Chapter 7
The scent of alcohol from Hailey lingered as she exhaled near Joseph’s
neck.
He instinctively pulled his neck back but didn’t push away the arms that were wrapped around his waist.
I remembered that on our wedding day, he had frowned and pushed the drunk best man away, muttering. “I can’t stand that smell“. But now, he allowed the drunk Hailey to lean on him, his fingers gently resting on her back.
Joseph glanced at me over Hailey’s shoulder, his gaze soft and ingratiating.
“Wait for a moment. I’ll take her to the taxi and come back. We can leave together, alright?”
Before he could finish, Hailey suddenly let out a quiet sob.
She then collapsed into his arms, her hair brushing against his flushed
cars.
I tightened my grip on my bag’s strap, my nails leaving indentations on my palms.
I said quickly, “No need. I can head back on my own since she clearly can’t be away from you.”
Without waiting for his response, I turned and waved goodbye to my old classmates in the private room.
The sound of my heels echoed loudly as I walked away.
Joseph took a few steps after me but was stopped when Hailey clutched
his sleeve.
She tilted her head and whispered, “Joseph… don’t go.
Her voice was soll and sweet, like a kitten’s gentle purr.
#*
When I pushed open the door, the last thing I saw was his unsteady back, reminiscent of many interrupted date nights.
The designated driver navigated the elevated road with ease.
The glow from the streetlights blurred into soft spots of light on the car windows.
My throat tightened with discomfort, and as I raised my hand to wipe my face, I realized it was covered in tears.
I recalled a New Year’s Eve when we were crammed into the back of a taxi just like this.
He had held my cold feet in his hands and smiled, saying, “I’ll keep you warm every winter from now on.”
The phone buzzed, and a message from Joseph appeared.
“She threw up all over herself, so I helped her clean up.”
After a brief pause, another message followed, “I might need to take care of her tonight, so make sure to get some rest.”
Through a street window, I saw a couple kissing against the glass.
Their shadows overlapped and then pulled apart, eventually fading
from view in the rearview mirror.
