accent?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Where is the father?”

“Back in Texas. He doesn’t know, either. I didn’t feel safe there.”

“But you do now?”

“Yes.”

She smiled. “Great! Dr. Park will be in shortly.”

Shannon squirted a gel onto a napkin on a silver tray, and then she left me alone. I tapped my nails on the wood arms of the chair I sat in, looking around the room.

“Good afternoon!” Dr. Park said, breezing in. Her blond hair was pulled into a low bun, her glasses sat low on her nose. She sat on a rolling stool, her white lab coat over a pair of light gray slacks and white blouse. “Vitals look good. Labs look good. I hear you’ve had the barfs. That’s no fun. But you’re feeling better?”

“Um…yes. The past couple of days have been good.”

“Shannon tells me you moved here from Texas, and that maybe you weren’t in the best situation before.”

“Correct. But I’m good here now.”

“No family, though? No emergency contact? And you don’t have transportation, correct?”

“No.”

“Okay, good to know. We’ll need to get a plan together when we’re closer to”—she checked the chart—“February. Can I have you sit on the table? Any allergies? Latex?”

“No. None.” I climbed up, and she warned me before leaning the seat back.

“We’re going to take a look, is that okay? See what we can see?” she said. The way she asked multiple questions at a time made me feel more overwhelmed by the minute. “It’s a little early, but we can try it.”

“We’re going to see the baby?” I asked, surprised.

“Is that okay? Can you lift your shirt for me?”

“Yes, I just wasn’t expecting that, I guess.”

She tucked a napkin into my jeans and squirted gel onto my stomach. “Just going to squirt a bit here, and…” She dabbed the microphone-looking thing in her hand in the gel, spread around what she’d put on my stomach, and then stopped down by my pelvic bone, pressing down.

“Well, hello there, baby,” she said, smiling at the monitor. It was black and white, and not much of anything. She pointed out the sac to me, showing me the tiny grain of rice that was my Bean. My eyes filled with tears as she measured and tapped out data, cooing to Bean like he or she was already here.

She pushed a few buttons, and the room filled with a fast but rhythmic beat.

“Is that…?”

“The heartbeat. Nice and strong.” She pulled the probe away and wiped off my stomach with a clean white rag, leaving it for me to finish up. Just like that, Bean was gone.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Everything looks wonderful. You’ve got a few weeks of your first trimester left, then we’re on to the fun stuff like feeling the baby move for the first time, showing, maternity clothes. Exciting stuff! Have you started prenatal vitamins? They have some great over-the-counter ones. They might make you start feeling icky again, so just play around with it. Try to take them right before you go to bed, or maybe after a meal…everyone is different. We’ll find something that works for you. It’s important to find something with folic acid.”

I nodded. My brain felt full, and I was beginning to get a headache.

Dr. Park laughed. “I’ll have this all on paper for you, no worries. Want a picture?”

“A…?”

“Copy of what’s on the screen,” she explained.

“Um…yes?”

She pressed a few buttons, and a series of pictures began to spill out from the ultrasound machine. Dr. Park took off her gloves, tossed them in the trash, and stood. “Okay. You’re all set. We’ll see you in four weeks.” She tore off the photos and handed them to me.

Dr. Park closed the door behind her just as I said thank you. I sat in the room alone, then looked down, wiping the remaining gel carefully off my stomach. The fluorescent light above glinted off the pictures in my hand, catching my attention. What was supposed to be my baby looked like a mess of black and white. I didn’t really see anything. I put the pictures in my back pocket, said good-bye to Shannon, and checked out at the front desk with Michelle.

“See you next month!” Michelle said with a bright smile.

The walk home was hot and felt like it took longer than it did to get to Dr. Park’s office. The wind was blowing the smoke into town, and my throat felt dry and scratchy. By the time I reached the hotel, I was coughing, and went straight to the bar for a glass of water.

“Darby?” Stavros called. “How are you feeling?”

“Great,” I said, clearing my throat.

“Good, because Tilde had to leave early. Maya is covering, but she’s already put in forty hours this week. Can you come in early? Like…soon?”

“I can,” I said.

“You look nice,” Zeke said with a smile.

“Thanks,” I said, using the gun to pour cold water into a glass. I cleared my throat.

“I know. The smoke is bad today. The winds changed. They were saying that might happen. Glad they were prepared.”

“Me, too. When do you go out again?” I took a drink, feeling the cold liquid extinguish the burning sensation in my throat.

“They’re saying tomorrow morning.”

I frowned. “Well, be careful, okay?”

