While Nicole sorted out Steve and brunch, Kelly grabbed her jeans and a clean T-shirt and headed for the bathroom. She desperately needed pain killers and her toothbrush. Her head throbbed, and her mouth tasted like she’d licked the toilet bowl rather than just puked in it.

She squinted against the bright light and glanced in the mirror. The image looking back at her made her cringe. Her normally vibrant blue eyes peered back at her, bloodshot and lifeless. Her mousey brown hair stuck out in all directions like twigs on a barren tree.

After locating some pain killers, Kelly chugged back two tablets before stepping into the shower. The warm water pounding on her back felt heavenly. Kelly let out a contented sigh and tried to clear her mind. Her reprieve was short-lived.

The second she closed her eyes images of someone, somewhere, trying to scrub Kelly’s scent off their body crashed into her mind. Disgusted with herself, she shut off the water and climbed out.

How had she not known it wasn’t Paula? Sure, it had been dark, but didn’t women taste different, smell different, sound different? Her eyes went wide recalling the words, “Wow, am I dreaming?” No wonder she’d barely recognized the voice.

It hadn’t been Paula’s, but, it wasn’t completely foreign either.

*

Back in the living room, Kelly snacked on a bowl of fruit salad and sipped a glass of orange juice. In hindsight, she probably should’ve downed a large glass of water when she’d arrived home last night, it might’ve helped stave off her headache. But, thanks to a certain person, she’d avoided the kitchen.

As if reading Kelly’s mind, Steve winked at her. She rolled her eyes and threw a grape at him, delighted when it hit him in the chest.

He looked at Nicole with puppy dog eyes. “Tell your friend to stop picking on me.”

Quick as a flash, Nicole plucked the grape off the floor and dropped it in Steve’s coffee.

“Hey, I was drinking that.” He scowled.

“Children,” Kelly interrupted. “I have a headache.”

Steve leaned back on the big blue sofa and placed his left ankle across his right knee. “Sorry, Mum,”

When Kelly didn’t smile, concern flashed across his face. He dropped his foot to the floor and placed his elbows on his knees, all traces of humour gone. His intense gaze bore into Kelly making her feel like he could see into her very soul.

She’d known Steve longer than Nicole, had introduced them in fact. He was like the brother Kelly never had. Most people assumed she was jealous when her two best friends had hooked up. But, they were sorely mistaken, she couldn’t have been happier. She was certain one day they’d marry.