Fuck me sideways with a rubber duck wearing a hardhat. My head was pounding. It sounded like a jackhammer was thrashing against my skull. My mouth was dry and tasted like ass, my tongue felt like thick sandpaper. Lifting my hand to my head shot agonizing pain through my body. I didn’t remember much of the night before but I hoped like hell it was worth it. I felt the contents of my stomach threaten to revolt and upheave. Sharp spasm wreaked havoc on my insides. My lids were heavy making it almost impossible to open my eyes. As I struggled to lift my eyelids I became certain they were attached to my asshole as searing pain shot through my body.

“Need help princess?” Tosha’s voice boomed, echoing in my skull. I could only groan in response as I cringed.

“Come on princess before Tink turns the sprinklers on.” Tosha said much softer this time. I could only grunt in response.

I felt the world spin as Tosha lifted me up in what I could only assume was a fireman’s carry. The world twisted and spun on its axis sending the innards of my stomach propelling out of my body like the contents of a shook up soda I vomited uncontrollably. I vaguely heard Tosha shouting a string of explicative. My body fell from the sky landing roughly on the hard ground. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me as I struggled to breath between bouts of vomit. I could barely hold my head up enough to keep myself out of my own vomit.  The world swam once again before I was tugged into a black hole.

“Are you ready to rejoin the world princess?” Tosha asked as he placed something cool against my forehead. I tried to speak but I couldn’t make the words come out.

“Relax slugger. You have had one hell of a hangover and probably a concussion.” I heard Nik say from somewhere in the room.

“Wh-“ I tried to speak. I wanted to ask what had happened but the words wouldn’t form. My entire body ached from the tip of my toes to the tallest hair on my head.

A steady boom-boom-boom echoed in my head pulsing along with the beating of my heart. I groaned in agony.

“Give the big baby some Gatorade while I tend to the other man child.” I heard Katinka grumble in the distance.

Moments later a straw was pressed to my lips. Tentatively I took a sip. The cool liquid was a balm to my dry parched mouth. Eagerly I drank more momentarily choking myself on the rush of liquids going into my body.

“Slow down slugger.” Nik chuckled good heartedly.

“Fuck you.” I managed to choke out causing Nik and Tosha to laugh.

“Yeah, this one will live.” Tosha boast proudly.

I managed to crack my eyes open. Tosha and Nik sat to either side of me; I could see the lines of worry marring their faces leaving me stumped. I was sick, I wasn’t dying. Was I?

“Wh-what happened?” I was finally able to spit out.

“You don’t remember?” Tosha asked. I could see the amusement dancing in his eyes. He knew damn well I didn’t remember.

“Let’s see. You and D polished off all the vodka Nick’s had to offer. Started a fight with a group of guys and got your asses handed to you. Jeremy was able to keep you both from having your teeth kicked in too bad and managed to get ahold of Kiev who drove your sorry ass’s home. The two of you dumb asses decided you wanted to crawl out of the truck and sleep out in the yard where Nik was able to drag Damon inside while you managed to toss your cookies all down my back. Finally, I was able to get you in the house where you have been sleeping for the past two weeks.” Tosha said with a laugh.

“You fucking dropped me?” I accused faintly remembering vomiting and hitting the ground hard while Tosha swore up a storm.

“I thought you said you didn’t remember?” Tosha asked skeptically.

“Holy hell, you seriously fucking dropped me?” I yelled out instantly regretting it as the hammering in my head turned into a deep throbbing pain. I winced grabbing my head.

“You fucking threw up on me.” Tosha yelled back accusingly.

“Fuck off.” I muttered still nursing my head.

“Why the hell did we sleep for two week? Did you drop me on my damn head?” I groaned in pain.

“Dumbass, it’s only been twelve hours or so.” Nik laughed patting my shoulder.

“So you wanna tell us what’s going on? Why were the two of you hammering shots like no tomorrow?”

Tosha asked worriedly.

“Alexa has been fucking around on D, left him because she couldn’t accept Little D.” I hated admitting it. It still hurt knowing Damon had to deal with the rejection of his son for months alone.

“Fuck, that is some shit there. So what’s your malfunction?” Nik asked forcing me to come clean.

