Chapter 14: ABOUT LAST NIGHT

—Lena—

My eyes spring open, the sun still shining directly into my face. Turning to my side, I lift my phone to check the time. Nine o’clock.

My screen is full of notifications—four text messages and a slew of emails. The first two are from Eric.

Eric: Lunch at Mahjong House at noon. We need to talk.

Crap, what have I done? I suddenly feel an urge to vomit, thinking I can’t remember things for a very good reason. Racing toward the bathroom, I topple over the toilet, dry retching as nothing comes out.

Peeling myself off the cold tiles, I drag myself back to bed and check my phone again.

Eric: Kate will be there, she said she's coming with someone named Lachlan, but she is meeting us at 12:30. Don’t be late!

I laugh, regretting it almost immediately as my head spins violently. It’d been a long time since I drank that much, and I vow never to touch tequila ever again.

The next message is from an unknown numbe