Chapter 193

Almara’s Pov

I shouldn’t have had that last vodka shot. Unfortunately, it’s too late now so I might as well go with it! Where is Arthur? I lean against a wall in the living room and try to think through that last shot. Why is the wall moving? Oh wait, that’s just me. I laugh at myself.

Wow, I haven’t been drunk since . . . I don’t know. Where is Arthur? I count off the original guests in my head, this is how I’ve been checking in with myself. If I can recall the original guests and our last encounter then I’m not that drunk.

Though not a guest, first things first, Grace is in bed. She went to bed a long time ago. I tucked her in, that was before the first handle of vodka was gone and before more and more people started showing up. Oh, that’s right. It all starts coming back.

Grace went to bed, more old rich friends of Arthur showed up. My parents are staying over, they’re with Grace, that’s right. Okay, so, Grace and my parents are accounted for.

After more friends came, I stormed off to find Robert and ask how many people he invited. He said he didn’t invite these people and word must’ve just traveled, that’s when I took the first shot.

Then for some reason, Robert and I did a shot together, was that right after he told me he didn’t invite these people or later? I grip onto the corner of the living room wall. Think, think, think! It was somewhere in between, I decide on. Robert is now playing juice pong with some people I don’t know, or at least I think he is, he was the last time I saw him which was not too long ago, I think.

“Almara!” I hear someone squeal. I look up and eventually, my eyes come into focus. It’s Cathy. Okay, Cathy is accounted for. Check. “Why are you squinting at me?”

“I’m trying to see you,” I tell her, but the words might have sounded more like mush. Cathy laughs. Did I say something funny?

“Let’s get you some food,” She says and I see her link her arm through mine and then I feel it. Oh yeah, food! Arthur and I ordered more food. Arthur must be near the food. Suddenly, I realize I’m starving. How long ago did we order food?

My train of thought is instantly derailed when I see the trail of picked-out leftovers scattered sloppily along our once polished kitchen table. Despite how sorted through the food looks with only the undesirables discarded, my mouth waters.

I lunge myself over to the table and immediately begin scarfing down pizza crust, broken potato chips, cheese cubes, runaway grapes no longer attached to their vine, and whatever else I can find.

“When was the last time you ate?” Cathy asks looking over my shoulder.

“What time is it?” I ask.

“Almost 1:00 am.” She says. I shrug

“A while ago,” I realize and stuff more food into my mouth. It’s way later than I thought. Ugh. I hope I’m not drunk for much longer. After eating all of this, I’m just going to want to go to bed. “Where’s Arthur?” I ask, my mouth full of food.

Cathy comes to lean against the table and eyes the food, I silently hope she doesn’t take anything I could eat every crumb left on this table Thankfully, she doesn’t.

“I’m not sure, I last saw him walk his parents out around midnight,” Cathy tilts her head back and laughs. “His parents are so fun, mine would never party with my friends and if they did I’d beg them to leave.”

Oh right, his parents were part of the original guest list. Okay, they’re gone. Accounted for. I swallow the food lodged in my throat, suddenly in desperate need of water. If it’s near one in the morning and Arthur was last seen at midnight, that means I haven’t seen him in an hour.

Or, maybe I have and I just don’t remember it. “Water,” I attempt to tell Cathy, but more so just announce my need. Cathy holds out her hand and I grab it, thankful she’s here. “Why did I get so drunk?” I ask, gaining some feeling back but only enough to register how numb my face feels.

“I was wondering the same thing,” Cathy says. We push through the kitchen doors, muffling some of the blaring music coming from the living room. It’s a good thing our closest neighbors are a mile away otherwise this would be a horrible first impression.

“What the f-” I hear Cathy say and I snap my attention to the direction that’s captivated her. I see someone broad-shouldered leaning seductively over a petite blonde girl whom I have never seen before in my life.

At the sound of Cathy’s reaction, the man turns over his shoulder and my heart shatters. “No,” is all I can manage to say, but it comes out as a hoarse whisper. I slowly back up before turning on my heels and running out the kitchen doors.

I keep running, dodging through crowds of people. I’m not sure where I’m going, but I can’t breathe. I find myself at the front door and throw the door open.

A gust of cold air slaps me across the face, and I suck in a deep breathe, then I hunch over and dry heave. Unfortunately, nothing comes up but it feels like if I keep trying I’ll be able to spit up the shards of my broken heart.

I don’t know how long I stay outside, but the cold air cuts right to my bones. I wish I wasn’t this drunk, I can’t handle these emotions in this state. I don’t care about anyone in this house anymore, I’m going to bed and shutting out this entire night.

I enter back into the house, the music irritatingly too loud. I can feel my heart beating in my ears. The drastic temperature change from being out in the cold to this warm house is sickening. I find the stairs and grip onto the railing for support as I ascend a few steps up.

“There you are!” I hear Arthur say. His voice causes my knees to go weak, still I manage to shakily turn around. I’m not prepared for the rage that surges through me when I see him looking all innocent.

“How could you!” I shout and I swear I’m somehow louder than the music. Arthur’s face twists into confusion.

“Excuse me?” He says, moving slightly back as if my words physically pushed him over. I scoff. I might be drunk, but I know what I saw. I’ve been cheated on many times before to know it when I see it.

“Who is she?” I demand, daring to take a step closer.

“Almara, what are you talking about?” Arthur asks, his eyes looking around at the crowd that’s gathered beneath the stairwell.

“Don’t!” I bark, “ I saw you kissing that girl in the kitchen. How could you? We have a daughter!” My tone travels back and forth between anger and hurt.

“Almara,” Arthur says and reaches his hand out towards me. Without thinking, I raise my own hand and strike it across his face. The crowds echo back their surprise.

Arthur touches his cheek and stares back at me with pure shock. I imagine he’s getting a taste of how I felt when I saw him.

“We’re done, Robert!” I hear Cathy shout and interweave through the crowd that we’ve gathered.

“Cathy, I’m sorry!” Robert pleads trying to follow close behind her. I watch the scene unfold before me as Cathy reaches the front door and turn back to look at me.

“You were right, Almara. I never should have dated him,” Cathy tosses a disgusted look at Robert who winces for a brief moment before hurrying to follow Cathy out the door.

I think I made a mistake.