The Free Pass

Chapter 64

Mallory

I woke up on November 1 with the absolute worst hangover. I'd forgotten how miserable that feeling was.

Shawn's side of the bed was empty. I was wearing a t-shirt of his. I knew we hadn't fooled around last night, because I had been way too drunk.

Looking in the bathroom mirror, I cringed. Shawn must have tried to take my make-up off, but he'd failed miserably. I grabbed my cold cream and got all the eye make-up removed. I then scrubbed my face. I looked much better. I threw my hair in a messy bun and put on some sweats.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Shawn said from the kitchen.

"Stop yelling! My head hurts!"

I looked around and saw that he'd gotten everything cleaned up.

"You should have waited for me," I said.

"I knew you'd feel like shit today. I don't think I realized just how messed up you were until I tried to put you to bed."

"Ugh. Sorry. I'm a terrible drunk."

"You were fine. I got a good laugh out of it," he said as he walked over to me. He leaned down and gave me a kiss. "I love you."

I smiled, though it hurt my head. "I love you, too. And thank you for cleaning up. You really are the best."

I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head under his chin.

"Take some Advil and hydrate yourself. I'm going to go pick Gracie up," he said into my hair.

He started to pull away and I pulled him back. "I'm sorry you missed out on the hot Halloween costume sex."

"I found your missing devil horn when I was cleaning. Believe me, you'll be putting that costume back on when the hangover wears off."

I had no idea I'd even been missing a horn.

Shawn kissed me again and left. I took four Advil and drank a huge glass of water. I then made myself a coffee. I wasn't going to nurse Grace until later this afternoon just in case I still had alcohol in my system. I needed that coffee.

Vera and Kris emerged from the guest room as I was putting my empty mug in the sink. They plopped down on the couch. Neither looked that hungover.

"Shawn's getting Grace," I said as I joined them.

"You hungover, sis?" Vera asked.

"Yes. God it sucks. Why did I let myself get so drunk?"

Kris laughed. "You're such a lightweight now. Although really you always were. I've never met anyone who passes out like you, or who forgets what happened while they were drinking."

"I only remember bits and pieces about last night. I wasn't obnoxious, was I?"

"Not at all. You were an adorable drunk. I think you may have begged Shawn to fuck you a couple times, but you two are married so that's fine," Vera said.

"Tell me I didn't do that loudly so that everyone heard me," I pleaded.

"No. We only know because you whined to us about him saying no."

"It's horrifying to think I used to regularly get that drunk in college. I'm not letting Gracie go away to school. She can go to the University of Toronto and live at home."

"You didn't get that drunk very often," Kris said. "The worst was that time at the beginning of fall semester last year. We had that party in early September. You were nuts."