Page 40 of So Much More
I groan and roll over. Through my slitted eyes, I catch sight of my alarm clock. I close my eyes, but then they pop back open, and I focus on the clock again.
I curse loudly, and Ash hollers, “I said I’m sorry.”
When I sit up, my head spins, but I manage to stumble to the door and out into the hallway.
“Good morning, beautiful,” my brother says when I enter the living room.
“I gotta go,” I say, lurching toward the apartment door.
“The bathroom’s the other way.”
“No,” I say, “I’m supposed to be meeting Wendy’s sisterright now.”The reality of the situation finally fully hits me, and I rush to the bathroom and dry heave over the toilet.
“Seriously, what is wrong with you?” Ash stands in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. “I have to say, this level of screw-up is excessive, even for you.”
“I’m going to ignore your attitude,” I gasp out between heaves, “because I need your help.”
“You could have helped yourself by setting your alarmandby not getting drunk last night.”
“I did set my alarm. I promise. I must have set it wrong.” I straighten up, hoping the nausea is over for the moment. “You gotta drive me to the hotel. It’s the only way I might make it.” I push past him and rush back into my room to change my clothes, since I’m still wearing the ones I wore last night, and I need to look presentable for Andrea. “There’s no way I’ll find anywhere to park down there.”
I surprise myself by how fast I can change my clothes while my head feels like it’s going to explode. All the while, Ash watches me from the doorway.
“Let’s go,” I say, when I’m standing in front of him and he’s not moving.
“You gotta brush your teeth first, man. And put on some cologne. You reek.”
“Then get out of my way.”
He moves, I quickly brush my teeth and douse myself in Obsession for Men, and we rush out the door.
“Tell me why I’m helping you,” Ash says as we pull out of his parking spot.
“Because you love me, even if I’m the dumbest man to ever live. Drive faster!”
“No. I’m not breaking the law simply because my brother is dumb.”
“Ash—”
“I’ll get us there as fast as I can, all right? Calm down.” He reaches over and flips open the glove box. “And grab a piece of gum out of there. You still smell like something died in your mouth.”
It’s exactly nine o’clock when we pull up in front of the hotel. I jump out without asking Ash if he’s planning to wait for me, but if he doesn’t, I’ll have no right to be upset. I rush into the lobby and look around for the restaurant.
“Can I help you, sir?” a bellhop asks me.
“Yes, I need to find the restaurant.”
“Which one?”
“You mean there’s more than one?”
“There’s one over there,” he points, “and one over there.” He points in the opposite direction.
I groan so loudly he backs away.
“Sorry,” I say as I rush toward one of the restaurants. “I’m late for a meeting.”
When I reach the hostess stand, I raise a hand in greeting but race right past, frantically looking around for a redheaded woman who looks like Wendy.