He smiled. “We always are.”

“Where’ve you been lately? I haven’t seen you around.”

Zeke smiled. “Doing stuff. Same as you.”

“Same as me?” I smirked. “Trex is busier than I thought.”

Zeke chuckled. “Not Trex.”

“A girl?” I asked. When Zeke didn’t offer more, I insisted. “Oh, really? Where did you meet her?”

“Out one night.”

“So mysterious,” I teased, taking a drink. “Is she nice?”

“She’s everything,” Zeke said.

“Good. You deserve nothing less.”

He got that aw-shucks look I’d fallen for so many times. But Zeke was genuine. I was glad the mystery girl was putting a smile on his face, and I realized Trex had had the same one.

“Thanks,” Zeke said. “So, you’re feeling better? You look like you feel better.”

“I am.”

“I still feel bad…about the bar. Trex was right, I shouldn’t have taken you there.”

Stavros approached, straightening his tie before he began cleaning behind the bar. “Have you eaten?”

“Yes.” I chuckled. “Everyone acts like I’ll die if I don’t eat.”

“No, you just puke all over my lobby,” he teased. He nodded to Zeke. “What are you kids up to?”

“Just relaxing before dinner,” Zeke said. “Hitting the sack early tonight. We were told we’ll likely go out tomorrow.”

“You don’t look so happy about it,” Stavros said.

“He just met a mystery girl. I bet leaving her for ten days is bugging him,” I said.

“Darby, damn,” he said. He tried and failed to look upset.

“Mystery girl. She sounds intriguing,” Stavros said.

“Not talking about it,” Zeke said.

“You talked about it with Darby, but you can’t talk about it with your bartender? That’s not right.”

“I didn’t,” Zeke said, pointing, “talk about her to Darby.”

“It’s true, I don’t know much,” I said.

“Well, I was wondering,” Stavros said.

“What?” Zeke asked.

“You have a new distraction. Explains how you got over it so fast that Darby wasn’t interested in a relationship of any kind, and then Trexler came along and she was all for it.”

My mouth fell open, and Zeke pulled his ball cap lower on his forehead. “Don’t know anything about that.”

Stavros was more than pleased with himself, nearly giddy. “I admit it. I’m a drama whore.” His smile vanished and he became serious. “But I don’t gossip. Gossip isn’t true.”

I frowned. “I’m going to get ready for work.”

“Have a good day, sweetie,” Stavros called after me.

“I’m not speaking to you!” I hollered, hurrying to my room.

I pulled the photos from my back pocket and placed them on the nightstand, and then I slowly made my way to the shower, to wash the dried remnants of gel off my stomach and the sweat from the walk home. I wondered what Trex was doing, and if he thought about me during the day, too. We’d spent so much time together that week, it was like we’d been together twice as long. No games, no wondering if he liked me, no wondering what kind of mood he would be in. Trex listened, he had so many great stories, and there was still so much to learn about each other. It was so refreshing it almost made me miss having a cell phone so I could text him during the day. Almost. Freeing myself from my phone was the best decision I’d made in a very long time.

I dressed and played with the makeup Maya had given to me, pulled my hair into a bun, put on my freshly pressed shirt and pants, and headed down the hall. One day, when I could afford an apartment, I was going to miss the convenience of walking down the hall to work.

I greeted Maya, and she smiled at me. “Wow. You did great.”

“I um…used to do pageants. I wore a lot of makeup back then.”

“You look like a supermodel,” she said. “Don’t you just love it?”

“It’s fun when you don’t have to.”

I checked in a line of hotshots, and between breaks I chatted with Zeke, Watts, Sugar, and Kasen and Sweets, hotshots from two other crews. They were buzzing around me, seeming intrigued by the products on my face.

“Hi,” a man said in a thick Australian accent. He towered over me, as did the other blond-haired, ocean-eyed man he was with. They were standing with Maddox. “Checkin’ in, sweetheart. We should have a room reserved.”

“Name?” I asked.

“Liam Walker. Unless it’s under this bloke’s name.”

As I checked the men in, another from the back snapped something just loud enough for me to hear.

“All right, we don’t have all day,” Maddox said.

“Hi, Taylor,” I said. “Everything okay?”

“It’s Tyler,” he grumbled.

“Pardon?”

He sighed. “I’m Tyler. Yes, we’re twins. Yes, we’re identical. Yes, the resemblance is uncanny. It’s been a long day. Can I please check the fuck in?”

“It’s my fault, darl. I made him cranky on the ride over,” Liam said.

