Unexpected Oasis Read Online Free PDF Page B

determined to do my best.
    "What the fuck are you guys doing?" Trey's voice shatters the raucous chatter of the other men. I can't see him from where I'm sitting and I'm somewhat thankful. He sounds furious.
    "Just shootin' some pool, boss," Junior tells him. "You want to play the winner?"
    "No. I do not." Trey's voice sounds like he put it on ice. "What I would like to know is why all four members of my security team are piss-ass drunk."
    "Relax," D says. "K came and went. Nothing happened. It's all cool."
    "I'm not so worried about breaching security to let the bootlegger in. But you can't all be fucking wasted at the same time! What if—"
    He suddenly steps into view and stops short when he sees me. I make myself as small as possible and try to sink into the chair. I close my eyes and immediately realize it's a mistake.
    Lurching to my feet, I make a run for the bathroom, practically pulling my shoulder out of its socket as I yank open the door. I haven't puked from drinking too much in years, but there's no preventing it now. Falling to my knees, I grab the toilet and hurl, and hurl, and hurl.
    Through the thin walls I can hear the men arguing, which only horrifies me further. After all, if I can hear them, they can hear me. And I'm not retching quietly. In fact, I'm pretty sure the liquor is some sort of terrorist weapon the way it's violently burning its way out of my esophagus.
    At least the episode is short-lived. But then, I didn't actually drink that much—maybe three shots total. And I've barely eaten in days. It doesn't take my body long to rid itself of the offending liquor.
    I flush the toilet and rise, wiping my mouth with the side of my hand. I don't know how it's possible, but I think I'm even more drunk than I was before I threw up. I stagger to the sink, losing my balance and stumbling into the wall.
    The cold water feels great on my face, though I'm careful not to get any in my mouth. The last think I want to do is add water deemed unsafe to drink to the brew of poison churning in my unhappy stomach.
    My image is blurry in the mirror. I do my best to wipe my face with a damp paper towel and then realize if my mascara is smeared I really don't care. After violently retching for the last five minutes, the last thing I should be embarassed about is a little raccoon eyes.
    Still, I keep my gaze focused on the floor as I emerge from the bathroom. The room immediately goes quiet. "I'm, um, I'm going to head back to my room," I say meekly.
    "I'll walk you there," D says.
    "No." Trey and I say the word simultaneously, only his "no" is forceful and mine is, well, not.
    "I'm fine," I add with a pathetic smile. I still haven't moved my gaze from its spot on the floor. Maybe if I don't look at the guys, they won't remember my shame.
    "I'm just gonna…go." I walk with what I'd like to think is forced sobriety. I still stumble.
    The doorknob proves troublesome, and I make two failed attempts to turn it before finally succeeding.
    The guys start laughing as soon the door closes behind me. 
    Once again I feel like a self-conscious teenager. I refuse to acknowledge her. I stand up straight (I think), square my shoulders, and march toward my room with determined purpose.
    I make it thirty feet before I trip over an unseen gremlin and face-plant the lush, out of place lawn.
    The cool grass feels so damn good, I might just curl up here for the night. Fuck the guys behind me. Fuck sexy-ass, hot Trey. And fuck that Pakistani liquor.
    "Hey. Are you all right?"
    Speaking of Sexy, or Trey, or whatever his name is…
    I haul my torso onto my forearms. Two strong hands on each of my shoulders stabilize me.
    "Yeah," I say, pushing the hair out of my face. The hand running through my hair smashes my nose like it's a giant speedbump. "I'm sorry. I don't normally get so…um… God, what's the word I want?"
    "Sloshed?" His voice sounds sympathetic and amused at the same time. I get the feeling I'm going to be the butt of many, many