Page 625 of Lessons in Cruelty

I pull out my phone to check my notifications and keep myself awake so I don’t feel so tempted to take a nap in the backseat. It’s down to two percent.

Nothing from Haven, probably because she’s still asleep. Got a VibeFeed DM from Kruger though.

@notfreddykruger

Thought we were doing a wake and bake

I smirk, shaking my head as I type out a reply.

@wanderkind

Gotta fix things with H

Also hungover AF

Kruger annoyed me when he said I should just have been straight with Haven about my mother’s call…but a few shots later I realized he was right.

I shouldn’t have been so fucking defensive, but Jesus, last night’s call floored me. Not just that Sharon finally deigned to contact me after all the shit that’s gone down the past couple of weeks…but that she had the motherfucking audacity to invite me to dinner?

The Uber driver gives me a weird look in the mirror when I snort out loud.

Fucking family dinner.

As if.

@notfreddykruger

What happened last night bro

@wanderkind

Was going to ask u the same thing

I remember the bar. Way too many shots. Someone suggesting we move the party to Kruger’s frat house. And then…waking up on his couch with my shoes.

Fuck.

@notfreddykruger

Who was the guy in the alley?

What guy? What alley? Jesus, did I get into a fight? Is it blood under my fingernails?

I’m about to text back when my phone dies.

“Everything okay, man?”

I look in the rearview mirror, frowning. “What?”

The Uber driver glances down a side street before meeting my eyes. “You get in a fight or something?” His eyes drop to my throat.

I shift to the middle of the backseat, lifting my chin so I can catch sight of my neck in the rearview.

Jesus fucking Christ, Haven.

I chuckle. “Yeah, uh, it’s not what it looks like.”

The Uber driver twitches an eyebrow and murmurs, “Whatever you say, buddy.”