I typed in Tyler’s name, trying to keep a smile on my face. I was half pissed, half intimidated, and then pissed for feeling intimidated. Tyler wasn’t Shawn. He wasn’t going to come over the desk at me and squeeze my neck until I thought I might pass out. But still, a man speaking so gruffly to me had me on edge.

“Just one key?” I asked.

“No, two.”

His answer gave me pause. “One adult, correct?”

He looked over his shoulder at the dark-haired woman a few feet behind him. “No, she’s with me. Ellison Edson.”

I tapped the mouse and moved it around. “I have her in a king room, booked by…MountainEar Magazine.”

Tyler glanced over his shoulder at Liam and Jack. They were having a conversation between them, not paying attention. “Just the one room.”

“You want me to cancel hers? I’ll have to confirm with her.”

“No…no,” he sighed, frustrated. “Fuck it, never mind. Just…put hers on my card.”

“I can do that.” I processed his card, created his key, and set them aside. “Just need you to sign here for yours, and then I’ll start hers.” By the time he’d finished signing, I was already running his card again. He sighed a second time, and he leaned closer.

I tried not to lean back, so I held my breath and stood still instead.

“Can you make sure she has a nice view?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Maddox, it’s our last room. It’s a parking lot view, but it’s on the third floor, and—”

“Christ, forget it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Have a better day…sir.”

Tyler cringed. I could tell he felt bad, but I wasn’t going to forgive him until he was sorry. He turned to hand Ellison her room key, and I watched them have a hushed conversation for a few seconds.

“Fuck you,” she said, snatching the key card from his hand. She marched to the elevator, and Tyler chased after her. He didn’t quite make it before the doors closed, though, and looked relieved when the next one opened seconds after he pushed the button.

Liam stepped forward. “He’s really not a bad guy. They’re just…”

“Dysfunctional,” I said.

“Pretty much.”

“Is she going to be okay?” I asked.

“Ellie? Shit yeah. She’ll knock him into next week.”

“Bloody likely,” Jack said, nodding.

I sighed with relief. “Good. That’s good. You gentlemen have a nice night.”

“I’m gonna have a beer. Want one?” Liam asked.

“I’m…working,” I said.

“Damn,” Liam said, peering into the meeting room. The Alpines’ head guy, Chief, looked unhappy. Liam tapped Jack on the shoulder. “We should see what’s going on.”

The hotshots in the lobby made a beeline for the meeting room, standing behind Chief as he gave the Forestry Department heads a stern speech. I wondered why Trex wasn’t in on the meeting. If Chief was losing his temper, maybe Trex was up on the mountain. That made me nervous. I pulled out a pen and pad, drawing the forest. It wasn’t on fire; everyone was safe. That’s how I would imagine Trex.

“Hi,” Ellison said, standing in front of me.

I smiled, pushing away the notepad.

“That’s pretty good,” Ellison said.

“Thanks. What can I do for you?”

Ellison placed her credit card on the front desk. “Can I change the card on my room?”

“Sure,” I said, sliding the silver rectangle off the desk. I clicked my mouse a few times, swiped the card. “For incidentals, too?”

“Yes. Everything.”

“Got it,” I said, handing the card back to her once the screen confirmed approval. The receipt printed, and I placed it in front of her. “Just sign here.”

There was something about Ellison that just made her likable. She refused to take crap from anyone and seemed like she’d been telling people no and saying what was on her mind since birth. I envied that about her. Her short, razored hair was fuss free, and she wasn’t wearing much makeup, but she was stunning. Exotic. Wild. I was none of those things.

“Thanks, Darby.”

“No problem, MountainEar,” I said. It was meant to be a joke, but I realized how lame it was the moment Ellison didn’t even attempt to laugh. She left me to sit at the bar in front of Stavros, unconcerned about making me feel better about my socially awkward moment. That was freedom I’d never experienced.

“She’s sex on a stick, that one,” Jack said, crossing his arms and lifting his chin as if he were proud just to know her. “We’ve already seen her naked.”

“Meeting over?” I asked.

“We’re not invited for another fifteen minutes,” Liam said, standing with Zeke.

“Nice lipstick,” Trex said as he made his way from the elevator bay to the front desk.

I smiled. I’d tried one of the reds Maya had given me. “Hey, handsome. I didn’t see you come in.”

“Welp,” Zeke said, saluting before heading toward the meeting room.

“It’s called Fly Girl. You like it?” I asked.

“I like you,” he said, leaning his elbows on the desk. “Get called in early?”

