Page 12 (1/2)

"Finish your coffee, get ready, and I’ll be back in, say, forty-five minutes?" He stands and moves towards the door

As I shower, I realize that Graham completely sidestepped ht was "fun in its oay" I’ on all cylinders, aswhen I get out There’s a text froht:

Me: er oksyrfbecer sy brfpre dpo was involved Hello? So I can READ???

I text her back and she answers im around

E!

Me: What i ht e played i never, and i left before spin the bottle

Euys seriously didn’t play I never and spin-the-bottle did you?"

"Yes and almost"

"Somehow I’ve always pictured celebrity parties as h "Yeah, ested spin-the-bottle or seven minutes in heaven"

"Are you insane? There was a possibility of seven minutes in heaven with Quinton Beauvier, and you left early?"

"Eames…"

"Yeah, I know I just don’t see why I can’t body-double for you during ti task, but I’d nize Grahao to brunch, so I’ll call you later?"

"Sure Don’t worry aboutSacramento Alone No life"

"Emily, you know you’re alith me in spirit"

"Bitespin-the-bottle with Reid and Quinton"

"Noho’s whining?" I tease

"Fine But one of these days, I expect to reap the benefits of having a big star for a best friend"

"Absolutely You’ll be first in line"

Chapter 14

REID

I wake up just before noon and call rooe received early thisfrom Dad Like he didn’t know I’d still be asleep when he called

I got charged with pot possession earlier this su witha couple of joints around with some people when John texted irl next to you and walk to the back door NOW

While Johndown So I obeyed He pulledwith her car, just as the police ca, but it was dark, and they were too indistinct to be incontestably me, or weed, for that matter With no physical evidence to prove that I was present or in possession, Dad’s firm claimed hearsay and the case was thrown out… which didn’t preclude Dad fro ballistic

We pitched a fortune at e The ht from my account, but for souht-laced father has never stepped out of line in his life, and as he’s expressed stridently on multiple occasions, he can’t comprehend why I live e would involve son that he’s overnighting So I don’t expect this: "Reid," he sighs heavily, "I’ to let you know that your ras there, unsaid, nevertheless "Exclusive facility, by the ocean, not too far froram She hopes to be back ho"

He goes silent for several seconds, and I’m not sure if that’s the end Then he adds, "She’ll be able to take phone calls in a couple of weeks I’ll let you know the number, in case you… have ti" He has a lot of nerve saying that I’m usually not the one who upsets her "If you have any questions, call "

Awesoh I was seldom around, she had a drink in her hand every ti, and for short, varying periods of time after any rehab experience, this is how I picture her: Mom, drink in hand It’s her prop, part of her costu to be so she isn’t--someone constantly sober, without the ability to dull the knife-thrusts of reality Maybe Mo that it’s immoral or makes her a bad person is what causes the crisis

Or maybe I’m a classic enabler, as one of her therapists yelled in a fit of untherapist-like vocal exasperation