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.As he rubbed across his face, he was surprised to find it wet with tears.What had he done so wrong to the universe to deserve to lose everything?He awoke to Colton’s voice.“I’m in his house now, Cass.Besides being drunker than a skunk and passed out, I think he’s okay.”Chris could hear the sound of something being poured down the sink.That was probably the rest of his Scotch.He sat up and rubbed at his face.The room continued to spin and he fought back the nausea that came with it, swallowing hard.Colton came and stood in front of him, scowling, with the cell phone to his ear.“Yeah, he’s waking up.I’ll stay here tonight.Don’t worry.I’ll take care of him.Try to tune him out and enjoy your honeymoon, okay, sis?”After hanging up the cell phone, Colton crossed his arms and continued to stare down at him.“Do you want to explain what happened?”Chris laughed loud and bitter.“Nope.” He stood and then lurched a little, until Colton grabbed him to steady him.He headed toward the kitchen, hoping he was wrong about the demise of the Scotch.Colton dogged his steps, seemingly ready to catch him if he stumbled again.And wasn’t that always the way with Colton? He was always there to take care of them all.“I’m okay.Go home to Pen.” He looked in the trash can and pulled out the now empty bottle and scowled at his older brother.“I don’t think so.”Chris staggered to the refrigerator, opened it and grabbed a beer.Colton immediately snatched it out of his hand.“I think you’ve had enough.”Grabbing another, Chris replied, “I don’t really care what you think.” He shoved past Colton, not really caring how hard he hit him as he walked past into the living room.He could feel Colton’s stare on the back of his head as he flopped back down on the couch.Damn, he really hated it when the room spun like this.He leaned his head back against the couch and started flipping channels.“Something happened.You were fine when you left work this afternoon.Now it’s 7:30 at night and you’re falling down drunk.This isn’t you, Chris.Tell me what happened.”Chris didn’t want to think about this afternoon.He didn’t want to think about the nightmares.His lost dreams.The mess his life had become.He just wanted to find oblivion, just for a few hours or days.Was that so much to ask? He took a long draw off his beer, ignoring the queasiness that ensued because of it.Colton yanked the beer out of his hand.“Hey!” Chris yelled as he tried to stand, but was less than successful.It just wasn’t worth the effort.He stumbled toward his bedroom.“Go home, Colt.I don’t want to talk.Just go home.” He slammed his bedroom door, unbuttoned the top of his jeans, flopped on his bed, and tried not to think about the last time he’d had sex.With Julie.On Valentine’s Day.Fifteen months ago.* * *Chris sat straight up in bed.Oh my God.What was that horrible noise and why were there little people in his head trying to drive pick-axes through his skull in time to it? He tried to groan, but it came out more as a whimper as his stomach suddenly lurched and he dove toward the bathroom and toilet.As he sat on the bathroom floor worshipping the porcelain god, it occurred to him that a few hours of oblivion weren’t worth this.Finally, his stomach settled enough so he could stand again.Leaning over the sink, he rinsed his mouth out with tap water and avoided looking in the mirror.He remembered making this trip several times throughout the night and was pretty sure the wear and tear would show in his reflection.Again, the grinding noise came at him from the kitchen, hammering at his skull.He shuffled into the room, yanked the coffee grinder out of Colton’s hand, and set it very gingerly on the counter.Colton just ignored his scowl and gave him a blinding, gleeful smile.“Good morning, sunshine.” Then he maniacally picked up the grinder and started it again.Chris clutched his head as he sank to the floor.Finally, the incessant noise stopped and Chris could only whimper.“You’re a sadistic bastard.”“Come on.” Colton reached a hand down to help Chris up off the floor.“The pain will be worth it when you get some coffee in your system.” Colton pushed him into a barstool at the breakfast counter where Chris rested his head in his hands, closing his eyes to the blinding glare of the morning sun.They sat there in the quiet, with only the noise from the coffee brewing.Chris tried to convince himself that he couldn’t truly die from a hangover, no matter how bad it felt.Colton toasted some bread and set it on a plate in front of Chris, although his stomach churned at the sight.He pushed it away.“Maybe later
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