I nodded. “You’re off early.”

“Just stopping by for a second. On my way back. How’s your day been?”

“I had an appointment. It went well.”

“An appointment? Like with the…”

“Obstetrician,” I said quietly.

“Oh.” Trex was making a strange expression, a mixture of surprise and disappointment.

“What is that face?”

“I just thought…I don’t know, I guess it’s stupid to think I’d be invited.”

“To my appointment?”

“Well…yeah.”

He seemed embarrassed to admit it, but part of me found it endearing. The other part thought about how disastrous that could be. I thought about Trex being in the doctor’s office with me, looking like every other couple who waited in the lobby. The bigger my belly grew, the more of a relief that would be, but having to explain to the doctor who he was this soon into my pregnancy wasn’t something I was prepared to do.

“Trex—”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain. I get it. It’s weird.”

“It’s a little weird.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pressure you.”

I laughed. “You’re not. I don’t feel pressured.”

“Good,” he said, standing up. “Gotta run back to work for a bit. Are you getting off early?”

“Nope, I’m here until seven a.m. You’re not going up on the mountain, right?” I asked.

“Yes, but not anywhere near the fire.”

I smiled, relieved. “Good.”

His lips formed a hard line. “I wish you weren’t at work. I have an uncontrollable urge to kiss you.”

I leaned in, stopping just short of his mouth. “Come back soon, then.”

He groaned, but smiled as he turned on his heels and breezed through the sliding doors. He looked around before climbing into his truck and backing out, his engine growling as he drove out of the parking lot.

I made my way to Stavros, trying to pretend I didn’t already miss Trex.

“Hanging in there?” I asked, leaning on the bar.

“Some of the hotshots don’t tip,” he grumbled. “And, so far, all of them are straight.”

“It’s been like this all week,” I said, resting my chin in my hand. It was that time of day I wished I could have caffeine. Coffee or a soda would have made the rest of the night more manageable. Ellison leaned away from me and fidgeted. “Are you all right?”

“Who was that guy who just left?” Ellison asked. “The one who talked to you before rushing out the door?”

“Trex?” I asked, feeling an uncontrollable smile stretch across my mouth. I was surprised she didn’t already know him, between being a reporter for MountainEar Magazine, running with the Alpines, and dating a Maddox boy.

“Yeah,” Ellison said, shifting on her bar stool. She readjusted the large black sunglasses on top of her head, making a few strands of dark hair poke out in different directions like a black firecracker.

I wasn’t sure how to answer that, and knowing she was a reporter, I blurted out the first thing I could think of. “He’s a firefighter staying here until the fire is out. He’s like…some kind of special crew. He’s not a hotshot or ground crew. He doesn’t really talk about it.” It wasn’t technically a lie. He didn’t talk about it, and he was a special…something. And he was looking for a place. He would be moved out by the time the fire was over. Probably.

“Like fire secret service?” Ellison asked.

I giggled. “Probably. He’s about that uptight.”

“So, don’t you know him?” she asked.

I was beginning to wonder what her interest in Trex was about. “A little.”

“Just a little?” Stavros asked with a smirk.

“What about you?” I asked Ellison. I combed through my ponytail with my fingers, hoping Ellison would see it as a sign of me just wanting a casual conversation. I did, but now I was feeling the tiniest bit territorial. Ellison was beautiful and wild and not pregnant. She had the respect of the Alpines…she had a lot going for her. If she turned her attention to Trex, I wasn’t sure I could compete with that. I felt my eyes water and willed the tears away. The vomiting and dizziness might have gone away, but the mood swings were still obnoxiously present. “I’m guessing you’re a reporter from your credit card?”

“Photographer. I’m following the Alpines around.”

“Oh. I’ve met Taylor Maddox and Zeke Lund. They’re sweethearts. They’ve been hanging out with Trex.” Maybe mentioning her boyfriend’s twin is a friend will deter her? I felt like a child, but Trex was finally something good in my life. I had to protect it.

“They have?” Ellison asked, surprised.

“Yeah, been up in his room almost every night since they got here.”

“How long has Trex been here?”

Stavros looked suspicious, and I was glad I wasn’t the only one who found Ellison’s line of questioning…aggressive.

I shrugged. Something told me not to answer any more of her questions. “Two weeks.” Ish. “He got here before the fire started.” Damn it, Darby, shut up.

Ellison frowned. “That’s weird.”

I smiled, trying to play it off. “Maybe it’s not the fire secret service. Maybe it’s the fire secret psychic.”

