“Oh man,” whined Susan. “I don't want to sleep on a hospital bench.”
“Are you... are you intoxicated, miss?” asked the doctor.
“We've, uh, we've had a few drinks tonight,” replied Ricky.
“You know what,” I said. “You two just go home and sleep it off. I'll stay here with Jane tonight. Go, just go. I'll call you in the morning.”
“Oh uh, alright, but call me,” mumbled Susan. “Come on, Ricky, let's go.”
“Uh, bye, Everett,” mumbled Ricky as he and Susan stumbled out.
I stared at them in angry silence as they left, and shook my head. Still, I managed to stay relatively calm.
“The child's mother is not particularly responsible, is she?” muttered the doctor.
“No, she's not. But anyway, doc, please take me to Jane. I'd like to be with my daughter now.”
“This way, Mr. James, this way...”
Chapter Eleven
Vivienne
“So what are your names?” I asked the guys as we stood up to follow them to the dance floor. “I'm Vivienne, and this is my friend Angie.”
“I'm Nick,” said one. He had broad shoulders, a strong jaw, deep-set brown eyes and short dark hair that was stylishly cut.
“And I'm Paul,” said the other. He was powerfully-built, with muscles bulging through his dress shirt. He was darkly tanned, and this made his bright blue eyes stand out even more. His blond hair was also fashionably cut and styled.
“And uh, how old are you guys, if you don't mind us asking?” asked Angie, smiling flirtatiously.
“I'm 22,” Nick said.
“And I'm 23,” Paul replied.
I couldn't help but chuckle; these were some young guys.
“So are you guys out cougar hunting or what?” asked Angie with a wink and a smile.
“Cougars?” Nick laughed. “You girls are our age. Don't be ridiculous.”
“Really?” I asked. “You guys think we're the same age as you?”
“No older than 22, I'm certain of that,” replied Paul, his perfect white teeth glowing in the UV light.
“Alright, yeah, we're 22,” said Angie, throwing a wink my way.
“Ha! I knew it!” exclaimed Nick. “Come on, trying to pull that 'cougar' crap on us! Lame joke, ladies, lame joke. Now, let's get downstairs and have some fun on the dance floor.”
“But first,” interjected Paul. “We have to buy you ladies drinks. What are you having?”
“I don't know if I can handle anymore,” I said, leaning over to Angie and whispering in her ear.
She waved a dismissive hand my way.
“Oh come on, it's Friday night! You don't have anywhere to be tomorrow. And do I need to remind you about the jerk who stood you up earlier tonight? Come on, Viv, if you give up and call it quits now, he wins! You'll just go home and end up feeling miserable about the whole thing. I say, let's let these hot young things buy us another drink, and then we'll get down with them on the dance floor.”
“I dunno, Angie, I'm just... I don't like drinking that much, you know, and I'm already tipsy...”