“I’ve been seeing Nina since our last show. I asked her to marry me, she said yes, doesn’t want anyone to know. Then she gets betrothed to Kiev and still won’t say anything. Now she is playing head games and I’m just done.” It felt good to get it all out, almost therapeutic. Or it could have been the effect of the Gatorade. Either way, I felt better. I felt like I could finally breathe for the first time. I relaxed deeper into the bed; closing my eyes I allowed the cool sheets to comfort me.

“Are you going to marry my cousin?” Tosha asked, clearly still hung up on everything I had just said.

“No.” I had finally said it out loud and it felt fan-fucking-tastic.

I heard the sound of skin slapping skin. Cracking an eye open I saw Katinka standing over Tosha, smacking at him as he tried to defend himself from her wildly swinging hands. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“Don’t worry, you’re next.” Katinka said pointing a finger at me. Her threat sobered me up instantly. Katinka was downright vicious.

“Alright loves, I have Damon situated. He quit bleeding once I threw a pack of Tampons at him.” Evie boast as she entered the room. I was immediately on alert. “Is D okay? Why is he bleeding?” I peppered her with questions.

“Oh blimey, don’t tell me this one is a bloody vagina as well.” Evie cried exasperated as she rubbed her stomach in the doorway.

I gasped in shock as Evie’s foul language.

“You kiss your niece and nephew with that mouth?” I shot at her.

“The same way you suck your brother’s dick.” She smarted winking.

“What have you done to my sweet innocent Evie?” I gasped in mock horror.

“Shut up, you moron.” Nik shoved at my shoulder.

After a wobbly trip to the bathroom and drinking another bottle of Gatorade under the watchful eye of Evie I was ordered to get some more sleep.

I was still hungover and my body felt like it had been dragged through the ringer. I wasn’t going to argue about getting more sleep. I was going to gladly take all I could while I sorted out my problems and figured out how to end things with Nina. I hadn’t seen Kiev since everything had come out. I had no idea how he was taking everything. I knew I would need to patch things up with him soon. As if on cue Kiev came sauntering into the room.

“Hey,” I greeted him. Kiev looked up from the ground, his shoulders slumped forward. He looked as though he had been defeated. “Hey.” He mumbled back disjointedly.

“What’s up, bro?” I asked struggling to sit up in the bed.

Kiev rushed to my side, resting a hand on my shoulder, halting me from moving up farther in the bed. I looked up at him in question.

“I’m sorry man.” Kiev finally said, his eyes studying the floor.

I shrugged off Kiev’s hand scooting into a seated position. “What the hell are you sorry for? Did you drop me too?” I asked in confusion. Hell Tosha didn’t even apologize for dropping me. Kiev’s face drew up in confusion. “Drop you?” I chuckled softly shaking my head. “Nothing.” I let out a long breath. “I’m sorry for not telling you about Nina.” I meant it too. I was sorry I didn’t just tell him and end his suffering before it started.

“Dude, you have nothing to be sorry about.” Kiev exclaimed adamantly.

“Yes, I do.” I said explaining to Kiev everything that had happened. I felt it was better he heard it all from me instead of second hand from the others.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Kiev yelled jumping from his seat after I had laid everything out on the table. I wasn’t sure who he was angry at. The look on his face clearly screamed murder.

“I’m sorry man.” I tried to apologize again.

“No,” Kiev yelled pointing an angry finger at me. “You don’t get to be sorry. You did nothing wrong. She is the one that should be sorry. She has been doing nothing but playing games with you, toying with your emotions for no damn good reason.” I was immediately humbled by his reaction. I had watched idly as he went through hell because of my inability to speak up, yet he still took my side and stood up for me. He felt injustice because of me.

“Whatever there was between she and I is over. It’s done with.” I promised him.

Kiev’s head bobbed as I spoke. I could only hope he was listening to me, that my words were penetrating his hard head.

“You’re right.” Kiev mumbled more to himself than to me. I could hear the sadness in his voice. I only hoped I had not been the cause of it. I never imagined that Kiev had begun to fall for Nina. I hoped that it was the severe hangover playing tricks on my mind.

We sat there in silence, the only sound coming from the gentle whirling of the air conditioner as it kicked on. Kiev sat silently by my side deep in his thoughts and me in mine until I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer. Sleep swiftly pulled me under.