A family walked into the lobby, looking hot and exhausted. I returned to the front desk to greet them before they got there, grateful for the distraction. I was failing at protecting anything.

“We have a reservation,” the father said. “Last name’s Snow.” The kids were whining and fighting, the mother too tired to intercede. I typed in their name, stopping when I heard Ellison yell across the lobby.

“Maddox!”

Taylor was walking away from her, looking angry. Ellison turned to Stavros, and he smiled at her.

I tried my best to get the Snows checked in as quickly as possible, giving them their cards, and showing them to the elevator bay as a segue to find my way to the bar.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

Stavros put another drink in front of her. “She has vodka now. She’s fine.”

A sudden collection of walking, shuffling, and rattling grabbed my attention, and I watched the Alpine hotshots walk across the lobby from the elevator bay to the parking lot, outfitted and gear in hand. I waited for Ellison to turn around, but she pounded back her drink. Tyler didn’t even turn to look in her direction.

“Wow, he’s really pissed,” Stavros said. “He didn’t even look back.”

“Stavros,” I scolded. I sat next to Ellie. “He needs to concentrate. I’m sure he’s just trying to focus.”

“I’m sure,” Ellison said, pushing her glass forward. She wasn’t turning it in, she was asking for another. “Let’s save us all time and make it a double,” Ellison said.

“The girl can drink,” Stavros said, impressed.

“This is over Maddox?” I asked.

“Actually,” Ellie said, taking two big gulps until the clear liquid was gone. She pushed the empty glass toward Stavros. “This is not over Maddox. This is my stand against the patriarchy.”

“This will get ’em good,” Stavros said, pouring another double.

“I mean, I like him. He’s a good guy. But let’s be honest. A ball sack would get me a ride to fire camp.”

Stavros spit out a laugh and looked at me, thoroughly amused.

“Are you originally from Estes Park?” I asked.

“My family has a house there.”

“I knew it,” Stavros said. “Ellison Edson. You’re related to the Edson Tech people, aren’t you?”

“Sort of,” she said, taking another gulp.

“Do you drink like this…often?” I asked.

“Not lately. I’m just in a hurry to get drunk before I change my mind.” She raked her dark hair back with her fingers before crossing her arms on the bar. She downed the next drink, and then Stavros made her something more…recreational…to sip on for the next hour. He warned that if she didn’t sip, she would be cut off. She played the game, talking more than she drank, but the moment her hour was up, she ordered another double.

“It’s still bullshit,” Ellison said. She was talking more slowly, and I was torn between wishing the liquor would hit her hard and fast so she’d need to pass out, or hoping Stavros would just cut her off and feed her something. Unfortunately, he didn’t get many women in the hotel who could drink like Ellison, and he was supremely amused.

“You don’t think them grounding you has anything to do with safety?” Stavros asked. “You might be a tad sensitive about this,” Stavros said.

“No, Judge Judy, I don’t. I’ve been traveling everywhere the Alpines have been, including the goddamn fire line. A fire is never safe. This is a political fire, and wouldn’t it be bad press for the Forestry Department if the daughter of Edson Tech’s CEO was crispy fried? That’s what this is about, and it’s bullshit. And…Tyler didn’t even stick up for me.”

“He said he did. They all did,” I chimed in. She gave me a dirty look, and I could tell the alcohol was already beginning to take effect.

“Clearly, he didn’t try hard enough,” she grumbled. She took a normal-sized drink, squinting her eyes as she became lost in thought. “Anyone know where the fire boundaries are? I could get behind it and shoot the black…at least end up with something.”

“Well, you’re drinking,” Stavros said, “so that’s the first reason that’s a bad idea. Second, you could be arrested. Third, it’s dangerous.”

“That it’s dangerous is third?” I asked.

“Fourth,” he continued.

Ellison was already bored with his list. “I’ve been drinking since I was eleven. I can outdrink six large Russian men—that’s not an analogy, I actually have.”

“I believe it,” Stavros said, pouring her another.

I shot him a look, hoping he would cut her off soon. She was drinking so fast it was all going to hit her at once.

“Last one for an hour,” Stavros said.

Ellison tipped her head back and swallowed the entire double in one gulp. “I haven’t eaten today. I’m not going to need you in an hour.” She stood and slammed her hand on the counter. She wasn’t weaving yet, but I could see in her eyes that her thoughts were cloudy.

“Ellie,” I called after her. “Please don’t try to go out there. It’s not safe.”

“Exactly,” she said, pulling her sunglasses down over her eyes.